JB Marks Education Trust Fund Bursary 2025/2026

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JB Marks Education Trust Fund has opened its 2025/2026 Bursary application program and is inviting all interested applicants to apply.

The JB Marks Education Trust Fund was set up by  NUM in 1997 to empower members and their dependents, particularly graduates entering the mining and related sectors. We are named after John Beaver Marks, a leading figure in the mineworkers’ struggle against exploitation. He was a vocal advocate of education as an empowerment tool and a vital weapon in the fight against poverty.

In our first year we could only help 53 beneficiaries. Our work has massively expanded since then and an important milestone was reached in 2017 when we became a 100% self-administered fund.

ENDING DATE: This JB Marks Education Trust Fund 2025/2026 Bursary will end on 30 November 2025/2026.

LOCATION: South Africa

BURSARY REQUIREMENTS:

To apply for this bursary program, consider below requirements

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS:

  • You must be a NUM member OR a dependent of a NUM member (including children and spouses)
  • You must be studying towards an undergraduate qualification
  • You must be studying at a recognised public tertiary institute (University or FET College – no private institutes)
  • You must NOT currently be in receipt of any other funding

POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS:

  • You must be a NUM members who has NOT been previously funded by the Trust
  • You must have graduated from undergraduate studies within the last 2 years
  • You must be studying within a critical field of study

BURSARY COVERAGE:

The coverage of the bursary is determined on a case-by-case basis depending on the field of study, and will be awarded on a first-come-first-serve basis due to a limitation on funding.

Successful candidates will be contacted with an acceptance letter (via physical delivery, post or email), as well as to all NUM national branches. If you do not receive any correspondence or acceptance letter by 31 December 2025/2026, and your name is not on the NUM regional list, regard your application as unsuccessful.

METHOD OF APPLICATION

All application must be done online following below link:

JB Marks Education Trust Fund Bursary Application (Undergraduate)

NB: Remember to add the following documents when submitting your application

  • Applicants ID document (certified copy)
  • Union members ID document (certified copy)
  • Union members payslip
  • Latest academic school results (certified copy)
  • Academic acceptance letter confirming that the student is enrolled in studies (on tertiary letterhead)
  • Letter stating whether you are receiving other financial assistance for your studies outside of the Trust, if applicable
  • Proof of dependency if students surname is different from the NUM member (Abridged Birth Certificate/ Clinic Immunization Card/ Magistrate Guardianship letter/ Medical Aid Beneficiary Certificate/ Marriage Certificate)

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