SITFE Bursary Programme

1. 1

   Visit the SITFE bursary information page to confirm the application window is open (applications open annually around July to October)

2. 2

   Apply online via the SITFE online bursary application form, or download the hard-copy application form

3. 3

   Complete the form and gather all supporting documents

4. 4

   If applying by hard copy, email or post the completed form to the South African Sugar Association using the subject line '[SITFE Bursary YEAR]'

5. 5

   Submit before the annual closing date (the closing date for the 2026 academic year was 21 November 2025)

6. 6

   Wait for shortlisting and selection by SITFE

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible for the SITFE bursary?

South African citizens who live in a sugarcane-growing province (KwaZulu-Natal or Mpumalanga), are in Matric or have completed Matric, and have applied or registered to study Agriculture at an eligible institution such as Cedara College of Agriculture, Owen Sithole College of Agriculture or the University of Mpumalanga. The household income should fall between R350,000 and R600,000 per year (the 'missing middle').

How many SITFE bursaries are awarded each year?

Up to 41 full bursaries are awarded annually. Preference is given to children of sugarcane farmworkers and to disadvantaged first-year students.

When does the SITFE bursary close?

Applications open annually around July to October. For the 2026 academic year the closing date was 21 November 2025, and applications are currently shown as closed on the official site. The application window reopens between July and October each year.

How do I apply for the SITFE bursary?

You can apply online through the SITFE online bursary application form, or download the hard-copy form and email or post it to the South African Sugar Association using the subject line '[SITFE Bursary YEAR]'. The postal address is PO Box 700, Mount Edgecombe, 4300.