The FirstRand Empowerment Foundation (FREF) uses its Education Portfolio to widen access to university, and it pays for two kinds of study: a first undergraduate degree for recent school leavers, and a first Honours degree for graduates. Two different organisations run the applications. StudyTrust handles the first-year bursary, and Feenix handles the Honours bursary. For the 2027 academic year, the Honours round is taking applications now, while the first-year round has just closed.
The Honours bursary is open until 31 December 2026
Feenix opened the FREF Postgraduate Bursary on 28 September 2026 and lists 31 December 2026 as a provisional closing date. The bursary supports a first, full-time, one-year Honours degree at a South African public university in 2027. Students already busy with Honours, or who already hold an Honours degree, cannot apply.
Feenix checks every applicant against fixed criteria that it does not review case by case:
- South African citizen who is African, Coloured or Indian (Black as defined in the B-BBEE Act)
- Aged 18 to 35 on 31 December 2027
- At least 60% for NSC Mathematics (Mathematical Literacy does not count)
- An undergraduate average of at least 60%
- Combined household income of R700,000 a year or less
- No other bursary or funding for the same studies, because FREF does not allow double funding
The approved Honours fields for 2027 are Actuarial Science, Agricultural Sciences, Biosciences, Climate Sciences, Computer Science, Data Science, Electronics, Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Indigenous Knowledge Systems, Information Management, Information Science, Information Systems, Information Technology, Mathematical Sciences, Mathematics, Physics, Renewable Energy, Risk, Sciences and Statistics. Psychology qualifies only as a BA Honours (Psychology). Commerce Honours degrees do not qualify.
What FREF pays at Honours level
Successful Honours students can receive full tuition (paid straight to the university), accommodation up to R65,000, a monthly travel stipend, a book allowance, food and airtime vouchers, and student support services. FREF funds only accredited accommodation that appears on the university fee statement, so a private landlord cannot be paid directly.
Documents for the Feenix form
The form accepts PDF files of up to 5 MB each. Have a certified ID copy no older than six months, a certified matric certificate, your full undergraduate academic record, an Honours acceptance letter if you have one, and the 13-digit ID numbers of everyone in your household. Students living with a disability also need a completed EEA1 form and a recent medical letter. You can save a draft and return to it through a private link.
Start on the FREF Honours application on the Feenix bursaries site. Feenix answers questions at frefbursary@feenix.org and plans to send provisional acceptances by the first week of January 2027; if you hear nothing by then, treat the application as unsuccessful.
First-year funding through StudyTrust closed on 30 September
StudyTrust runs the FREF undergraduate bursary each year from 1 June to 30 September, so the window for students starting university in 2027 shut on 30 September 2026. Matriculants who missed it can prepare for the next season, which follows the same June to September pattern. The scheme covers the whole first degree at a traditional public university and pays tuition, accommodation, meals, learning resources, a monthly stipend and a computer in first year.
StudyTrust considers Black South African citizens who scored at least level 5 for Grade 12 Mathematics, will be no older than 21 in their first year of study, and finished matric no more than three years earlier. The household income cap is R700,000, the same as at Honours level. Funded degrees span agriculture, accounting, actuarial science, economics, engineering, climate and renewable energy studies, computer and data science, mathematics and statistics, physics and biosciences, law, psychology, architecture and several arts and design fields, and health sciences such as medicine, nursing, pharmacy and physiotherapy.
StudyTrust uses one online form for all the sponsors it represents, so a single application also puts you in line for other StudyTrust bursaries, such as the Investec tertiary bursary. Read the FREF undergraduate bursary page on StudyTrust’s website before the June 2027 season begins. Email apply@studytrust.org.za with any questions.
Other routes for science graduates
Because FREF refuses applicants who hold other funding, compare offers before you accept one. Honours students in the sciences can also look at NRF Honours funding, and the science bursaries list gathers more options by field.