Medical & Health Sciences Bursaries
Bursaries for South African students pursuing careers in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing, physiotherapy, radiography and allied health sciences. Government, foundation and private healthcare-sector funders.
6 medical bursaries
- Medical Closes 30 Sept 2026
Aspen Pharmacare Bursary
Aspen Pharmacare
Aspen Pharmacare, Africa's largest pharmaceutical manufacturer, awards bursaries to South African students studying BPharm and other pharmaceutical-sector qualifications including chemical engineering and related sciences. The programme is open to both new applicants and children of Aspen employees, and supports up to full cost of study at approved institutions.
Up to full cost of study (varies by qualification)View details → - Medical Closes 31 Aug 2026
Discovery Foundation Bursary Programme
Discovery Foundation
Join South Africa's leading healthcare innovator. Build your medical career with a focus on preventive care, wellness innovation, and community health improvement.
R100,000 - R180,000 per yearView details → - Medical Closes 15 Aug 2026
Life Healthcare Bursary Programme
Life Healthcare
Join South Africa's leading private healthcare provider. Build your medical career with access to world-class facilities, cutting-edge technology, and a commitment to excellence in patient care across our network of premier hospitals.
R90,000 - R160,000 per yearView details → - Medical Closes 25 Dec 2026
MRC Bursary Programme
Medical Research Council of South Africa
Premier medical research bursary programme supporting the next generation of health researchers and contributing to South Africa's medical advancement.
R90,000 - R180,000 per yearView details → - Medical Closes 31 Dec 2026
Netcare Bursary
Netcare
Netcare offers bursaries to academically gifted students who lack the financial means to fund tertiary studies, with a focus on Pharmacy and Commerce qualifications that feed into Netcare's hospital and operational pipeline. Applications are open year-round, making it one of the more flexible programmes in South Africa's healthcare sector.
Full cost of study (tuition, textbooks, accommodation, living allowance)View details → - Medical Closes 30 Sept 2026
SAMA Medical Education Bursary
South African Medical Association (SAMA)
The South African Medical Association awards medical education bursaries to South African citizens studying towards an MBChB or equivalent medical degree at a South African medical school. The bursary is non-exclusive — recipients may hold other bursaries at the same time — making it a useful top-up for students already funded elsewhere.
R20,000 per year (R10,000 in January, R10,000 in August)View details →
Medical bursaries in South Africa - what to know
The MBChB squeeze
South African medical schools admit roughly 2,000 students per year against tens of thousands of applicants. Securing a bursary alongside university admission is a separate challenge - most medical bursaries pre-select students and pay tuition directly to the university.
Allied health pays well too
Physiotherapy, radiography, occupational therapy and pharmacy bursaries are less competitive than MBChB funding and offer real career stability. Discovery Foundation and Life Healthcare in particular fund a wide range of allied health professions.
Provincial health departments
Every provincial department of health runs a bursary scheme with a work-back commitment in the public sector. These are large-scale and often less competitive than corporate bursaries.