The Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) is the country’s supreme audit institution, established under Chapter 9 of the Constitution to audit public sector accounts. It runs a bursary programme feeding its own trainee auditor pipeline, principally towards the chartered accountancy qualification.
That makes it a corporate-style bursary attached to a constitutional institution: comprehensive funding, a structured training contract afterwards, and a work-back obligation.
Eligibility Requirements at a Glance
The criteria reflect a programme building auditors for the public sector.
- Be a South African citizen with a valid ID
- Be studying, or intending to study, a SAICA-accredited accounting degree leading to the CA(SA) qualification, or another qualification the programme specifies
- Have Mathematics, not Mathematical Literacy, at the level required
- Meet the academic minimums the programme sets, which are high
- Be accepted at, or registered with, a university whose accounting programme is SAICA-accredited
- Apply within the programme’s window, which closes well before the academic year
Income and Affordability Requirements
Mathematics is essential. The CA(SA) route requires it at university level, so Mathematical Literacy closes this door entirely. Learners considering this route must keep Mathematics from Grade 10.
Accreditation matters twice over. The degree must be SAICA-accredited for the CA(SA) route, and the bursary is aimed at that route. Confirm both the accreditation of the programme and the current requirements of the bursary before applying.
Financial need may form part of the assessment. Confirm whether the programme is means-tested and what the current threshold is, and prepare proof of household income either way.
Selection for programmes of this kind typically involves stages beyond the application form. Confirm what the current process involves and prepare for it.
Credit and Financial Requirements
Coverage is generally comprehensive for programmes of this kind: tuition, accommodation, meals, books and a stipend, together with vacation work and a training contract afterwards. Confirm current coverage directly.
The training contract is the substantial part of the value. Completing a training contract with the Auditor-General counts towards the CA(SA) qualification, and public sector audit experience is distinctive and well regarded.
Most large bursaries carry a work-back obligation: you agree to work for the funder for a defined period after qualifying, commonly one year for each year funded. Leaving early, or declining the post, usually converts the bursary into a repayable debt. Read that clause before signing — it is a contract.
For a programme of this kind the work-back is central to the arrangement and is generally strictly enforced. Understand that accepting binds your first working years, and read the repayment terms that apply if you do not complete or do not take up the post.
Continuation of funding is conditional on academic performance each year, and the standard is typically high.
Bursary applications are always free. No legitimate funder charges an application fee, a “processing” fee or a fee to release funding. Anyone asking for payment to secure a bursary is defrauding you. Apply only through the funder’s own official channel, and never send money or share banking details to obtain funding.
Documents and Verification Required
Applications are made through the institution’s own recruitment channel.
- Certified copy of your South African ID
- Certified copies of your parents’ or guardians’ IDs, where means testing applies
- Latest academic results — Grade 11 and Grade 12, or university transcripts
- Proof of acceptance or registration at the institution
- Proof of household income: payslips, pension advice, or an affidavit where a parent is unemployed or self-employed
- Death certificates where a parent is deceased
- Proof of residence
- A curriculum vitae and motivation letter, where required
How to Apply and Improve Approval Readiness
Windows close well before the academic year and are advertised on the institution’s own careers pages rather than being widely publicised. Check from mid-year.
Apply in parallel to the Thuthuka Bursary Fund if you qualify, to audit firm bursaries, to NSFAS and to institutional bursaries. The applications overlap substantially and the field is unusually well funded.
- Keep Mathematics from Grade 10 — Mathematical Literacy closes this route
- Confirm the university’s accounting programme is SAICA-accredited
- Apply through the official careers channel only
- Apply to Thuthuka and audit firm bursaries in parallel
- Prepare for selection stages beyond the application form
- Read the work-back and repayment terms before accepting
- Never pay a fee to apply for or secure a bursary
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the bursary lead to?
A trainee auditor role and a training contract counting towards the CA(SA) qualification, with public sector audit experience.
Can I apply with Mathematical Literacy?
No. The CA(SA) route requires Mathematics at university level.
Is there a work-back obligation?
Yes, for programmes of this kind — typically one year of service for each year funded. The agreement sets out what applies if you do not complete or do not take up the post.
Should I apply to other bursaries too?
Yes. Thuthuka, audit firm bursaries, NSFAS and institutional bursaries all operate in parallel, and accounting is among the best-funded fields in South Africa.
Eligibility criteria, coverage, selection processes and closing dates are set by the institution and revised annually. Confirm current requirements directly through the Auditor-General’s official recruitment channel before applying.