DEC Trust Bursary for Students with Disabilities South Africa 2027

WHAT FIELDS OF STUDY DOES THE DEC TRUST BURSARY COVER?

The Disability Empowerment Concerns (DEC) Trust is inviting students to apply for their bursary programme, for the 2027 academic year.

Bursaries will be awarded to students with disabilities, for undergraduate or postgraduate studies within the following scarce and critical skills fields, that align with South Africa’s National List of Occupations in High Demand and the Department of Home Affairs Critical Skills List.

** RELATED BURSARIES **

• View our other Engineering Bursaries and Scholarships here.
• View our other Science Bursaries and Scholarships here.
• View our other Bursaries OPEN for application here.

WHAT EXPENSES DOES THE DEC TRUST BURSARY COVER?

The bursary will provide full cover for the following expenses: tuition fees, prescribed textbooks and stationery, accommodation in residence or approved private accommodation, living allowance and laptop.

Students will also receive the following benefits: assistive devices, assistive technology, and disability-related support services required for successful participation in academic studies, when these devices are not provided through the institution’s disability unit.

WHAT IS THE SELECTION PROCESS FOR THE DEC TRUST BURSARY?

Bursary recipients will be selected based on the following main criteria:

• Disability status and support requirements.
• Admission to a registered university.
• Academic performance.
• Registration for an approved scarce and critical skills qualification.
• Demonstrated commitment to successfully completing the qualification and contributing to addressing South Africa’s scarce and critical skills needs.
• Availability of bursary funding.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. If you do not receive any feedback, please consider your application unsuccessful.

www.zabursaries.co.za is committed to keeping you up to date with the latest bursary opportunities, and this article covers all details about the DEC Trust Bursary.

WHAT ARE THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR THE DEC TRUST BURSARY?

Applicants must satisfy the following minimum entry criteria before applying (please note that failure to satisfy all the requirements will lead to your application not being considered):

• You must be a South African citizen
• You must have a disability
• You must be currently in Matric or have completed Matric
• You must be studying or intend on studying towards an undergraduate or postgraduate qualification, within one of the scarce fields listed above
• You must have applied and been accepted to study at a recognised and accredited public university in South Africa
• You must have achieved a minimum overall average of 65% in your most recent studies (in Matric or university)
• You must NOT be receiving any other bursary, scholarship or financial assistance from another public or private funding source, for 2027

HOW CAN I APPLY FOR THE DEC TRUST BURSARY?

Enter “www.zabursaries.co.za” in the field asking how you heard about the DEC Trust bursary.

Applicants must read the StudyTrust bursary instructions page before applying.

WHAT DOCUMENTS MUST I SUBMIT FOR THE DEC TRUST BURSARY?

Submit clear copies of the following documentation along with your email application (the submission of these documents is compulsory – if any items are missing, your application may be disqualified):

• ID document (certified copy)
• Matric students: Grade 11 final results and Matric latest results
• University students: complete academic record, including latest 2026 academic results
• Proof of admission to a public university
• Proof of disability from a medical practitioner

WHEN IS THE CLOSING DATE FOR THE DEC TRUST BURSARY?

30 September 2026.

(Applications submitted after this date will not be accepted – please apply before the closing date to ensure your application is considered.)

HOW CAN I CONTACT THE BURSARY PROVIDER?

For any queries related to this bursary programme, please contact StudyTrust (the administrators for this bursary) directly:

• Tel: 011 482 1501 / 011 403 1632
• Email:apply@StudyTrust.org.za

Please do NOT contact StudyTrust or the DEC Trust if this bursary has already closed. View our other bursaries open for application here: https://www.zabursaries.co.za/bursary-news/

WHAT DOES DEC TRUST DO?

The Disability Empowerment Concerns (DEC) Trust is a South African organisation dedicated to advancing the social and economic inclusion of persons with disabilities. Established in 1996, the Trust creates sustainable opportunities through strategic investments, partnerships and education initiatives that empower individuals to reach their full potential. Rather than providing short-term assistance, DEC focuses on building long-term impact by supporting programmes that improve access to education, skills development, employment and economic participation.

As part of its commitment to developing future leaders, the DEC Trust Bursary Programme assists South African students with disabilities who are pursuing qualifications in scarce and critical skills fields at recognised public universities. Beyond financial support, the Trust aims to help students overcome barriers to higher education, enabling them to graduate with the knowledge and skills needed to contribute to South Africa’s inclusive economic growth.

— END —

This bursary listing was last updated in July 2026.

SA Bursaries wishes you the best of luck with your application! Please remember to SHARE this page with anyone you know who may be in need of bursary funding.