The Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA) is the Sector Education and Training Authority for mining and minerals. It funds bursaries, learnerships, apprenticeships and internships in fields the mining industry needs, drawn from the skills development levy paid by employers in the sector.
Its funding is closely tied to the industry’s skills pipeline, so what you are studying determines eligibility more than anything else about your application.
Eligibility Requirements at a Glance
The criteria follow the SETA pattern, with a mining-specific scope.
- Be a South African citizen with a valid ID
- Be studying, or intending to study, a qualification the mining sector needs — commonly mining, metallurgical, mechanical, electrical and chemical engineering, geology, mine surveying, and mining-related technical and artisan qualifications
- Be registered or accepted at a recognised public institution or an accredited training provider
- Have Mathematics and Physical Sciences for engineering and science qualifications — Mathematical Literacy is not accepted for these
- Meet the academic minimums the MQA sets
- Apply within the funding window, which is set annually and is often short
Income and Affordability Requirements
The funded fields are the filter. The MQA funds within the mining and minerals sector’s needs. Confirm the current list of funded qualifications on the MQA’s own website before applying — the list changes with the industry’s skills plan.
Means testing. Where funding is need-based, proof of household income is required. Where a parent is deceased, unemployed or self-employed, affidavits and supporting evidence are needed. This is the part of the application that most often stalls, so gather it early.
The MQA funds more than degrees. Artisan learnerships and apprenticeships in mining trades — fitting, boilermaking, electrical, millwright, diesel mechanic and rigging among them — are a substantial part of its funding, and they are a genuine route for people whose school results do not support a degree.
Mining communities and host communities are frequently prioritised in the sector’s funding arrangements. If you are from a mining or labour-sending area, say so and provide the proof.
Credit and Financial Requirements
Coverage varies by programme. Some awards cover tuition only; others include accommodation, meals, books, protective equipment and a stipend. Confirm exactly what is covered before relying on it.
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.
Where funding is tied to a learnership or apprenticeship, workplace placement is part of the arrangement rather than an optional extra, and the contract binds you and the employer.
Continuation is conditional on academic or training performance, so the required standard is worth confirming and taking seriously.
A word on the industry. Mining employment is cyclical and follows commodity prices, and mine work involves genuine physical risk governed by the Mine Health and Safety Act 29 of 1996. Anyone entering the sector should understand both. Safety training is compulsory and is not a formality.
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 MQA’s own channels, and incomplete applications are excluded.
- 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 are advertised on the MQA’s official website and channels, and they are often short. Check from mid-year and register for notifications where available.
Apply in parallel to mining company bursaries, which are substantial. The large mining houses run their own programmes with comprehensive coverage and guaranteed graduate placement, and the applications overlap with the MQA’s.
- Confirm your qualification appears on the MQA’s current funded list
- Work from the MQA’s official website rather than third-party bursary sites
- Consider artisan learnerships and apprenticeships, not only degrees
- State clearly if you are from a mining or labour-sending community
- Apply to mining company bursaries in parallel
- Gather proof of household income early
- Never pay a fee to apply for or secure funding
Frequently Asked Questions
What qualifications does the MQA fund?
Fields the mining and minerals sector needs — engineering, geology, mine surveying and mining-related technical and artisan qualifications. Confirm the current list on the MQA website.
Does it fund artisan training?
Yes. Learnerships and apprenticeships in mining trades are a substantial part of its funding, and they are a genuine route for those without degree-level results.
Are mining community applicants prioritised?
Mining and labour-sending communities are frequently prioritised in the sector’s funding. Provide proof if this applies to you.
Is there a work-back obligation?
Where one applies, the terms are in the agreement. Leaving early or declining a post usually converts the funding into a repayable debt.
Funded qualifications, criteria, windows and coverage are set by the MQA and revised annually. Confirm current requirements directly on the MQA’s official website before applying.