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Helping the children of current Smollan employees pursue their educational ambitions through a dedicated bursary programme

Growing our people and transforming lives

We are Smollan, a global retail solutions partner with more than 90 years of experience helping brands and retailers win at the point of purchase. Operating across 61 countries, we partner with over 500 global and local brands and are powered by more than 90,000 people.

At Smollan, we believe that when we invest in our people, we invest in the future. Through initiatives like the Smollan Bursary Programme, we support education, development and potential—creating opportunities for our employees and their families to build brighter futures and make a lasting impact.

Through our partnership with The Feenix Trust, Smollan is helping talented children and dependents of our employees access higher education by providing financial support and the resources they need to succeed.

Who it supportsEligible dependents of permanent B-band Smollan employees

Study pathwayApproved qualifications at approved institutions

What it enablesStudents can focus on achieving their academic goals and building brighter futures

Support for the whole student journey

We recognise that every student's journey is unique, and that success requires more than funding and tuition. Through our partnership, The Feenix Trust provides wraparound support that can include:

Core funding

Tuition and registration fees
Accommodation where applicable
Meals and learning resources

Personal development

Personal and professional development virtual masterclasses
Financial literacy

Student wellbeing

Access to wellbeing services
Student support throughout the higher education journey

Together, these services are designed to support students academically, personally and professionally throughout their higher education journey, helping them not only access education but thrive while they are there.

*Please note that benefits will be customised to align with each student's individual needs and requirements.

Eligibility criteria

Applicant criteria

The parent must be permanently employed at Smollan in a B-band role.
The applicant must be studying or intending to study towards an approved qualification at an approved institution. Access the list of approved institutions and qualifications.
If awarded the bursary, the applicant must undertake to accept and join Smollan's graduate programme for twelve (12) months immediately following successful completion of their qualification, if Smollan has an available programme at that time and selects the applicant to participate.

Application will ask for

Full home address and employment status
Motivation for qualification choice
Parent name, surname, ID number and employee / EE number
Household working status and monthly income confirmation
Proof of relationship to the Smollan employee
Current matric results or statement
Use of Smollan education resources

Smollan bursary FAQ

Who is eligible for the Smollan bursary?

Applicants must be the biological child, stepchild, adopted child, legal ward or other recognised dependent of a permanently employed B-band Smollan employee. The applicant must be studying, or intending to study, an approved qualification at an approved public institution.

Applicants must also be willing to participate in a 12-month Smollan graduate programme after completing their qualification, if a programme is available and they are selected by Smollan.

What information and documents do I need before starting my application?

You will need your contact details, South African ID number, residential address, employment status and academic information. This includes your institution, approved qualification, field and year of study, and a short motivation explaining your choice of qualification.

You will also need your Smollan-employed parent or guardian’s name, surname, ID number and employee or EE number. The form asks about your relationship to the employee, household employment and income, and whether you have previously used Smollan education resources.

Prepare the following documents:

A certified copy of your ID
Proof of application, acceptance or registration
Your current matric results or latest academic record / statement, where available
Your latest university fee statement
Proof of your relationship to the Smollan employee
Supporting documents for adopted or stepchild applicants, where applicable

What should I do if the form says my ID number already exists or has been used?

Only one application may be submitted for each student. Once a student’s ID number has been used, it cannot be used for another application.

A Smollan employee may support separate applications for more than one eligible child, but each child must submit their own application using their own ID number. If you have not previously applied and believe your ID number has been used incorrectly, contact bursaries@feenix.org or call 063 968 7544.

How will I know that my application was submitted successfully?

When will I receive feedback or find out whether I have been shortlisted?

What should I do if I uploaded the wrong, incomplete or outdated document?

What if my institution, campus or qualification is not listed?

Can I apply if I study at a private institution?

Does the bursary cover historic debt, and when will funding be paid?

Who should I contact if I need to correct information after submitting?

Start your application

The application is split into short steps so applicants can focus on one set of details at a time. The institution and qualification fields use the confirmed approved lists.

Annual re-application required

Please note that your current application only covers one year of study. If your qualification extends beyond one year, you will need to re-apply each year for subsequent funding, which will be dependent on your academic performance from the previous year.

Open application form