Who qualifies for the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) Bursary?

You must be a South African citizen who permanently resides within the City of Johannesburg in Gauteng, be in Matric or have completed Matric, and be studying or intending to study full-time towards an undergraduate qualification of at least one year at a recognised South African tertiary institution. You also need a strong academic record, must not be receiving any other bursary or funding, and must provide proof of residence and proof of parent/guardian income.

What does the bursary cover and how much is it worth?

The bursary covers registration fees, tuition fees and prescribed textbooks and/or study material, combined up to a maximum of R40,000 per academic year. It is renewable annually subject to satisfactory academic performance.

How do I apply and what is the deadline?

Applications are submitted online only - no manual or paper applications are accepted - via the form linked from the official CoJ bursaries page. Applications open annually around mid-year for the following academic year; the 2026 academic-year cycle closed on 31 October 2025, and the 2027 window is expected to open around mid-2026. Always verify the current deadline on the official site.

How is the CoJ Bursary different from the GCRA bursary, and how many are awarded?

The CoJ Bursary is run in-house by the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality's Human Resources / Skills Development office, whereas the GCRA bursary is run by the Gauteng Provincial Government - they are distinct programmes. Approximately 200 CoJ bursaries are awarded per cycle, and shortlisted candidates are contacted within about 6 weeks of the closing date.

Government City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality (administered in-house via the CoJ Human Resources / Skills Development office)

City of Johannesburg (CoJ) Bursary Programme

The City of Johannesburg (CoJ) Bursary Programme is a metropolitan government bursary that funds undergraduate study for academically capable students who permanently reside within the City of Johannesburg in Gauteng. Approximately 200 bursaries are awarded each cycle, covering registration, tuition and prescribed study material up to R40,000 per year across scarce-skills fields relevant to the City. It is distinct from the Gauteng Provincial Government GCRA bursary.

Amount:

Up to R40,000 per academic year

Deadline:

31 October 2025

Renewable:

Yes

Applications closed

Check back next cycle

Apply on City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality (administered in-house via the CoJ Human Resources / Skills Development office)'s site

Eligible Fields of Study

City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality (administered in-house via the CoJ Human Resources / Skills Development office) supports students in the following disciplines

Actuarial Science

Built Environment (Architecture, Construction, Urban/Regional Planning, Quantity Surveying)

Commerce

Community Services

Emergency Management Services

Engineering (all fields)

Finance (Accounting, Auditing, Small Business Management, Supply Chain Management, Treasury, Economics)

Geo Information Science (GIS)

Health (all fields)

Information Technology and Management (all fields)

International Relations and Protocol

Legal

Logistics

Marketing

Municipal Governance (Monitoring and Evaluation)

Real Estate (Property Management, Property Valuation)

Eligibility Requirements

✓ South African citizen
✓ Permanently resides in the City of Johannesburg, Gauteng (proof of residence required, e.g. rates/utility bill)
✓ In Matric or has completed Matric
✓ Studying or intending to study full-time towards an undergraduate qualification at least 1 year in duration
✓ Studying at a recognised South African tertiary institution
✓ Strong/satisfactory academic record
✓ Not receiving any other bursary, grant or funding
✓ Proof of parent/guardian income required (payslips if employed, affidavit if unemployed, or death certificate if deceased)
✓ Certified copies of ID, Matric results/certificate, and latest academic record required

What's Included

✓ Registration fees
✓ Tuition fees
✓ Prescribed textbooks and/or study material (combined up to a maximum of R40,000 per year)
✓ Renewable annually subject to satisfactory academic performance

How to Apply

Steps to complete your City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality (administered in-house via the CoJ Human Resources / Skills Development office) bursary application

1
Confirm the current application window is open on the official CoJ website (www.joburg.org.za) - applications open annually around mid-year for the following academic year
2
Apply online only via the City's bursary application form (the most recent cycle used a HubSpot form linked from the official bursaries page); no manual or paper applications are accepted
3
Complete the online application form in full with your personal, residential and academic details
4
Upload certified copies of your ID, Matric results/certificate and latest academic record
5
Attach proof of residence within the City of Johannesburg and proof of parent/guardian income
6
Submit the application before the published closing date - the 2026 academic-year cycle closed on 31 October 2025
7
If shortlisted, expect to be contacted within approximately 6 weeks of the closing date

Required Documents

📄 Certified copy of South African ID
📄 Certified copy of Matric results or Matric certificate
📄 Certified copy of latest academic record/results
📄 Proof of residence within the City of Johannesburg (e.g. rates or utility bill)
📄 Proof of parent/guardian income (payslips if employed, affidavit if unemployed, or death certificate if deceased)
📄 Proof of acceptance or registration at a recognised South African tertiary institution

Frequently Asked Questions

Who qualifies for the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) Bursary?: You must be a South African citizen who permanently resides within the City of Johannesburg in Gauteng, be in Matric or have completed Matric, and be studying or intending to study full-time towards an undergraduate qualification of at least one year at a recognised South African tertiary institution. You also need a strong academic record, must not be receiving any other bursary or funding, and must provide proof of residence and proof of parent/guardian income.
What does the bursary cover and how much is it worth?: The bursary covers registration fees, tuition fees and prescribed textbooks and/or study material, combined up to a maximum of R40,000 per academic year. It is renewable annually subject to satisfactory academic performance.
How do I apply and what is the deadline?: Applications are submitted online only - no manual or paper applications are accepted - via the form linked from the official CoJ bursaries page. Applications open annually around mid-year for the following academic year; the 2026 academic-year cycle closed on 31 October 2025, and the 2027 window is expected to open around mid-2026. Always verify the current deadline on the official site.
How is the CoJ Bursary different from the GCRA bursary, and how many are awarded?: The CoJ Bursary is run in-house by the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality's Human Resources / Skills Development office, whereas the GCRA bursary is run by the Gauteng Provincial Government - they are distinct programmes. Approximately 200 CoJ bursaries are awarded per cycle, and shortlisted candidates are contacted within about 6 weeks of the closing date.

Ready to apply?

Applications close on 31 October 2025

Apply on City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality (administered in-house via the CoJ Human Resources / Skills Development office)'s official site

Need help? Contact City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality (administered in-house via the CoJ Human Resources / Skills Development office):

Email: [email protected]

Information verified 2026-06-22. Always confirm details on the funder's official website before applying.

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