Medical & Health Sciences Pharmaceutical Society of South Africa (PSSA) — administered through its Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education (FPE)

PSSA Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education (FPE) Bursary

The Pharmaceutical Society of South Africa runs the Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education (FPE) bursary scheme to support South African pharmacy students. Undergraduate awards help full-time BPharm students from their second year onward, while postgraduate awards support Honours, Masters and Doctorate pharmacy studies. Bursaries are granted on a combination of financial need, academic merit and other assistance already received, and are renewable each year on reapplication.

Amount:
Not published as a fixed rand value — awards cover one academic year based on financial need, academic merit and other assistance received, and are renewable on annual reapplication
Deadline:
11 October 2026
Renewable:
Yes

Eligible Fields of Study

Pharmaceutical Society of South Africa (PSSA) — administered through its Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education (FPE) supports students in the following disciplines

Pharmacy (BPharm) undergraduate study
Postgraduate pharmacy (Honours)
Postgraduate pharmacy (Masters)
Postgraduate pharmacy (Doctorate)

Eligibility Requirements

  • South African citizen
  • Undergraduate: full-time BPharm student in your 2nd or a subsequent year of study at a recognised South African institution
  • Undergraduate: registered PSSA student member (student membership is free)
  • Undergraduate: passed all previous modules with a minimum overall average of around 60%
  • Undergraduate: demonstrable financial need (reported family income threshold of around R130,000 per year)
  • Postgraduate: full-time pharmacy student (Honours, Masters or Doctorate) registered at a recognised SA School, Department or Faculty of Pharmacy
  • Postgraduate: PSSA member
  • Awarded on a combination of financial circumstances, academic achievement and other financial assistance received

What's Included

  • Financial assistance toward undergraduate BPharm pharmacy studies (from 2nd year onward)
  • Financial assistance toward postgraduate pharmacy studies (Honours, Masters or Doctorate)
  • Award covers one full academic year
  • Renewable each year via annual reapplication
  • Free PSSA student membership and association with the national pharmacy community

How to Apply

Steps to complete your Pharmaceutical Society of South Africa (PSSA) — administered through its Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education (FPE) bursary application

  1. 1

    Register as a PSSA student member (free) if you are an undergraduate applicant

  2. 2

    Download the PSSA/FPE bursary application form from the official page at pssa.org.za/fpe-bursaries.html

  3. 3

    Complete the application form and prepare your supporting documents

  4. 4

    Attach certified ID, academic transcripts, a motivational or lecturer's letter and your financial declaration

  5. 5

    Submit the completed application to the FPE administrator at the PSSA before the relevant closing date (postgraduate in early May, undergraduate around October)

  6. 6

    Wait for the FPE to assess applications on financial need, academic merit and other assistance received, and to confirm awards

  7. 7

    Reapply each year to renew the bursary

Required Documents

  • 📄 Certified copy of your South African ID
  • 📄 Latest academic transcripts / proof of academic results
  • 📄 Proof of registration at a recognised SA pharmacy school, department or faculty
  • 📄 Motivational letter and/or a supporting letter from a lecturer
  • 📄 Financial declaration / proof of household income to demonstrate financial need
  • 📄 Proof of PSSA membership (student membership for undergraduates)

Frequently Asked Questions

Who runs the FPE bursary?
The bursary scheme is run by the Pharmaceutical Society of South Africa (PSSA) through its Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education (FPE), which administers the awards and assesses applications.
When do applications open and close?
Postgraduate applications open in March, with the 2026 postgraduate closing date being 4 May 2026. Undergraduate 2027 application forms are available from June 2026; the undergraduate window typically opens in June and closes around October (the 2025 undergraduate closing date was 11 October 2025).
Can first-year students apply for the undergraduate bursary?
No. The undergraduate bursary is for full-time BPharm students in their second or a subsequent year of study. You also need to be a registered PSSA student member (which is free), have passed all previous modules and have a minimum overall average of around 60%.
How is the bursary amount decided?
There is no fixed rand value published. Each award covers one academic year and is decided on a combination of your financial circumstances, academic achievement and any other financial assistance you already receive. Bursaries are renewable each year on reapplication.

Ready to apply?

Applications close on 11 October 2026

Apply on Pharmaceutical Society of South Africa (PSSA) — administered through its Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education (FPE)'s official site

Need help? Contact Pharmaceutical Society of South Africa (PSSA) — administered through its Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education (FPE):

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 012 470 9562

Information verified 2026-06-08. Always confirm details on the funder's official website before applying.

Other Medical & Health Sciences bursaries

More funding opportunities in this field

ADSA Dietetics Bursary

Association for Dietetics in South Africa (ADSA)

The Association for Dietetics in South Africa (ADSA) awards an annual bursary to financially disadvantaged South African students studying towards an undergraduate BSc Dietetics degree. Worth up to R30,000 per year for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th years of study, it is aimed at first-year (or just-completed-first-year) students who show a genuine passion for food science, nutrition and health. Recipients also receive free ADSA student membership for the duration of the bursary.

View details →

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.

View details →

Clicks Foundation Bursary

Clicks Foundation (Clicks Group Limited)

The Clicks Foundation, the corporate social investment arm of JSE-listed retail-pharmacy group Clicks Group Limited, awards merit-based bursaries to South African students pursuing a BPharm (Pharmacy) degree. The fund targets scarce and critical skills in retail and pharmaceutical healthcare, covering registration, tuition, prescribed textbooks and study aids for the year of registration. Preference is given to persons with disabilities and applicants from designated Employment Equity groups.

View details →