The FREF Postgraduate Bursary helps talented students from under-resourced communities take the next decisive step: a first postgraduate qualification with the support to thrive.
Provisional closing date: 31 December 2026.
The FirstRand Empowerment Foundation partners with Feenix to connect academic promise with practical opportunity. The bursary combines financial assistance with wraparound services so recipients can focus on completing their studies and building a sustainable future.
Funding is not a guarantee at the initial eligibility stage. Every complete application is reviewed against the final programme rules and available bursary places.
The FirstRand Empowerment Foundation (FREF) Bursary provides financial support to eligible South African students pursuing their First Honours degree in 2027 in selected fields of study.
To be eligible, you must:
The FREF Bursary supports first Honours degrees at NQF Level 8 within the eligible STEM and Psychology fields.
Please check the list of eligible fields and qualifications before applying.
No. Commerce-related qualifications are not eligible for the FREF Bursary.
No. The FREF 2027 Bursary is for students who will be studying towards their first Honours degree in 2027.
You must be applying to study your first full-time Honours degree in 2027 and meet all other FREF eligibility criteria.
No. The FREF Bursary is intended to support students pursuing their first Honours degree.
Your combined household income must be R700,000 or less per year.
You may be required to provide supporting documentation to verify your household income during the application and screening process.
You must have:
Meeting the minimum academic requirements does not automatically guarantee funding. Applications are subject to the full eligibility and selection process.
Successful students may receive support towards:
Accommodation support is available up to a maximum of R65,000, subject to the applicable FREF funding conditions.
The FREF Bursary does not pay private accommodation providers directly.
Accommodation funding is only provided for accredited accommodation that appears on your university fee statement. Students are therefore encouraged to confirm that their accommodation is recognised and billed through their institution before making accommodation arrangements.
Yes. Tuition funding is paid directly to the relevant institution according to the FREF disbursement process.
After applications close, eligible applications go through a screening and verification process. You may be contacted if additional information or documentation is required.
Being eligible to apply does not guarantee that you will receive funding.
You may submit your application where permitted, but you may need to provide your provisional or final acceptance documentation during the screening process.
No. The FREF Bursary is an exclusive funding opportunity, and double-dipping is not permitted.
If you receive funding from another organisation or funding source, you will not be eligible to receive FREF funding. You are required to disclose any other funding you have received or secured.
The FREF Bursary is intended for eligible studies at recognised South African institutions. Please ensure that your institution and qualification meet the programme requirements.
If your qualification does not appear to fall within the eligible STEM or Psychology fields, please review the eligibility criteria carefully before submitting your application.
Yes. If you are not ready to submit your application, you can save your draft and return to it later.
Important: Make sure you save your application link somewhere safe so that you can easily return to your draft and complete your application.
No. Meeting the minimum eligibility requirements means that you qualify to be considered, but it does not guarantee that you will receive funding.
Applications are subject to the FREF selection, verification and available funding process.
If you need assistance, please contact the Feenix team through the support channels provided on the website.
Before contacting the team, we recommend reviewing the eligibility criteria and FAQ section to see whether your question has already been answered.
FirstRand Empowerment Foundation Postgraduate Bursary · 2027 applicant journey