Sasol runs one of the larger corporate bursary programmes in South Africa, funding students in engineering, science and technical fields that feed its own operations. Corporate bursaries of this kind differ from state funding in a fundamental way: the company is building its future workforce, not distributing public money.
That shapes everything about the programme. The fields funded are the ones the company needs, the selection looks for people it would want to employ, and the funding comes with an obligation to work for the company afterwards.
Eligibility Requirements at a Glance
Corporate bursary criteria are typically specific and strictly applied.
- Be a South African citizen with a valid ID
- Be studying, or intending to study, one of the specific qualifications the programme funds — commonly chemical, mechanical, electrical, industrial and mining engineering, and the physical and chemical sciences
- Have Mathematics and Physical Sciences at the levels the programme requires — Mathematical Literacy is not accepted for these fields
- Meet the academic minimums the programme sets, 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
The fields funded are the constraint. Corporate bursary programmes fund what the company needs. A qualification outside that list will not be funded however strong the applicant, so check the current list of funded qualifications before investing effort in the application.
Those lists change with the company’s needs, so confirm the current one directly rather than relying on what was funded in a previous year.
Academic standards are high. Corporate programmes recruit students they expect to employ, which means selection is closer to graduate recruitment than to needs-based funding. Strong Mathematics and Physical Sciences results are the entry point, not the differentiator.
Selection commonly involves assessment beyond the application form. Confirm what the current process involves — aptitude assessment, interviews and other stages are used by corporate programmes.
Financial need may or may not be a criterion depending on the programme. Some corporate bursaries are purely merit-based; others include a means test. Confirm which applies.
Credit and Financial Requirements
Coverage is usually comprehensive. Corporate bursaries commonly cover tuition, accommodation, meals, books, a laptop and a stipend, along with vacation work at the company during the degree. That vacation work is valuable in itself and often shapes the graduate placement.
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. If you leave early, or do not take up the post, the bursary usually converts into a repayable debt. Read that clause carefully before signing — it is a contract, not a gift.
For corporate bursaries the work-back is the point of the arrangement, and it is generally strictly enforced. The commitment is typically one year of service for each year funded, and the agreement will set out what happens if you decline the post, leave early, or fail to complete the qualification.
Understand before signing that this binds your first years of employment. That is a fair exchange for comprehensive funding and a guaranteed graduate post, but it is a commitment made at eighteen about your mid-twenties, and it should be made with open eyes.
Continuation is conditional on academic performance, and corporate programmes typically set a higher continuation standard than state funding does.
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 website or advertised channel, and never send money or share banking details to obtain funding.
Documents and Verification Required
Applications are made through the company’s own bursary channel.
- Certified copy of your South African ID
- Grade 11 final results and Grade 12 mid-year results, or university transcripts
- Proof of acceptance or registration at a recognised university
- Proof of household income, where the programme is means-tested
- Proof of residence
- A curriculum vitae and motivation letter
- Any assessment or interview stages the programme requires
How to Apply and Improve Approval Readiness
Corporate bursary windows close early — often around mid-year for the following academic year — and are advertised on the company’s own careers pages rather than widely publicised.
Apply to several corporate programmes. Companies in mining, energy, chemicals, engineering, financial services and telecommunications all run bursary schemes, and the applications overlap substantially in content.
- Check the current list of funded qualifications before applying
- Apply through the company’s official careers channel only
- Take Mathematics and Physical Sciences at school — these fields require them
- Apply to several corporate programmes, not just one
- Prepare for assessment and interview stages
- Read the work-back agreement fully before signing
- Apply for NSFAS and university bursaries in parallel
Frequently Asked Questions
Which qualifications are funded?
Corporate programmes fund the fields the company needs, commonly engineering and the physical sciences. Confirm the current list directly, as it changes with business needs.
Is Mathematical Literacy accepted?
Not for engineering and science qualifications. Mathematics and Physical Sciences are required.
Do I have to work for the company afterwards?
Yes, where a work-back obligation applies — typically one year of service for each year funded. Leaving early or declining the post usually converts the bursary into a repayable debt.
Is the bursary means-tested?
It depends on the programme. Some corporate bursaries are purely merit-based; others include a means test. Confirm which applies.
Funded qualifications, academic criteria, selection processes, coverage and closing dates are set by the company and revised annually. Confirm current requirements directly on the company’s official bursary channel before applying.