Agriculture Bursaries
Bursaries for South African students pursuing studies in agriculture, agribusiness, horticulture, food technology, veterinary studies and related fields. We're researching more agriculture funders - check back as we add Land Bank, AFGRI, AgriSETA, Woolworths Farming and more.
21 agriculture bursaries
- Agriculture Deadline 30 Oct 2026 (18d)
SAAFoST Bursary
South African Association for Food Science and Technology (SAAFoST)
The SAAFoST Foundation funds full-time students entering food science and technology, one of South Africa's persistent scarce-skill areas. It runs a Matriculant Bursary for Grade 12 learners and an Undergraduate Bursary for students already studying food science and technology, each paying actual tuition fees of up to R60,000 a year and awarded on academic merit, employment equity and demonstrated potential. For 2027, matriculant applications close on 30 October 2026 and undergraduate applications on 29 January 2027.
Actual tuition fees of up to R60,000 per year, paid directly to the institution in two instalmentsView details → - Agriculture Deadline 31 Oct 2026 (19d)
Cape Wools SA Bursary Fund
Cape Wools SA - Wool Industry Bursary Trust (established by Cape Wools SA with support from the Wool Trust; administered in Gqeberha)
The Cape Wools SA Bursary Fund (Wool Industry Bursary Trust) supports students preparing for a career in the South African wool industry - wool/sheep-focused agricultural studies, or textile and fashion design with a wool focus. Awarded annually on merit, it can cover registration and tuition fees, materials and books, and accommodation. Half of the allocation is aimed at agricultural college students (or wool-focused fashion and textile students), 60% of funding is earmarked for previously disadvantaged individuals, and recipients commit to seeking work in the wool industry for a year per year funded.
Decided per applicant on merit; may cover registration and tuition/course fees, material fees and books, and accommodation. For Grootfontein Agricultural College students, required on-farm practical training can be supported up to R20 000 per student (paid to the host farmer).View details → - Agriculture 2027 dates TBA
Land Bank External Bursary Programme
Land and Agricultural Development Bank of South Africa (Land Bank) (administered in-house by Land Bank Human Resources)
The Land Bank External Bursary Programme funds South African students studying undergraduate agriculture at Agricultural Colleges registered with the Council on Higher Education (CHE). It covers full tuition fees plus prescribed books, a monthly living allowance, and accommodation and meal allowances where applicable. Preference is given to academically strong students from historically disadvantaged backgrounds and rural areas.
Not officially published. Covers full tuition fees plus allowances (no Rand figures stated on the official source).View details → - Agriculture 2027 dates TBA
SANA Bursary
South African Nursery Association (SANA)
The SANA Bursary is offered by the South African Nursery Association to students studying towards a Horticulture or Landscaping qualification at an accredited South African tertiary institution. It covers tuition fees for the current academic year and is aimed at students who have already completed their first year of study with a strong academic record. The bursary is administered directly by SANA and is awarded annually.
Tuition fees for the current academic year (paid to the institution)View details → - Agriculture 2027 dates TBA
SATI Bursary Programme
South African Table Grape Industry (SATI), Paarl - applications via its Submittable portal
The SATI Bursary Programme is awarded annually to students who want a career in the South African table grape industry or its value chain - from viticulture and horticulture to agricultural economics, food science and supply chain disciplines. Bursaries can cover part or all of study fees, accommodation and living expenses, are re-evaluated each year on academic performance, and give preference to South African students in their second year of study or above. Postgraduate applications are assessed against SATI's research needs.
Not a fixed amount - part or all of study fees, accommodation and living expenses, subject to SATI's available budgetView details → - Agriculture Closed (30 Sept 2026)
Department of Agriculture Bursary
Department of Agriculture (DoA), Republic of South Africa
The Department of Agriculture (DoA) Bursary is a comprehensive bursary from the national Department of Agriculture - which took over the bursary scheme when the former Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) was split in 2024. It funds South African students in 17 listed scarce-skills qualifications, including agricultural engineering, veterinary science, veterinary nursing, plant and soil sciences, entomology and food science, and covers tuition, accommodation, study materials, meals and a monthly allowance. It targets previously and economically disadvantaged applicants, particularly from rural and underprivileged communities.
Comprehensive bursary: tuition fees, accommodation, study materials, meals and a monthly allowance (amounts set by the Department)View details → - Agriculture Closed (30 Sept 2026)
Maize Trust Bursary Scheme
The Maize Trust (administered by Agri Manage Solutions (Pty) Ltd, in partnership with Grain SA)
The Maize Trust Bursary Scheme funds postgraduate research that benefits the South African maize industry, supporting MSc (by dissertation) and PhD (doctoral research) students at recognised South African universities. The Maize Trust is a statutory levy-based body established in 1998 to advance maize-industry research and development, and the scheme is administered by Agri Manage Solutions in partnership with Grain SA. Funding covers two years for a Master's and three years for a Doctoral degree.
