IDC External Bursary Programme 2027
The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) is inviting academically deserving South African students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds to apply for its External Bursary Programme for the 2027 academic year.
The bursary is aimed primarily at students pursuing their first undergraduate qualification in fields considered important to South Africa’s economic and industrial development.
The programme supports selected qualifications across areas including Engineering, Science, Technology, Agriculture, Commerce, Finance, Law, Mathematics, Statistics and other quantitative disciplines.
Applications opened on 1 June 2026 and close on 30 September 2026.
IDC Bursary Programme Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) |
| Programme | IDC External Bursary Programme 2027 |
| Funding Type | Full study bursary |
| Citizenship | South African |
| Maximum Age | 26 years |
| Study Mode | Full-time |
| Institution | Public University or University of Technology |
| Preferred Household Income | R350,000 per annum or less |
| Income Considered | Up to R600,000 per annum, subject to affordability assessment |
| Opening Date | 1 June 2026 |
| Closing Date | 30 September 2026 |
| Application Method | Online |
Closing Date
Closing Date: 30 September 2026
Applicants should submit their applications and all required supporting documents before the deadline.
Incomplete applications or applications submitted after the closing date may not be considered.
Who Can Apply?
Applicants must:
- Be South African citizens.
- Have a valid South African ID.
- Be unemployed.
- Be 26 years old or younger.
- Be studying or intending to study full-time.
- Attend or plan to attend a South African public university or university of technology.
- Meet the required academic standards.
- Be pursuing an eligible field of study.
- Demonstrate financial need where applicable.
The programme is primarily intended for students pursuing their first undergraduate qualification.
Requirements for Current Matric Learners
Grade 12 learners completing Matric in 2026 must submit:
- Grade 11 final results.
- June 2026 Grade 12 results.
Preference will be given to applicants with a minimum:
APS of 75%
Current Matric learners should ensure that both sets of required academic results are available before submitting their application.
Requirements for Current University Students
Students who are already enrolled at tertiary level must have achieved at least:
65% average in their latest academic results.
Successful bursary recipients are expected to maintain at least:
60% GPA
throughout the bursary funding period.
Household Income Requirements
The IDC gives preference to applicants whose combined household income is:
R350,000 per year or less.
Applicants whose household income is between:
R350,000 and R600,000 per year
may still be considered, subject to an affordability assessment.
Applicants should provide the financial documentation requested by the IDC to allow their household circumstances to be assessed.
Preference Criteria
Additional consideration may be given to applicants who meet certain preference criteria, including:
- Students living with disabilities.
- Learners from Quintile 1, 2 and 3 schools.
- Applicants from rural communities.
- Students from historically disadvantaged communities.
- Academically strong candidates.
- Applicants demonstrating financial need.
Meeting a preference criterion does not necessarily guarantee bursary funding.
Fields of Study Funded
The IDC supports selected qualifications across several disciplines.
Engineering Fields
Qualifying Engineering-related programmes include:
- Industrial Engineering.
- Chemical Engineering.
- Electrical Engineering.
- Electronic Engineering.
- Mechanical Engineering.
- Mechatronic Engineering.
- Mining Engineering.
- Metallurgy Engineering.
- Civil Engineering.
- Construction Engineering.
- Quantity Surveying.
Science and Technology Fields
Funding may be available for:
- Analytical Chemistry.
- Physics.
- Biotechnology.
- Geology.
- Environmental Science.
- Bachelor of Science programmes.
- Mathematics.
- Statistics.
- Data Science.
- Computer Science.
- Information Science.
- Information Technology.
- BCom Information Systems.
Agricultural Studies
The bursary may fund:
- Agricultural Studies.
- Agriculture-related qualifications.
Finance and Commerce
Eligible fields include:
- Accounting – CA stream.
- Financial Management.
- Internal Audit.
- Cost and Management Accounting.
- Investment Management.
- Risk Management.
- Finance Studies.
- Economics.
- Econometrics.
- Financial Accounting.
- Financial Engineering.
- Business Management.
- Entrepreneurship.
Supply Chain and Logistics
Selected programmes may include:
- Transport Management.
- Logistics Management.
- Supply Chain Management.
Law Qualifications
Funding may be available for:
- BCom Law – Commercial Law.
- Bachelor of Laws (LLB).
- Diploma Law Studies.
- Selected postgraduate Law qualifications.
Quantitative Fields
Applicants studying the following may also be considered:
- Actuarial Science.
- Quantitative Risk Management.
- Mathematics.
- Statistics.
Applicants should confirm that their exact qualification is included in the eligible fields before applying.
What Does the IDC Bursary Cover?
Successful applicants may receive funding for several study-related expenses, including:
- Registration fees.
- Tuition fees.
- Examination fees, where applicable.
- University residence accommodation.
- University-accredited off-campus accommodation.
- Academic resources.
- Meal allowance.
- Transport allowance.
- Once-off laptop allocation.
The supplied information does not provide a fixed cash stipend amount. Applicants should therefore not assume that the meal or transport allowances constitute a monthly stipend.
First Qualification Requirement
The IDC External Bursary Programme primarily supports students pursuing a:
First undergraduate qualification.
Applicants should note that the programme does not generally fund:
- Second qualifications.
- Most postgraduate qualifications.
Postgraduate Funding Exceptions
Limited postgraduate funding may be considered in selected fields.
The supplied information identifies potential Honours-level funding in areas such as:
- Law.
- Accounting – CA.
