Sage South Africa, the accounting and business software company, runs the Sage External Bursary for previously disadvantaged students at public universities. Sage gives first priority to students living with disabilities, and for them it widens the bursary to every field of study. StudyTrust administers the bursary for Sage. Sage stopped taking applications for 2027 funding on 30 September 2026; its StudyTrust listing reads “closed for 2027”.
Degrees Sage funds
Sage supports undergraduate students from first year to final year in these programmes:
- Computer Science or Computer Engineering
- Information Technology
- Bachelor of Commerce specialising in Accounting and Finance
Wider rules for students with disabilities
Sage relaxes three of its conditions for applicants living with a disability:
- Any field of study qualifies, not only IT and accounting.
- Postgraduate degrees qualify as well as undergraduate ones.
- Sage accepts a pass rate below 65%, though not below the pass rate your programme expects.
Marks and family income Sage looks for
- Grade 12 learners: 75% or more in both Mathematics and Physical Science
- University students: a consistent average of 65% or more
- South African citizenship and previously disadvantaged (PDI) status
- An application to, and acceptance at, a public higher education institution
- Family income from R350,000 to R600,000 a year
Sage sets the income floor at R350,000 because it assumes NSFAS covers poorer households. If your family earns less than that and you meet the other criteria but NSFAS did not grant you its DHET bursary, Sage will still consider you. Say so clearly in your application.
Costs covered, including old study debt
Sage pays capped amounts towards:
- Tuition
- Residence or private accommodation
- Books and stationery
- A living allowance
- A laptop
Unusually, the Sage fund also covers historical study debt as well as current fees. That makes the bursary worth a look for a student whose outstanding balance blocks registration or the release of results. Sage does not publish the caps in rand.
How the StudyTrust season works for Sage
Sage does not accept applications itself; everything goes through StudyTrust’s online system. The season opens on 1 June and closes on 30 September, and successful applicants receive funding from the following academic year. One StudyTrust application puts you in line for every bursary you qualify for, so Sage applicants are also considered for StudyTrust’s other sponsors. Start with the Sage External Bursary page on StudyTrust, then follow the instructions on StudyTrust’s applications page when the next season opens. Questions go to apply@studytrust.org.za.
Accounting students can compare Sage with the Standard Bank Group bursary, while the Investec tertiary bursary also runs through StudyTrust. For more computing funders, see our IT bursaries hub.