Bank bursary programmes have shifted markedly towards technology. Where these schemes once funded mainly accounting and finance, data science, software engineering, computer science and information security now account for a growing share of what banks fund.
That shift matters for anyone deciding what to study. A learner with strong Mathematics who is drawn to technology rather than accounting has more funded options in banking than they would have had a decade ago.
Eligibility Requirements at a Glance
The criteria follow the bank bursary pattern.
- Be a South African citizen with a valid ID
- Be studying, or intending to study, one of the funded qualifications — commonly computer science, data science, information systems, software engineering, mathematics, statistics, actuarial science, accounting and finance
- Have Mathematics, not Mathematical Literacy, at the level required
- Meet the academic minimums, which are high
- Be accepted at, or registered with, a recognised South African university
- Apply within the programme’s window, which closes well before the academic year
Income and Affordability Requirements
Confirm the funded fields for the current cycle. Technology disciplines have grown fastest in these programmes, but the specific list is set by the bank and revised.
Means testing varies by programme. Confirm whether a household income threshold applies, and prepare proof of household income regardless, with affidavits where a parent is unemployed, self-employed or deceased.
Selection includes assessment stages beyond the application form. For technology streams these sometimes include technical or logical reasoning assessment as well as general aptitude testing.
For technology fields specifically, demonstrable ability counts. A learner who has built things — written code, contributed to a project, competed in programming or cyber security competitions — stands out in a way that is not true of most other fields. Start before you apply.
Credit and Financial Requirements
Coverage is generally comprehensive: tuition, accommodation, meals, books, a laptop and a stipend, with vacation work at the bank. Confirm current coverage directly.
Vacation work in a technology function is particularly valuable, because it exposes you to production systems and real engineering practice, which university courses do not.
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.
Read what applies if you do not complete the qualification or do not take up the post. For technology graduates in a market where skills are scarce, the work-back is a real constraint on early career mobility, and it should be understood as such rather than skimmed.
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 bank’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
Windows close early and are advertised on the bank’s careers pages. Check from mid-year.
Apply widely. Banks, insurers, telecommunications companies, technology firms and consultancies all fund technology and quantitative degrees, and the applications overlap substantially.
- Keep Mathematics from Grade 10
- Confirm the current list of funded qualifications
- Build something before you apply — code, projects, competitions
- Apply through the official careers channel only
- Apply to banks, insurers, telecoms and technology firms in parallel
- Understand the work-back as a constraint on early career mobility
- Apply for NSFAS and institutional bursaries in parallel
Frequently Asked Questions
Do banks fund technology degrees?
Increasingly, yes. Data science, software engineering, computer science and information security now account for a growing share of bank bursary funding.
Can I apply with Mathematical Literacy?
No. The funded fields all require Mathematics at university level.
What makes a technology applicant stand out?
Demonstrable ability — code you have written, projects you have built, competitions you have entered. This counts more in technology than in most fields.
Is there a work-back obligation?
Generally yes. For technology graduates in a scarce-skills market, it is a real constraint on early career mobility. Read the terms carefully.
Funded qualifications, criteria, coverage and closing dates are set by the bank and revised annually. Confirm current requirements directly through its official careers channel.