RSM Education Trust Bursary
The RSM Education Trust Bursary is a full-cost bursary funded by RSM South Africa through its in-house RSM Education Trust (established in 2016) to support Black female students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds. It covers tuition, textbooks and capped allowances for accommodation and living costs, plus academic support and a potential RSM training contract on qualifying. The Trust supports students on the postgraduate accounting/CTA (CA(SA)) route as well as Information Technology and Law.
Eligible Fields of Study
RSM South Africa (administered in-house via the RSM Education Trust) supports students in the following disciplines
Eligibility Requirements
- ✓ South African citizen or permanent resident
- ✓ Black female student (as defined under B-BBEE legislation)
- ✓ Strong academic record (approximately 70%+ average commonly cited)
- ✓ Demonstrated financial need / disadvantaged background
- ✓ Enrolled (or accepted) at a South African university
- ✓ Submit a motivational letter together with personal details, education history and employment history via the online application form
What's Included
- ✓ Tuition fees
- ✓ Textbooks
- ✓ Accommodation (capped amount)
- ✓ Living allowance (capped amount)
- ✓ CTA-Fitness Workshop facilitated by an Independent Trustee (Senior Lecturer / CA(SA))
- ✓ Access to a licensed psychologist on RSM's graduate relations team for academic support
- ✓ Potential training contract opportunity with RSM after qualifying
- ✓ Renewable for the duration of studies subject to satisfactory academic progress
Work Commitment
There is no fixed mandatory service period attached to the bursary, but successful bursars may be offered a training contract with RSM South Africa after qualifying, providing a pathway into articles and professional registration (for example, the CA(SA) route via SAICA).
How to Apply
Steps to complete your RSM South Africa (administered in-house via the RSM Education Trust) bursary application
- 1
Visit the official RSM apply-bursary page (apply-bursary-rsm-education-trust) on the RSM South Africa website
- 2
Complete the online bursary application form with your personal details, education history and employment history
- 3
Write and attach a motivational letter explaining your circumstances and goals
- 4
Upload your supporting documents (ID, academic results and proof of registration/acceptance)
- 5
Submit the application before the closing date (historically around mid-October)
- 6
If shortlisted, take part in any further selection steps; applicants not contacted within approximately four weeks should consider their application unsuccessful
Required Documents
- 📄 Certified copy of South African ID
- 📄 Latest academic results / transcripts (Matric certificate and university records as applicable)
- 📄 Proof of acceptance or registration at a South African university
- 📄 Proof of household income to demonstrate financial need
- 📄 Motivational letter
- 📄 Up-to-date CV outlining education and employment history
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who qualifies for the RSM Education Trust Bursary?
- The bursary targets South African citizens or permanent residents who are Black female students (as defined under B-BBEE legislation) with a strong academic record (around 70%+ is commonly cited) and demonstrated financial need, studying at a South African university.
- Which fields of study does the bursary cover?
- The RSM Education Trust supports students on the postgraduate accounting/CTA route toward CA(SA), as well as Information Technology (Honours / BSc IT) and Law (Honours / LLB).
- Is the RSM Education Trust Bursary the same as the SAICA Thuthuka Bursary?
- No. RSM is a long-standing sponsor of the SAICA Thuthuka Bursary Fund, but the RSM Education Trust is a separate, self-administered scheme established by RSM in 2016 and run in-house by the firm.
- When do applications open and close?
- Applications historically close around mid-October (for example, 15 October in prior cycles). For the 2027 intake, applications are expected to open around August 2026 and close approximately October 2026. Always confirm exact dates on the official RSM bursary page; applicants not contacted within about four weeks should consider their application unsuccessful.
Ready to apply?
Applications close on 15 October 2026
Apply on RSM South Africa (administered in-house via the RSM Education Trust)'s official siteInformation verified 2026-06-22. Always confirm details on the funder's official website before applying.
Other Accounting & Finance bursaries
More funding opportunities in this field
AGSA Bursary Programme
Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA)
The AGSA Bursary Programme is the Auditor-General of South Africa's own employer bursary for students pursuing the Chartered Accountancy (CA) route at SAICA-accredited universities. It is a full-cost award covering tuition, accommodation, meals and books, and leads directly into a training contract (articles) with AGSA after graduation, giving recipients exposure to public-sector financial reporting in addition to IFRS.
View details →BDO South Africa Bursary
BDO South Africa
BDO South Africa awards bursaries to aspiring Chartered Accountants studying the CA-stream (Accounting and Auditing) at SAICA-accredited universities up to CTA/Honours level. The programme offers two streams — Merit and Merit with Financial Need — and is one of the strongest entry points into the audit profession in South Africa.
View details →Deloitte Bursary Programme
Deloitte South Africa
Premier Big 4 accounting bursary programme offering comprehensive financial support and guaranteed CA(SA) training contract with global career opportunities.
View details →