Vodacom’s External Bursary Programme backs high-achieving undergraduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and in business and commercial degrees. Vodacom Group’s bursary page gave 31 August 2026 as the closing date for its latest round, so applications are now shut until Vodacom opens the next one.
Matric and university marks Vodacom looks for
Vodacom wants students in their first, second or third year of full-time undergraduate study at a South African tertiary institution. To be considered you need:
- South African citizenship by birth
- A Grade 12 pass with exemption (a bachelor’s pass) and an average of 70% or more across all subjects
- An average of at least 65% if you are already in first year or a later year
- A STEM or business and commercial qualification
Read the citizenship rule closely: Vodacom’s page says citizen by birth, not simply citizen.
Fees, residence, a laptop and a phone
The Vodacom package goes beyond fees. Bursars receive:
- Full registration and tuition
- Full university residence, or a capped allowance for private accommodation
- A textbook allocation and a meal allowance
- A laptop and a cellphone
Vodacom also runs an orientation workshop, a vacation work programme and work readiness training for its bursars, and gives them full access to its wellness programme with Lyra Wellbeing Services.
Vodacom’s online portal and the one document it asks for
Vodacom takes applications on its Vodacom external bursary portal, linked from the bursary programme page on vodacom.com. Vodacom asks applicants to:
- Check that they meet every requirement above.
- Use a desktop, laptop or tablet with the Chrome browser, not a phone.
- Click Apply Now and complete the form.
- Attach their most recent academic transcript.
Vodacom confirms receipt of each application and says it keeps applicants updated during the assessment. Keep your transcript as a clean PDF so you can upload it the day the next round opens.
Missed 31 August? Where to look now
Vodacom has not yet said when its next round opens, so keep an eye on the vodacom.com bursary page. In the meantime, IT and computer science students can look at the BBD bursary and the Amazon bursary, or scan the full list of IT bursaries.