There is no single Fundi bursary with one fixed set of requirements. Fundi runs a Bursary Support Programme (BSP): funders list their bursaries on Fundi’s BSP portal, and each listing carries its own eligibility requirements. The Fundi bursary requirements you must meet are the ones on the specific opportunity you apply for.
What stays the same is the route in: you find open opportunities on the portal, create an online profile and submit your application for the listing you choose. The portal also lists internships and learnerships, so make sure you are in the bursaries section.
Eligibility Requirements at a Glance
Fundi does not set one set of criteria for all its bursaries. In practice, that means:
- The funder’s criteria decide who qualifies. Each listing has an Eligibility Requirements section. A closed 2024 listing from one funder, for example, required a minimum 60% academic average and set conditions on citizenship, field of study, institution and year of study. Yours will differ.
- You must apply to a listed opportunity. If the portal shows no open bursaries, there is nothing to apply for until a funder advertises one.
- Age: the BSP site’s terms and conditions say you must be at least 18 to use the website. If you are younger, ask Fundi or the funder how to apply.
Meeting a listing’s criteria makes you eligible to be considered. The funder decides who is awarded, and competitive bursaries usually receive more eligible applicants than they can fund.
Income and Affordability Requirements
Fundi does not publish an income threshold for BSP bursaries. Where a bursary is aimed at students in financial need, any household income limit and the proof required are set by the funder and stated on the listing. Merit-based bursaries may have no income test at all.
A bursary is not a loan, so the affordability assessment Fundi runs on its loan applicants is a separate matter. If you need to borrow instead, see our Fundi student loan requirements guide.
Credit and Financial Requirements
Check the listing for any financial criteria; do not assume there is a credit check or that there is none. Credit and affordability checks are part of Fundi’s student loans, which are a different product that must be repaid.
Before you accept a bursary, read the agreement and look for conditions. Some corporate bursaries come with a work-back or service commitment, or require you to repay the award if you drop out. How the money is paid (to your institution, or as allowances) is set out by the funder and Fundi, so ask which applies to your award.
Documents and Verification Required
Each listing states its own document list, so upload exactly what that bursary asks for. Bursaries in South Africa commonly request:
- A copy of your ID (certified, if the listing says so)
- Your latest academic results: Grade 11 or matric results for school leavers, or an academic record for current students
- Proof of acceptance, application or registration at your institution
- Proof of household income, where the bursary is means-tested
- A motivation letter or answers to the funder’s questions
Make sure the details you give match your institution’s records. Mismatches can delay or end an application.
How to Apply and Improve Approval Readiness
- Go to the bursaries list on Fundi’s BSP portal and check which opportunities are open.
- Open the listing and check every criterion, the closing date and the document list before you start.
- Create an online profile (or log in) and complete the application for that listing.
- Upload clear, current documents and submit before the closing date.
- If you are selected, read the bursary agreement carefully before you sign it.
To give yourself the best chance, apply only to bursaries whose criteria you meet exactly, and check the portal regularly, because listings depend on funders advertising. Apply to other funding at the same time: NSFAS if your household income qualifies, and other bursaries in your field.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Fundi bursary?
It is not one bursary. “Fundi bursary” usually refers to bursaries that funders advertise through Fundi’s Bursary Support Programme on the BSP portal. Each has its own criteria and value.
How does the Fundi bursary work?
A funder lists a bursary on the portal with its eligibility requirements and application steps. You apply to that listing by creating an online profile and submitting your application. The funder, not Fundi, decides who is awarded.
Where do I apply for a Fundi bursary?
On the Fundi BSP portal, under Bursaries.
Why are there no bursaries on the Fundi portal?
The portal only shows opportunities that funders are currently advertising. When none are open, the list is empty. Check back regularly and apply to other funding in the meantime.
Does Fundi check my credit record for a bursary?
Check the listing: any financial criteria are set by the funder. Credit and affordability checks are part of Fundi’s student loans, which are a separate product that must be repaid.
My company wants to offer a bursary through Fundi. Who do I contact?
Fundi asks corporates interested in its bursary support programme to email [email protected].
Listings and criteria change with every intake, so confirm the details on the listing itself and with Fundi on 0860 55 55 44 or [email protected] before you apply. See loan requirements for repayable options and browse all finance and funding requirements.