MSc/Master's by dissertation: R99,750 per annum for two years. PhD/Doctoral research: R131,250 per annum for three years.View details → - Agriculture Closed (15 Sept 2026)
AgriSETA Bursary Programme
AgriSETA (Agriculture Sector Education Training Authority)
The AgriSETA Bursary funds South African students in agriculture-related qualifications at NQF Level 6 and above (and NATED programmes at public TVET and agricultural colleges) through AgriSETA's annual discretionary grant window. AgriSETA does not accept applications from individuals: universities, colleges, accredited training providers and employers in the agricultural sector apply on behalf of their students and employees. Bursaries are worth up to R70,800 per learner per year for undergraduate and postgraduate study.
Up to R70,800 per learner per year (undergraduate and postgraduate), with all expenses combined paid at actual cost up to that capView details → - Agriculture Closed (15 Sept 2026)
Citrus Academy Bursary Fund
Citrus Academy (Citrus Growers' Association of Southern Africa)
The Citrus Academy Bursary Fund supports students pursuing citrus and agriculture-related qualifications at accredited South African tertiary institutions, with a view to building a career in the citrus industry. Founded in 2006, it is regarded as the biggest private bursary fund in primary agriculture in South Africa and is open to citizens of South Africa, Zimbabwe and Eswatini who have completed at least their first year of study.
Partial funding (value depends on study-related costs covered): tuition, books, accommodation and mealsView details → - Agriculture Closed (11 Sept 2026)
SAMAC Bursary Programme
Macadamias South Africa NPC (SAMAC) (self-administered via the SAMAC office; studies completed at accredited South African tertiary institutions)
The SAMAC Bursary Programme is run by Macadamias South Africa NPC (SAMAC), the industry body for South Africa's macadamia sector, to support academically outstanding South African students with proven financial need. It funds undergraduate and postgraduate studies in agriculture and related plant and crop sciences at accredited South African tertiary institutions, covering tuition, prescribed textbooks and accommodation. Postgraduate applicants must propose research that benefits the macadamia industry, and undergraduate and postgraduate streams use separate application forms.
Not publicly disclosed by the official source. The bursary covers tuition fees, prescribed/required textbooks and student accommodation; no fixed rand amount is stated by SAMAC.View details → - Agriculture Closed (31 Aug 2026)
Beefmaster Group Bursary Programme
Beefmaster Group
The Beefmaster Group Bursary supports final-year South African undergraduate students completing a BSc Agriculture majoring in agricultural economics, animal science or animal production. Beefmaster, one of South Africa's largest family-owned beef producers (Kimberley and Christiana), offers it as part of its human capital development strategy; the 2026 round covered full tuition, accommodation, prescribed books and approved study-related costs for the final year.
Full bursary for the final year - the 2026 round covered tuition, accommodation, prescribed books and study materials, and approved study-related costsView details → - Agriculture Closed (31 Aug 2026)
Potatoes South Africa (PSA) Bursary
Potato Industry Development Trust (PIDT) (administered by Potatoes South Africa)
The Potatoes South Africa (PSA) Bursary, funded by the Potato Industry Development Trust (PIDT), supports South African students pursuing agriculture-related studies relevant to the potato industry. It is open to undergraduate students from their second year of study and to postgraduate (BTech, Honours, Masters, PhD) students with a potato-related project. Places are very limited - only four bursaries were on offer for 2027 - and recipients commit to working in the potato industry after graduating.
Amount not publicly published. Covers full-time undergraduate or postgraduate agricultural study relevant to the potato industry, subject to a work-back obligation equal to the bursary duration.View details → - Agriculture Closed (15 Aug 2026)
Hortgro Bursary Programme
Hortgro (South African deciduous fruit industry)
The Hortgro Bursary supports South African students entering the deciduous fruit industry - funding studies in horticulture, plant pathology, soil and water science, entomology, agricultural economics and related research and technical fields.
Tuition (capped) + on-campus accommodation + prescribed books (capped)View details → - Agriculture Closed (31 Jul 2026)
Senwes Graduate Programme
Senwes
Senwes, one of South Africa's largest agricultural businesses, runs a graduate programme for recent graduates and final-year students with a relevant B-degree. The placement is based in Klerksdorp, North West, and gives graduates structured exposure to grain handling, agri-financial services, agri-inputs and supply chain operations across the Senwes group.
Paid graduate placementView details → - Agriculture 2027 dates TBA
SASCP Bursary Programme
South African Society of Crop Production (SASCP), administered by the SASCP secretariat
The SASCP Bursary Programme, run by the South African Society of Crop Production, has supported South African students studying crop production (agronomy/crop science) at recognised South African universities, at both undergraduate and postgraduate (MSc, PhD) levels. It is a once-off award whose value has varied by cycle - 2026 sources cited R15,000 for undergraduates, R20,000 for MSc and R25,000 for PhD students, while older sources referenced two annual awards of R10,000. The 2026 round closed on 15 March 2026; SASCP had not published a 2027 call as of October 2026.
