Armscor, the state-owned Armaments Corporation of South Africa, uses its bursary scheme to build the science and engineering skills that the defence industry needs. The Armscor Bursary Scheme funds learners from previously disadvantaged backgrounds who want to study engineering or science full time and who are interested in a career in the defence industry.
Armscor’s last round closed in February 2026
Armscor’s most recent call ran from 3 November 2025. Its bursaries web page gives 26 February 2026 as the last day, while the application form it published gives 28 February 2026. Either way, that round is over, even though the web page still says applications are open. Armscor has not announced dates for its next round. If it follows the same pattern, a new call could appear from November, so check the Armscor bursaries page before then and again during the first weeks of November.
Eight study areas tied to defence work
Armscor only funds the fields it says are critical to South Africa’s defence and security:
- Aeronautical Engineering
- Naval or Marine Engineering
- Mechanical or Mechatronics Engineering
- Electronic or Electrical Engineering
- Computer Science, IT, Cyber Security and AI
- Physics and Astrophysics
- Biochemistry and Chemistry
- Human Kinetics and Ergonomics
Costs the Armscor bursary carries
Armscor’s information sheet lists tuition fees, accommodation and meals, prescribed books and a living allowance. It adds vacation work where Armscor can arrange it, so holiday placements are not promised to every bursar.
Levels 5 to 7 in Maths, Science and English
Armscor’s minimum entry rules from the last round were:
- South African citizenship.
- Achievement levels of 5, 6 and 7 in Mathematics, Physical Sciences and English, and excellent results overall.
- Financial need, shown by a combined parent or guardian gross income of no more than R1 000 000 a year.
- An interest in working in the defence industry.
- Study, or a plan to study, one of the eight fields above at a recognised public tertiary institution in South Africa.
The application form lets you choose any level from first year through to Honours or Master’s, so current university students can apply as well as matriculants.
Sending your application to Armscor
Armscor does not use an online portal. You download the Armscor bursary application and information form (PDF), fill it in by hand in print, sign it with a parent or guardian, and send it with certified copies of your documents. You can email it to bursaries@armscor.co.za with the subject line “Armscor Bursary Application – ” followed by the full name of your qualification, or post it to the Senior Manager: Learning & Organisation Development, Armscor Ltd, Private Bag X337, Pretoria, 0001. Use the form Armscor publishes for the new round when it opens, as this one belongs to the last call.
The last round asked for:
- A cover letter stating your field of interest and your motivation
- A certified copy of your ID, and certified IDs of your parents or guardians
- Matric mid-year results if you are in Grade 12, your matric certificate if you have finished school, or your full academic record if you are at university
- Proof of your parents’ or guardians’ income: payslips, an employment letter, a SASSA letter, or an affidavit for informal traders and unemployed parents
- A death certificate if a parent has died
Shortlisted applicants later supply final matric results, a university acceptance letter or proof of registration, a student number and, for university students, a fee statement. Armscor says applicants who hear nothing within two weeks of the closing date should treat their application as unsuccessful.
Related engineering bursaries
Electrical and mechanical engineering students can compare Armscor with the Eskom bursary and the Transnet bursary, while students drawn to aerospace and space science can read about the SANSA bursary. Our engineering bursaries page has the full list.