When to apply for 2027

The Foundation will be working directly with selected universities to identify eligible and deserving
students. Applications to the HCI Foundation Bursary Programme will be by invitation only and
facilitated through the selected institution’s internal channels.

Who qualifies?

South African citizens, refugees, and asylum seekers who fulfil the following criteria:

• Current HCI Foundation bursary recipients who are continuing their undergraduate studies in 2027 at a public university in South Africa.
• New 2027 Honours, Postgraduate Diploma and PGCE students at the listed institutions
• The gross family income should be less than R38 000 per month.
• Age 35 years or under on 31 March 2027.

NB: We do not fund part-time students, distance learning students or students studying at Technical Vocational Education
and Training (TVET) Colleges and institutions we support. 

Ongoing current bursary recipients completing their undergraduate studies and new students at Honours and Postgraduate Diploma level at the following institutions only:

1. University of Cape Town
2. University of the Western Cape
3. University of Stellenbosch
4. University of KwaZulu-Natal
5. University of Pretoria
6. University of the Witwatersrand
7. University of Johannesburg
8. Rhodes University
9. Nelson Mandela University
10. University of the Free State
11. North-West University

How to apply

We wish to inform all prospective applicants that the HCI Foundation’s online bursary application platform has been permanently discontinued. Going forward, bursary applications will no longer be submitted through the digital portal. Instead, we will be working directly with selected universities to identify eligible and deserving students. Applications to the HCI Foundation Bursary Programme will be by invitation only and facilitated through your institution’s internal channels. HCI Foundation bursary applications are officially closed for the 2026 academic year and will reopen in February 2027

What you need to apply

• You must have a working email address.
• You must have a working cell phone number.
• You must have a student number if you are applying for your second or higher year of study. This is only applicable to our returning students.
• You must have proof of the exact amount of your parents’ or guardians’ monthly income. Bank statements are not accepted as proof of income.
  • Please note: You must submit proof of income for both parents. If one parent is deceased, then the death certificate must be submitted. If you only live with one parent, then an affidavit from your parent should be submitted stating that your parent is single. If your parent is unemployed, an affidavit from your parent must be submitted stating that the parent is unemployed.

What does the bursary cover?

The HCI Foundation bursary is a partial bursary that covers a student’s tuition fees up to R42 000 per
annum. We do not cover accommodation and books (except in special circumstances). 

**Please note that we do not pay for repeat years of study or repeat modules.

How and when do payments occur?

Payments occur around July of each year. We pay the bursary amount directly into the student’s fee account at his or her institution of study. We do not pay students directly.

What are the conditions of our bursary?

The HCI Foundation bursary is free, and we do not require bursary recipients to repay their bursaries EXCEPT in special circumstances where;

• The student failed their studies due to a proven lack of commitment and did not inform the Foundation in advance about their circumstances.
• The student is intentionally unwilling to participate in the bursary programme activities during and after they have completed their studies.
• The student provided false/inaccurate information to unduly receive the bursary.

The Foundation expects bursary recipients to give back by engaging with community projects, reporting back to the HCI Foundation through tutoring and mentoring programmes, and volunteering in their communities.

In addition, bursary recipients are required to attend workshops and complete surveys during their academic year and after completing their studies.

Can the student apply if he/she has a National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) loan, other loans or another bursary?

You may be eligible for an HCI Foundation bursary if you are a recipient of a loan or a partial bursary from elsewhere. 

However, we will withdraw our bursary if a student receives a full-cost bursary or a significantly large partial bursary from another donor. The withdrawn bursary will be allocated to another deserving student. 

Students with large partial bursaries and those with full-cost bursaries are required to inform the HCI Foundation of their status or decline our bursary by sending an email to bp@hcifoundation.co.za

Does the HCI Foundation cover Master’s or Doctoral/PhD studies?

No. The HCI Foundation does not fund Master’s or Doctoral/PhD studies.

HCI Foundation funding is limited to Honours and Postgraduate Diploma level studies. 

Does the HCI Foundation assist with internships or employment?

The HCI Foundation runs a Graduate Development Programme that seeks to close the work experience gap required by potential employers. Only the HCI Foundation bursary recipients qualify to participate in this programme by sending their Curriculum Vitae (CV) and a motivational letter to bp@hcifoundation.co.za for consideration when there are opportunities available. It must be noted that this programme does not guarantee graduates employment or internship opportunities. However, opportunities are shared with graduates once they become available. Graduates are encouraged to stay in touch with the Foundation and regularly inform us of their employment or studies progress.