High School Bursaries and Scholarships South Africa
Access to quality education in South Africa often comes with significant financial pressure, especially at the high school level where fees, uniforms, books, and extracurricular costs can quickly add up. For many families, bursaries and scholarships provide a vital pathway to opportunity, as they help talented and hardworking learners attend schools that might otherwise be out of reach. These funding options are not only designed to support academic excellence, but also to recognise leadership, sporting ability, cultural achievements, and financial need.
Whether you’re a parent planning ahead or a student aiming to secure your future, understanding how high school bursaries and scholarships work is an important first step.
From prestigious private school awards to government and organisation-funded support, South Africa offers a wide range of options. In this guide, we’ll explore the different types available, who qualifies, and how to apply, so you can make informed decisions and maximise your chances of success.
BURSARIES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDIES
We have compiled a list of bursaries and scholarships available for high school students:
High school bursaries closing in 2026:
- KMF High School Scholarship: for students entering High School (Grade 8) in 2028. Students will be matched with top South African institutions, allowing them to embark on their Grade 8 studies, reach their academic goals, and meet their fullest potential. Applications close on 17 May 2026.
Please note, we will be adding to this list as we find new bursaries and scholarships available for high school students, so be sure to check back here again.
High school bursaries closing in 2025:
- SANRAL High School Scholarship: for students entering Grade 8 to Grade 12 in 2026, who demonstrate academic merit and financial need. Applications close on 30 September 2025.
- Investec High School Bursary: for students entering Grade 10, Grade 11 or Grade 12 in 2026, who demonstrate good academic potential in Mathematics and Accounting or Science. Applications close on 30 September 2025.
- Ruta Sechaba Foundation Scholarship: for students in High School (currently in Grades 8 to 11), with excellent achievers in Academics or Sport. and are in financial need. Students will be placed in leading schools in the country. Applications close on 15 September 2025.
- Allan Gray Orbis Foundation High School Scholarship: for students currently in Grade 6 (entering Grade 8 in 2027), who demonstrate significant entrepreneurial potential, strong academics and are in financial need. Applications close on 15 September 2025.
- SBF High School Scholarship: for students currently in Grade 6 (entering Grade 8 in 2027), who demonstrate strong academics and are in financial need. Students will be placed in SBF partner High Schools in the Cape Town Metropole. Applications close on 22 August 2025.
- AISCT High School Scholarship: for students entering Grade 9 in 2025, for studies at the American International School of Cape Town. Applications close on 15 January 2025.
High school bursaries closing in 2024:
- Barberton Mines High School Scholarship: for students studies at Hoërskool Barberton (in Mpumalanga), for students entering Grade 8 or 9 in 2025 Applications close on 27 December 2024.
- Spirit Education Foundation Trust High School Scholarship: for students entering Grade 8 in 2026, for studies at SEF’s partner high schools, in Cape Town. Applications close on 30 October 2024.
- African Scholars Fund High School Bursary: for students entering Grade 8 or Grade 9 in 2025, who show academic promise, demonstrates initiative, seeks out opportunity and accepts responsibility. Each year, the African Scholars Fund awards bursaries to over 2000 high school students at ASF-supported schools in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and Northern Cape. Applications close on 15 September 2024.
- UCT Online High School Scholarship: for students entering Grades 8 to 11, who will complete the high school CAPS curriculum online. Applications close on 31 August 2024.
- MAD Leadership Foundation Scholarship: for high school studies at any public school in South Africa. Applications close on 30 June 2024.
- Siyandisa Scholarship: for students entering Grade 12 in 2024. The programme hopes to aid learners in growing and achieving academic excellence. Applications close on 1 March 2024.
- Toughees Bursary Competition: for students in primary (Grades 1 to 7) and high school (Grades 8 to 12). This competition aims to award 10 lucky students their share of R200 000, to cover any outstanding school fees for the 2024 academic year. Applications close on 15 February 2024.
- Enel Bursary: for students entering high school (Grade 8 to Matric), who reside within the company’s community of operations, in the Northern Cape, Western Cape and Free State. Applications close on 12 January 2024.
High school bursaries closing in 2023:
- Ekapa High School Scholarship: for students entering Grade 10 to Matric in 2024, residing within the mine’s labour-sending area of Frances Baard District Municipality (Northern Cape). Applications close on 15 December 2023.
- Elsen Academy Legacy Trust High School Scholarship: for students entering Grade 8 to Grade 10 in 2024, who are living with special needs (which includes, but is not limited to: dyslexia, ADHD, ASD (Autism)). Applications close on 30 November 2023.
- Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls (OWLAG) Scholarship: for female students entering Grade 8 or Grade 9 in 2024. Students will attend the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in Gauteng. Applications close on 31 March 2023.
- SAILI High School Scholarship: for students entering Grade 8 in 2024, to study at partner high schools within the Western Cape. The scholarship is aimed at students from low-income families who are gifted in Mathematics and Science. Applications close on 9 January 2023.
BURSARIES FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDIES
If you are looking for primary school bursaries, visit our Scholarships and Bursaries for Primary School Students page.
Don’t forget to check which bursaries are open for application and read our bursary tips and articles (including how to write a motivational letter for your bursary application, how to prepare for a bursary interview, our tips to submitting a bursary application and more).
Are you following us on social media? We post our latest bursary opportunities and reminders of bursaries closing soon on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
