Eskom is South Africa’s state-owned electricity utility, and its bursary programme funds the engineering and technical disciplines that generating and distributing electricity depends on. It has historically been among the larger engineering bursary programmes in the country.
State-owned company programmes fund at more than one level, and that is worth knowing: alongside engineering degrees, utilities fund artisan apprenticeships and technical diplomas, which are substantial and well-paid routes into the same industry.
Eligibility Requirements at a Glance
The criteria follow the state-owned company pattern.
- Be a South African citizen with a valid ID
- Be studying, or intending to study, a qualification the organisation funds — commonly electrical, mechanical, civil, chemical, industrial and control engineering, and technical and artisan qualifications
- Have Mathematics and Physical Sciences — Mathematical Literacy is not accepted for these fields
- Meet the academic minimums, which are high
- Be accepted at, or registered with, a recognised South African public institution or accredited training provider
- Apply within the programme’s window, which closes well before the academic year
Income and Affordability Requirements
Confirm the funded fields and the availability of the programme for the current cycle on the organisation’s own careers channel. State-owned company bursary programmes are subject to budget and operational pressures, and both the funded list and the size of the intake change from year to year.
The artisan route is substantial. Power stations and distribution networks run on artisans — electricians, fitters, boilermakers, millwrights, instrument mechanicians and riggers. These are funded through apprenticeships leading to a trade test and trade certificate, and they are a genuine route for applicants whose results do not support an engineering degree.
Means testing. Where the programme is need-based, proof of household income is required, with affidavits where a parent is unemployed, self-employed or deceased.
Transformation criteria commonly form part of state-owned company programmes, and applicants from affected communities may be prioritised. Where either applies, state it and provide evidence.
Credit and Financial Requirements
Coverage is usually comprehensive: tuition, accommodation, meals, books, a laptop and a stipend, with vacation work at the organisation. Confirm current coverage directly.
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.
For state-owned company programmes the work-back is central and generally enforced. Understand that accepting commits your first working years, and read what applies if you do not complete or do not take up the post.
Engineering registration. Professional practice requires registration with the Engineering Council of South Africa, requiring an ECSA-accredited qualification and supervised experience. Funding does not guarantee accreditation — confirm it with ECSA separately.
A practical caution. Where a state-owned company is under financial pressure, graduate placement after a bursary is not always as certain as the agreement implies. Ask directly what proportion of recent bursary graduates were placed, and have a plan if placement is delayed. That is a fair question and the answer is informative.
Continuation of funding 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, and never share your login details.
Documents and Verification Required
Applications are made through the organisation’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 before the academic year and are advertised on the organisation’s own website. Check from mid-year, and confirm the programme is running for the cycle.
Apply to several engineering bursary programmes in parallel — other state-owned companies, municipalities, the mining and petrochemical sectors, and the large engineering and consulting firms all fund the same degrees.
- Confirm the programme is running and what it funds for the current cycle
- Consider apprenticeships and technical diplomas, not only degrees
- Take Mathematics and Physical Sciences at school
- Confirm ECSA accreditation of the engineering programme separately
- Ask what proportion of recent bursary graduates were placed
- Apply to several engineering bursary programmes
- Read the work-back and repayment terms before accepting
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the programme fund artisan training?
Utilities fund apprenticeships in the trades their operations depend on, alongside engineering degrees. Confirm the current offerings.
Is Mathematical Literacy accepted?
No. Engineering and technical qualifications require Mathematics and Physical Sciences.
Is graduate placement guaranteed?
The agreement generally provides for it, but where an organisation is under financial pressure, placement can be delayed. Ask what proportion of recent graduates were placed.
Does funding mean my degree is ECSA-accredited?
No. Confirm accreditation with the Engineering Council of South Africa separately, since professional registration depends on it.
Programme availability, funded qualifications, coverage and closing dates are set by the organisation and change. Confirm current requirements directly through its official careers channel, and accreditation with ECSA.