Roche South Africa, the local arm of the Swiss pharmaceutical and diagnostics group, funds students through the Roche Diagnostics Bursary. Excel@Uni, a bursary management company, runs the application portal and the student support side for Roche. On 1 October 2026 the portal still listed only the 2026 Roche Diagnostics Bursary, marked “Applications are currently closed”, and no intake for 2027 study had appeared there.
Fields Roche Diagnostics funded in its 2026 round
Roche looks beyond science graduates. Its last round accepted first-, second- and third-year students registered in:
- STEM-related degrees: engineering, science, medical or quantitative commerce
- Information technology
- Human resources
- Marketing
- Legal studies
- Purchasing, logistics and supply chain
- Business management
- Electrical engineering and mechatronics
Roche accepts “closely related” courses in most of these areas, so a student in a neighbouring discipline should read the next advert carefully rather than rule themselves out.
The 75% matric and 70% university thresholds
Roche sets two separate academic bars. A matriculant needs a Bachelor’s pass with an average of at least 75%. A student already at a university or college needs an average of 70% or more for the latest full academic year, or for the year so far. Roche also required applicants to be:
- South African citizens younger than 36
- Registered full-time at a DHET- or CHE-registered university or college
- Studying towards an NQF 7 qualification or higher: a diploma, advanced diploma, bachelor’s degree or honours
Roche excludes higher certificates, master’s and doctoral studies. The 2026 round was also open to matriculants of 2025 and to students taking a gap year after matric in 2024. Among qualifying applicants, Roche said it may prefer candidates who fit its transformation and employment equity goals, and students on track to finish in the minimum time.
Full-fee funding with Excel@Uni support
Roche describes the award as full-fee funding: registration and tuition, accommodation, meals, books, and stationery or other necessities that the sponsor approves. Bursars also get ongoing psycho-social support from Excel@Uni and light-touch mentoring. Roche confirms the exact cover only in the signed award letter.
Roche renews the bursary one year at a time, based on marks, engagement with the programme and the sponsor’s budget. A first-year award does not guarantee funding for the whole qualification. Roche also warns that a bursar found to be studying part-time, holding undisclosed paid work or giving false information can lose the bursary and have to repay everything received.
Paperwork Roche asked for last time
The portal asked for certified copies less than three months old. Prepare these now so that a short application window does not catch you out:
- Your South African ID, plus your parents’ or guardians’ IDs (or death certificates)
- Proof of household income: SASSA documents or three months of payslips, or affidavits if guardians are unemployed
- A one- to two-page statement on why you chose your field, how you will use it and why funding you benefits Roche
- Matriculants: Grade 11 final report and latest Grade 12 report, both stamped by the school
- Tertiary students: matric certificate, latest official academic transcript and the current fee statement (plus a lease if you rent off campus)
- Proof of any NSFAS or other bursary funding, or a police affidavit stating you have none
Applicants younger than 18 also need a guardian consent form, which the portal provides. Shortlisted candidates may face interviews and psychometric assessments. Roche says that if you hear nothing within three months of the closing date, you should treat the application as unsuccessful.
Watching the Roche portal for a 2027 round
Applications open only on the Roche bursary portal run by Excel@Uni. When Roche opens a new round, the closed 2026 card should be replaced by a new one with an apply button. Questions about the portal go to Excel@Uni at support@excelatuni.com.
While you wait, compare the Cipla bursary, another pharmaceutical company that funds business and science fields, and the Nedbank external bursary. The general bursaries list covers other funders with no single-field focus.