Once-off award; value has varied by cycle. Per 2026 sources: Undergraduate R15,000; MSc R20,000; PhD R25,000 (older sources referenced two annual awards of R10,000). Confirm current amounts on the official SASCP notice before applying.View details → - Agriculture 2027 dates TBA
AgTech@NWK Bursary
NWK Limited (AgTech@NWK division, administered in-house by AgTech@NWK, Lichtenburg; contact: Rachel du Preez)
The AgTech@NWK Bursary supports South African students completing a BSc Agriculture Honours degree, offering financial assistance for the Honours study year together with paid practical training at the AgTech@NWK precision-farming facility in Lichtenburg during university breaks. Run by NWK Limited (founded 1909) through its agri-technology division, the programme gives bursars real-world industry exposure, mentorship and the prospect of permanent employment within the NWK Group after graduation. It is aimed at honours-level students with a genuine passion for and commitment to a career in agriculture.
Undisclosed monetary amount covering financial/tuition support for the BSc Agriculture Honours study year, plus paid practical training during university breaksView details → - Agriculture 2027 dates TBA
SITFE Bursary Programme
Sugar Industry Trust Fund for Education (SITFE) (administered by the South African Sugar Association)
The SITFE Bursary Programme provides full bursaries to South African students from sugarcane-growing provinces (KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga) who are studying Agriculture. Established in 1965 and administered by the South African Sugar Association, the fund awards up to 41 full bursaries each year, with preference given to children of sugarcane farmworkers and disadvantaged first-year students from the "missing middle".
Full bursary covering the cost of study (exact monetary value not published)View details → - Agriculture 2027 dates TBA
Corteva Agriscience Bursary
Corteva Agriscience South Africa (administered in-house; applications submitted by email to the Corteva bursary contact)
The Corteva Agriscience Bursary supports South African students studying full-time towards agricultural qualifications at recognised, accredited South African colleges, universities or universities of technology. It is open to undergraduate students who have completed at least their first year of study, as well as postgraduate students, with preference given to fields on the AgriSETA Sectoral Priority Occupations List. The bursary is administered in-house by Corteva Agriscience and applications are made by email rather than through an online form.
Up to R95,000 per annum for undergraduate students and up to R125,000 per annum for postgraduate students.View details → - Agriculture 2027 dates TBA
South Africa Wine Bursary Programme
South Africa Wine NPC (administered in-house by the People Development team)
The South Africa Wine Bursary Programme funds South African students pursuing scarce and critical-skills qualifications for the wine industry - including viticulture, oenology, cellar technology, wine business studies, agricultural economics and microbiology. It covers tuition fees and offers hands-on industry exposure, with graduates able to apply for a one-year practical placement at a South Africa Wine member.
Full tuition fee coverage for the qualification (no fixed figure publicly specified)View details → - Agriculture 2027 dates TBA
Subtrop SAAGA Bursary
Subtrop - SA Subtropical Growers' Association (on behalf of the South African Avocado Growers' Association, SAAGA; administered in-house by Subtrop)
The Subtrop SAAGA Bursary is funded by the South African Avocado Growers' Association and administered by Subtrop to bring more graduates of colour into the South African avocado industry. It supports South African students from historically disadvantaged backgrounds studying towards a BSc Agriculture (or equivalent) degree majoring in fields such as Horticultural Science, Agricultural Economics or Agribusiness. The bursary covers undergraduate and postgraduate (Honours and Master's) study and carries a work-back obligation with Subtrop after graduation.
No fixed published rand amount - value is determined by individual student need, reviewed annually, awarded one academic year at a time and renewable subject to satisfactory academic performanceView details → - Agriculture 2027 dates TBA
VKB Group Bursary Programme
VKB Group (administered in-house, contact: Ariska du Plessis)
VKB Group, a leading South African agricultural company established in 1919, offers bursaries to high-performing students studying full-time towards an approved undergraduate qualification at a recognised South African tertiary institution. The programme funds fields ranging from BSc Agriculture and Agricultural Economics to Chartered Accountancy, Data Science and Logistics, and includes required vacation work at a VKB regional head office with the prospect of full-time employment after graduation.
Tuition and study-related costs (value not published)View details →
Agriculture bursaries in South Africa - what to know
Government vs corporate funding
The largest single funder of agriculture students in South Africa is the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development. It runs an annual full-funding bursary for agriculture-related undergraduate qualifications with a September deadline.
Industry-specific bursaries
Many bursaries are linked to a specific commodity or sector - Hortgro for deciduous fruit, AgriSETA for skills development in primary agriculture, AFGRI for agribusiness, and the Department's bursary for the broader agricultural economy.
Application timing
Most agriculture bursaries close between July and September of the year before studies begin. Apply early - many funders process applications on a first-come, first-served basis.