How much does the HCI Foundation Bursary cover?

It is a partial bursary covering tuition fees up to R42,000 per year. The funds are paid directly into your fee account at your institution, usually around July. It does not cover accommodation (except in special circumstances), repeat years or repeat modules.

Who qualifies for the HCI Foundation Bursary?

You must be a South African citizen, refugee or asylum seeker, aged 35 or younger on 31 March of the funding year, studying full-time towards an Honours degree or Postgraduate Diploma at a public university or university of technology, with strong academic results and a gross family income of less than R38,000 per month. Master's and PhD studies are not funded.

Is there a repayment or work-back obligation?

No. Under normal circumstances the bursary carries no repayment and no work-back obligation. You may have to repay it if you fail through lack of commitment without telling the Foundation, refuse to take part in programme activities, or gave false information. Recipients are expected to give back through community projects, tutoring or mentoring and volunteering.

When does the HCI Foundation Bursary open?

Applications for the 2026 academic year are closed. The Foundation says applications will reopen in February 2027, by invitation only through selected universities - the online portal has been permanently discontinued - so confirm the process with your institution's Financial Aid or Advancement Office.

Postgraduate

HCI Foundation Bursary Programme

HCI Foundation (corporate social investment arm of Hosken Consolidated Investments Ltd, administered by the HCI Foundation Bursary Department in partnership with university Financial Aid / Advancement offices)

The HCI Foundation Bursary Programme offers partial postgraduate funding to financially needy, academically strong South African students completing full-time Honours degrees or Postgraduate Diplomas at public universities and universities of technology. The bursary covers tuition fees up to R42,000 per year, with no repayment and no work-back obligation under normal circumstances. Applications are by invitation only through selected universities - the Foundation's online portal has been permanently discontinued.

Amount: Partial bursary covering tuition fees up to R42,000 per year, paid directly into the student's fee account at their institution (around July each year)
Deadline: To be announced
Renewable: No

2027 applications not yet open

Visit official site

Eligible Fields of Study

Honours degree studies

Postgraduate Diploma studies

Full-time study at public universities and universities of technology

Eligibility Requirements

✓ South African citizen, refugee or asylum seeker
✓ Studying full-time towards an Honours degree or Postgraduate Diploma at a public university or university of technology (Master's, PhD, part-time, distance and TVET studies are not funded)
✓ Gross family income of less than R38,000 per month (demonstrated financial need)
✓ Aged 35 or younger on 31 March of the funding year (31 March 2026 for the 2026 intake)
✓ Strong academic performance
✓ NSFAS or other loans are allowed, but the bursary is withdrawn if you receive a full-cost or substantial partial bursary from another source

What's Included

✓ Tuition fees covered up to R42,000 per year
✓ No repayment unless you fail through lack of commitment without informing the Foundation, refuse to take part in programme activities, or give false information
✓ No work-back obligation under normal circumstances
✓ Funds paid directly into the student's institutional fee account (around July each year)
✓ Opportunities to engage in community projects, tutoring/mentoring and volunteering
✓ Not covered: accommodation (except in special circumstances), repeat years and repeat modules

Work Commitment

No work-back obligation under normal circumstances. Recipients are, however, expected to participate in community projects, tutoring or mentoring and volunteering activities.

How to Apply

Steps to complete your HCI Foundation (corporate social investment arm of Hosken Consolidated Investments Ltd, administered by the HCI Foundation Bursary Department in partnership with university Financial Aid / Advancement offices) bursary application

1
Check the HCI Foundation bursaries page (hcifoundation.co.za/bursaries) for the 2027 round, which the Foundation says will reopen in February 2027
2
Note that applications are by invitation only and go through your institution - the HCI Foundation works directly with selected universities, and its online portal has been permanently discontinued
3
Ask your university's Financial Aid or Advancement Office whether it is part of the programme and how to be considered
4
Check that you meet the eligibility criteria, including the family income threshold and age limit
5
Prepare a working email address, a working cellphone number and proof of exact monthly income for both parents or guardians
6
Wait for the HCI Foundation and your university to assess applications and notify successful candidates

Required Documents

📄 Certified copy of your South African ID, or refugee / asylum-seeker documentation
📄 Latest full academic transcript / results
📄 Proof of registration or acceptance for full-time Honours or Postgraduate Diploma study
📄 Proof of exact monthly income for both parents or guardians (bank statements are not required)
📄 Death certificates, single-parent affidavits or unemployment affidavits where relevant
📄 Student number (returning students only)

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the HCI Foundation Bursary cover?: It is a partial bursary covering tuition fees up to R42,000 per year. The funds are paid directly into your fee account at your institution, usually around July. It does not cover accommodation (except in special circumstances), repeat years or repeat modules.
Who qualifies for the HCI Foundation Bursary?: You must be a South African citizen, refugee or asylum seeker, aged 35 or younger on 31 March of the funding year, studying full-time towards an Honours degree or Postgraduate Diploma at a public university or university of technology, with strong academic results and a gross family income of less than R38,000 per month. Master's and PhD studies are not funded.
Is there a repayment or work-back obligation?: No. Under normal circumstances the bursary carries no repayment and no work-back obligation. You may have to repay it if you fail through lack of commitment without telling the Foundation, refuse to take part in programme activities, or gave false information. Recipients are expected to give back through community projects, tutoring or mentoring and volunteering.
When does the HCI Foundation Bursary open?: Applications for the 2026 academic year are closed. The Foundation says applications will reopen in February 2027, by invitation only through selected universities - the online portal has been permanently discontinued - so confirm the process with your institution's Financial Aid or Advancement Office.

When do 2027 applications open?

HCI Foundation bursary applications are closed for the 2026 academic year and, according to the Foundation, will reopen in February 2027. Applications are by invitation only through the student's institution, and the online portal has been permanently discontinued (checked 12 October 2026).

Check HCI Foundation (corporate social investment arm of Hosken Consolidated Investments Ltd, administered by the HCI Foundation Bursary Department in partnership with university Financial Aid / Advancement offices)'s official site

Need help? Contact HCI Foundation (corporate social investment arm of Hosken Consolidated Investments Ltd, administered by the HCI Foundation Bursary Department in partnership with university Financial Aid / Advancement offices):

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 021 424 6010

Information verified 2026-10-12. Always confirm details on the funder's official website before applying.

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