Software development company bursaries fund computer science, software engineering, information systems and related technology degrees. They are smaller and less well known than bank or mining programmes, and for a technology student that is an advantage rather than a drawback.
Fewer applicants means better odds, and a software company bursary usually comes with something a large corporate programme cannot offer: direct contact with working engineers from your first year.
Eligibility Requirements at a Glance
The criteria follow the technology sector pattern.
- Be a South African citizen with a valid ID
- Be studying, or intending to study, computer science, software engineering, information systems, computer engineering or a closely related degree
- Have Mathematics at the level required — Mathematical Literacy is not accepted
- Meet the academic minimums the programme sets
- Be accepted at, or registered with, a recognised South African university
- Apply within the programme’s window
Income and Affordability Requirements
Demonstrable ability matters more here than anywhere else. Software companies assess whether you can actually build things. A learner with a GitHub profile, a working side project, competition results or contributions to an open source project stands out immediately, and this is entirely within your control regardless of your school’s resources.
You do not need a computer science course at school to start. Free tools and free learning resources are enough, and companies know that. What they look for is evidence that you build things because you want to, not because you were told to.
Means testing varies. Smaller company programmes may or may not be need-based. Confirm and prepare proof of household income either way.
Selection commonly includes a technical component — a coding assessment, a problem-solving exercise or a technical interview — alongside the standard application. Practising for that is worthwhile.
Credit and Financial Requirements
Coverage varies with company size. Smaller company bursaries may cover tuition and a laptop rather than the full package a large corporate offers. Confirm exactly what is covered and budget for the rest.
What smaller programmes often provide instead is access: mentoring by working engineers, vacation work on real projects rather than in a training programme, and exposure to a whole business rather than one department. For a developer, that is arguably worth more than accommodation coverage.
Where a work-back obligation applies, 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.
Work-back obligations at smaller companies are usually shorter, but read the terms — for a developer with scarce and mobile skills, even a short obligation has an opportunity cost.
Verify the company. Before applying to any funder you have not dealt with before, verify it. Look for a physical address and a landline, check that the organisation exists and is what it claims to be, and reach its website by typing the address yourself rather than following a link from a message or a social media post. Fabricated bursary announcements circulate widely in South Africa.
Continuation is conditional on academic performance.
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 funding is defrauding you. Apply only through the funder’s own official channel.
Documents and Verification Required
Applications are made through the company’s own careers 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, or affidavits where a parent is unemployed, self-employed or deceased
- 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
Smaller company windows are less predictable than large corporate ones and are advertised mainly on the company’s own site and social channels. Follow the companies you are interested in.
Apply widely across the technology sector — software companies, banks, insurers, telecommunications operators, consultancies and technology divisions of large corporates all fund the same degrees.
- Build things and make them visible — a portfolio counts more than in any other field
- Keep Mathematics from Grade 10
- Practise for a technical assessment or coding interview
- Confirm exactly what a smaller programme covers, and budget for the rest
- Value the access and mentoring, not only the money
- Apply across the whole technology sector
- Verify any company you have not heard of before applying
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to have coded before applying?
It is not usually a formal requirement, but demonstrable ability — projects, a portfolio, competition results — counts more in this field than in almost any other.
Are smaller company bursaries worth applying for?
Yes. Fewer applicants means better odds, and smaller programmes often provide direct mentoring by working engineers and real project work.
Is coverage as good as a large corporate bursary?
Often not in money terms. Confirm exactly what is covered. What smaller programmes offer instead is access, mentoring and real work, which for a developer is substantial.
Can I apply with Mathematical Literacy?
No. Computer science and software engineering degrees require Mathematics.
Criteria, coverage and windows are set by the company and change. Confirm current requirements directly through its official channel before applying.