The HCI Foundation has opened its 2025/2026 Bursary program and is inviting all applicants to apply now.

The HCI Foundation is an independent trust, controlled by its trustees. These include members of the HCI Board of Directors, employees from subsidiary companies of HCI, and independent experts who are able to add value to the specific foci of the Foundation’s work.

Below are the details to consider when applying for this Bursary program:

ENDING DATE: This bursary will end on 15 September 2025/2026.

LOCATION:

BURSARY REQUIREMENTS:

Below are the requirements to consider when applying for this Bursary program:

• You must be a South African citizen OR a permanent resident, refugee or asylum seeker
• You must be 35 years old or younger on the application closing date (15 November 2025/2026)
• You must be studying on a full-time basis (part-time or distance studies will NOT be funded)
• You must NOT be studying at a TVET College
• You must have a gross family income of less than R38 000 per month
• You must NOT be in receipt of a full cost bursary or a large partial bursary from another source (you may still apply if you have received a partial bursary, NSFAS or other loan)
• Current HCI bursary recipients: you must be continuing your studies towards an undergraduate qualification, at a recognised public University or University of technology in South Africa, in 2025/2026
• New HCI bursary applicants: you must be studying towards an Honours or Postgraduate Diploma, at any of these universities in South Africa:
  • University of Witwatersrand
  • University of Johannesburg
  • University of Pretoria
  • University of Cape Town
  • University of the Western Cape
  • University of Stellenbosch
  • Rhodes University
  • University of KwaZulu-Natal
  • University of the Free State
  • Nelson Mandela University
  • North-West University

BURSARY COVERAGE:

The HCI Foundation bursary will cover for up to 75% of tuition fees (up to maximum of R38 000 per annum). Payments are made into the student’s fee account at their institution, around July every year.
The Foundation does NOT cover any other expenses (such as books, residence, meals, transport, living expenses, except in special circumstances).

METHOD OF APPLICATION

Applications must be submitted online at: HCI Bursary Application 2025/2026

Please add below documents when applying when applying.

• ID document, if a South African citizen (certified copy)
• Proof of permanent residency, refugee or asylum seeker status, if applicable (certified copy)
• Full academic record, including most recent results (on institutions letterhead)
• Proof of monthly income for the last 3 months: own/ parents/ guardians (payslips if employed, affidavit if unemployed, bank statement if self-employed, grant or pension slip if applicable) (certified copies)
• Motivational letter explaining why you should be selected for the bursary (including the following: your personal qualities and ethics, your leadership potential, your capacity for critical, your commitment to giving back) (to be saved in a separate word document – between 550 and 750 words)
• New applicants: proof of registration or acceptance in to any of the above universities for 2025/2026 (on university letterhead)