The South African Actuarial Development Programme (SAADP) is a non-profit organisation that works to change who becomes an actuary in South Africa. Alongside maths clubs and school outreach, SAADP runs a full bursary for Black and Coloured South African students who need financial help to study Actuarial Science at one of its three partner universities: Wits, the University of Pretoria (Tuks) and UCT.
SAADP’s March-to-September application cycle
SAADP’s application portal states that applications open on 1 March and close on 30 September every year. On 1 October 2026 the portal showed applications as closed and said new applications will open when SAADP announces its next cohort. Learners who applied this year can still sign in to follow their application.
After the deadline, SAADP screens and shortlists applicants and makes conditional offers between October and December, then gives final feedback from January to March. A conditional offer is not yet funding: SAADP waits for final matric results before it issues a firm offer.
How SAADP supports a student
- Full tuition fees
- Residence and a living allowance
- Meal allowances
- Textbooks and study materials
- Academic and psychosocial mentoring, and personal development workshops
- Leadership training, workplace readiness and industry exposure
SAADP renews the bursary each year if your results are satisfactory. You do not repay it and you do not have to work for SAADP afterwards, although SAADP asks graduates to stay in South Africa and to mentor the students who follow them.
Who SAADP funds
- Black and Coloured South African citizens. SAADP does not fund foreign students.
- Learners in Grade 12, or Actuarial Science students in first, second or third year.
- Strong Mathematics results: SAADP’s guide is 80% or higher.
- Proven financial need.
- Study at Wits, UP or UCT. Students at another ASSA-accredited university can apply only once a partner university has accepted them.
- No full bursary from another funder. Students on a partial bursary may apply.
Learners who do not take Physical Sciences can still apply, but only for UCT or Tuks. SAADP also encourages learners whose Grade 11 final marks disappointed them to apply anyway, because they may still meet a particular university’s entry rules.
Getting your documents ready before March
SAADP takes applications online through the SAADP bursary application portal: you create a profile, fill in the form (SAADP estimates about 15 minutes, and you can save and return), and upload your documents as clear PDF, JPG or PNG files. Have these ready:
- A certified copy of your ID and of a parent’s ID
- Grade 11 final and Grade 12 June reports, or your latest university transcript
- Proof of household income
- A conditional acceptance (or proof of registration) for Actuarial Science
- The signed parent consent form, which you download from the portal
Because SAADP wants a university acceptance, apply to Wits, UP or UCT early in Grade 12. SAADP answers application questions at myapplication@saadp.co.za and on 011 642 2202, and its bursary programme page on saadp.co.za explains the process in more detail.
Reading your status on the SAADP portal
- Shortlisted: you meet the minimum criteria, but your university still has to verify you.
- Enrolled/Registered: the university has verified you.
- Conditional offer: SAADP is waiting for final matric results, and funding is not guaranteed.
- Firm offer: the full bursary is yours if you accept it in time.
- Waiting list: strong results, but no funding available for now.
SAADP also sends updates by email, so check both the portal and your inbox.
Pairing SAADP with other actuarial funding
Actuarial students can also apply to Sanlam’s actuarial bursary, whose window runs from February to June, so plan both applications in the first half of Grade 12. The IDC External Bursary also lists Actuarial Science among its fields. See our science bursaries page for more.