- Actuarial Science.
- Mathematics.
- Statistics.
Postgraduate applicants should confirm that their specific programme falls within the eligible categories before applying.
Required Supporting Documents
Applicants must upload clear copies of the required supporting documentation.
Prepare:
- Recently certified South African ID, preferably not older than three months.
- Recently certified proof of residence.
- Latest academic results.
- 2026 mid-year results, where applicable.
- Matric certificate, if Matric has already been completed.
- Grade 11 final results, for current Matric learners.
- June 2026 Grade 12 results, for current Matric learners.
Parent or Guardian Financial Documents
Depending on the household circumstances, applicants may also need to provide:
- Latest payslips.
- Three months’ bank statements.
- Affidavit for unemployed parents or guardians.
- Six months’ bank statements for self-employed parents.
- SASSA grant confirmation letter.
- Death certificates where parents are deceased.
- Certified copies of parents’ IDs.
- Divorce certificate, where applicable.
- Sworn statement where parents are separated.
Important: Incomplete supporting documentation may result in the application being disqualified.
How to Apply for IDC Bursary Programme 2027
Applications must be submitted online through the IDC bursary application platform.
- Visit the official IDC bursary application portal.
- Read the programme requirements carefully.
- Confirm that your qualification is one of the eligible fields.
- Complete the online application form.
- Complete the required interview questionnaire.
- Upload all compulsory supporting documents.
- Check your personal, academic and financial information carefully.
- Review your application for missing documents.
- Submit the application before 30 September 2026.
- Keep a copy or confirmation of your submitted application.
Official Application Link
Applicants should use the official Industrial Development Corporation bursary application platform and verify the current application page through the IDC’s official website before submitting personal or financial information.
Important: Do not pay anyone to submit an IDC bursary application on your behalf.
Bursary Enquiries
For enquiries relating to the IDC External Bursary Programme, the supplied information lists:
Noluthando Baepi
Telephone: 011 269 3374
Email: noluthandob@idc.co.za
Alternatively:
Email: ExternalBursaryQueries@idc.co.za
Applicants should use the official IDC contact channels for bursary-related questions.
Important Application Notes
Before applying, remember:
- The programme is for South African citizens.
- Applicants must be 26 years old or younger.
- Full-time study is required.
- Study must take place at a South African public university or university of technology.
- Preference is given to financially disadvantaged students.
- Preferred household income is R350,000 or less per year.
- Households earning up to R600,000 per year may still be considered subject to affordability assessment.
- Current university students need at least a 65% latest academic average.
- Bursary recipients are expected to maintain at least a 60% GPA.
- Current Matric learners should submit Grade 11 final and June 2026 Grade 12 results.
- Preference may be given to applicants with an APS of 75% or higher.
- The bursary may cover tuition, registration, accommodation, meals, transport, academic resources and a once-off laptop allocation.
- Second qualifications are not normally funded.
- Limited postgraduate funding is available in selected fields.
- Complete supporting documentation is important.
- Applications close on 30 September 2026.
Expert Guidance
Career expert YouthScope Editorial Team advises applicants to start preparing their supporting documents well before submitting the IDC bursary application. Financial documentation is particularly important because household income forms part of the assessment. Current Matric learners should ensure that their Grade 11 final and June 2026 Grade 12 results are ready, while university students should prepare their latest academic record. Check every uploaded document before submitting the application and keep proof of submission for your records.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who can apply for the IDC Bursary 2027?
South African citizens who are 26 years old or younger, meet the academic requirements, demonstrate financial need and study or intend to study full-time at a public university or university of technology can apply, subject to the programme’s field requirements.
2. What household income does the IDC prefer?
Preference is given to applicants from households earning R350,000 or less per year. Households earning between R350,000 and R600,000 may still be considered subject to an affordability assessment.
3. What is the minimum average for current university students?
Current tertiary students need at least a 65% average in their latest academic results.
4. What marks should current Matric learners have?
The supplied requirements state that preference will be given to current Matric applicants with an APS of 75%. They must submit their Grade 11 final results and June 2026 Grade 12 results.
5. What does the IDC bursary cover?
Funding may cover registration, tuition, examination fees where applicable, accommodation, academic resources, meal allowance, transport allowance and a once-off laptop allocation.
6. Does the IDC fund postgraduate studies?
The programme primarily supports first undergraduate qualifications. Limited postgraduate funding may be considered in selected fields such as Law, Accounting – CA, Actuarial Science, Mathematics and Statistics.
7. Can students studying at private institutions apply?
The supplied requirements specify South African public universities and universities of technology.
8. When does the IDC Bursary 2027 application close?
Closing Date: 30 September 2026.
Disclaimer
Youthscope shares employment, internship, bursary and learnership opportunities from official employers to help South Africans access career opportunities. We are not the recruiting organisation and do not charge any application fees. Always verify information on the employer’s official website before submitting your application.
Opportunity Verification
✅ Published by: YouthScope Editorial Team
✅ Last Updated: 14 August 2026
✅ Information Source: Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) bursary information supplied for the 2027 programme
✅ Status: Reviewed for accuracy
YouthScope shares career information to help South Africans discover opportunities. Applicants should confirm final details with the official IDC bursary programme before applying.
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The YouthScope Editorial Team publishes verified South African learnerships, internships, bursaries, graduate programmes, and career opportunities. Our team researches opportunities from official employers, government departments, SETAs, universities, and trusted organisations to provide accurate career information for South African youth.