Investec runs a high school bursary for learners from township and rural communities who show strong potential in Mathematics and Physical Science. Unlike many school scholarships, it does not move learners to a new school: Investec funds them at the school they already attend, as long as that school meets Investec’s performance standards. StudyTrust handles the applications. The round for learners who will be in Grade 10, 11 or 12 in 2027 closed on 30 September 2026.
The 70% rule and other learner requirements
- You will be in Grade 10, 11 or 12 in the year the bursary starts
- You are a South African citizen; Investec does not fund non-citizens
- You score at least 70% in every subject, including at least 70% in Mathematics and 70% in English
- You take pure Mathematics, not Mathematical Literacy, and do well in Physical Science and Accounting
- By the end of the year you apply, you have been at your current school for at least one year
- Your family can show financial need
Your school has to pass Investec’s test too
Investec checks the school’s track record as well as yours. The school should have:
- At least 75% of its learners taking pure Mathematics
- A matric pass rate of 90% or more, with 80% achieving university entrance
- At least 75% of learners scoring 50% or more in pure Mathematics
- At least 80% of learners scoring above 50% in English
- A supportive environment for learners overall
Once you hold the bursary, you may not change schools. StudyTrust warns that moving to a school that misses these criteria can lead Investec to cancel the bursary.
Funded until matric without reapplying
Investec’s FAQ confirms that a learner accepted onto the programme stays funded through the rest of high school and does not reapply each year. Investec reports that it awarded high school bursaries to 78 learners in Grades 10 to 12 in 2023, and that the 48 who matriculated that year earned 195 distinctions between them. Neither Investec nor StudyTrust publishes an itemised list of what the bursary pays for, so ask StudyTrust if you need detail on specific costs.
Documents for the StudyTrust application
StudyTrust considers only complete applications, with every supporting document certified. For the 2027 intake it asked for:
- Your South African ID or birth certificate
- Last year’s June and final school reports, and this year’s June report
- Certificates for achievements at school, and your CV
- Proof of household income: payslips or an employer’s letter with a sworn statement or tax return; financial statements for self-employed parents; sworn affidavits for unemployed parents
- Death certificates, a divorce certificate or a sworn statement on separation, where these apply
For the 2027 intake, StudyTrust selects learners between December 2026 and March 2027 and contacts applicants by email. Only a small number are shortlisted, and meeting the minimums does not guarantee a bursary.
When to apply next
StudyTrust opens the Investec high school application on 1 June and closes it on 30 September each year, with no extensions. Read the criteria on Investec’s High School Bursary Programme page, then apply on the StudyTrust Investec high school bursary page once the next window opens. Send questions to apply@studytrust.org.za. Unsuccessful applicants may apply again if they still meet the requirements.
After Grade 12, and Investec’s other school programmes
The high school bursary does not carry over to university. Matriculants must apply separately for the Investec Tertiary Bursary, which StudyTrust also runs. Investec also backs partner programmes that do place learners at other schools: the Student Sponsorship Programme, the Theo Jackson Scholarship Fund at Jeppe High School for Boys, and the SAILI programme with Diocesan School for Girls and St Andrew’s in Makhanda (Grahamstown). Younger learners in Grade 6 can look at the Allan Gray high school scholarship, and more options sit on our general bursaries list.