Free State Office of the Premier Bursary South Africa 2026
The Free State Office of the Premier Bursary Programme is one of the most impactful South Africa bursaries for 2026, aimed at growing the province’s workforce by funding students in scarce and critical skills fields. This bursary supports underprivileged, academically strong students residing in the Free State.
1. Fields of Study Covered (Scarce & Critical Skills)
The bursary supports full-time studies in the following disciplines:
Health & Medical Sciences
- MBChB
- Physiotherapy
- Dietetics
- Radiography
- Occupational Therapy
- Pharmacy
- Nursing
- Medical Orthotics & Prosthetics
Engineering & Built Environment
- Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Mining, Chemical Engineering
- Architectural, Nuclear, Aerospace, Mechatronics
- Construction Management, Quantity Surveying
- Town & Regional Planning
- Property Valuation, Land & Property Administration
- GIS Professional
Finance & Business
- Accounting
- Actuarial Science
- Economics / Econometrics
- Development Studies
- Supply Chain / Finance
Risk & Auditing
- Risk Management
- Fraud Investigation / Forensic Auditing
- Internal Auditing
Information Technology
- Information Technology
- Cyber/Information Security
- Software & Network Systems
- Artificial Intelligence
- Robotics
- Data Science / Data Analytics / Business Analytics
- Investment Management
Education
- Bachelor of Education in Accounting, Natural Sciences, Mathematics, ECD
Other Critical Fields
- Community Development
- Social Work
- Disaster Management
- Agriculture / Veterinary / Soil Science
- Publicity & Marketing / Fine Arts / Social Studies
- Clinical Psychology
- Applied Psychometry
2. Bursary Coverage
The bursary provides comprehensive funding:
- Registration fees
- Tuition (registered modules)
- Residence and meal fees
- Books and study materials
- Specialised study equipment
- Equipment for students with disabilities
3. Eligibility Requirements
- South African citizen
- Free State resident
- Aged 18–35
- Household income under R600 000 per year
- Not receiving other bursary funding
- Accepted at a recognised Higher Education Institution
- Studying full-time in an approved scarce skills field
- Strong academic performance
- Students with disabilities are encouraged to apply
4. Application Process
Step 1: Obtain the Application Form
Download the 2026 bursary form (PDF) or collect it from the Office of the Premier, Thusong Centres, CUT, or UFS.
Step 2: Prepare Supporting Documents
- Certified ID copy
- Matric results or certificate (certified)
- Proof of acceptance from a registered HEI
- Proof of residence (not older than 3 months)
- Parents/guardians ID (certified)
- Proof of household income (payslips / affidavit / SASSA / pension)
Step 3: Submit Your Application (Hand Delivery)
FSTDI Brahman Building
124 Nelson Mandela Drive
Westdene, Bloemfontein, 9301
Bursary Unit – Reception Area
5. Important Dates
- Closing Date: 16 January 2026 at 16:00
6. Contact Information
Email: bursariesfs@fspremier.gov.za
Contact Persons:
Mr ME Makhetha – 065 742 5935
Ms NB Thekiso – 060 533 4702
Ms MC Motaung – 065 742 6737
Office Hours: 07:30 – 16:00
Postal Address:
Free State Office of the Premier, Bursary Section
Private Bag X 20565
Bloemfontein, 9300
Free State Office of the Premier Bursary South Africa 2026
The Free State Office of the Premier offers a bursary programme aimed at improving the capacity of the workforce and addressing the shortage of scarce and critical skills within the province.
| Detail | Information |
| Bursary Provider | Free State Office of the Premier (Free State Provincial Government) |
| Academic Year | 2026 |
| Focus | Critical/Scarce Skills |
| Closing Date | 16 January 2026 (at 16:00) |
1. Fields of Study Covered (Scarce & Critical Skills)
Bursaries will be awarded for studies (Bachelor, Honours, Postgraduate Diploma, Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Masters, and MBChB) in the following scarce and critical skills fields:
| Field Category | Qualifications Covered (Examples) |
| Health & Medical | MBChB (Bachelor of Medicine), Bachelor of Dietetics, Bachelor of Physiotherapy, Bachelor of Occupational Therapy, Bachelor of Radiography, Bachelor of Pharmacy, Bachelor of Nursing, Bachelor in Medical Orthotics and Prosthetics. |
| Engineering & Built Environment | Diploma / Bachelor of Engineering (Civil, Mechanical, Chemical, Electrical, Mining, Nuclear, Architectural, Aerospace, Mechatronics, Structural, Quantity Surveyor, Agricultural), Bachelor of Construction Management, Quantity Survey, Construction Project Management, Diploma / Bachelor of Town & Regional Planner, Property Valuation, Land & Property Administrator, GIS Professional. |
| Finance & Business | Bachelor / Post Graduate Diploma / Honours of Accounting, Bachelor / Honours of Actuarial Science, Bachelor of Economics / Econometrics / Developmental Studies, Diploma / Bachelor of Supply Chain Management / Finance. |
| Risk & Auditing | Bachelor of Risk Management / Fraud Investigation (Forensic Auditor) / Internal Auditing. |
| Information Technology | Diploma / Bachelor of Information Technology (Cyber Security, Information Security, Software or Network Systems, Techniques of Artificial Intelligence, Information Resource Management, Robotics), Bachelor of Data Science / Data Analytics / Financial Analytics / Investment Management / Business Analytics. |
| Education | Bachelor of Education (Accounting, Natural Sciences, Mathematics, Early Childhood Development). |
| Other Critical Fields | Bachelor of Community Development, Bachelor of Social Work, Diploma / Bachelor of Disaster Management, Diploma / Bachelor of Agriculture/ Veterinary Science / Soil Science / Pasteur Science, Diploma / Bachelor of Publicity & Marketing / General Arts Management or Fine Arts / Social Studies, Masters in Clinical Psychology, Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Psychometry. |
2. Bursary Coverage
The bursary will cover the following expenses:
Registration fee (per semester/year)
Registered modules (per year)
Residence and meal fees
Books and/or study materials
Special equipment necessary for the study field (paid separately upon request and recommendation by the HEI).
Special equipment for disabled bursary holders (paid upon request and recommendation by the HEI's Disability Office).
3. Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must satisfy all the following minimum criteria:
Citizenship: Must be a South African citizen.
Residency: Must reside within the Free State province.
Age: Must be between 18 and 35 years old.
Household Income: Must have a household income of LESS than R600 000 per annum.
Other Funding: Must NOT be receiving any other bursary awards or sponsorship.
Study Status:
Must be currently in Matric or have completed Matric.
Must be studying or intend on studying full-time towards a qualification in one of the listed fields.
Must be accepted to study at a recognised and accredited Higher Education Institution (HEI) in South Africa.
Preference: Will be given to financially needy students with a strong academic record. Students with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
4. Application Process
Step 1: Obtain Application Form
Download and complete the Free State Office of the Premier Bursary Application Form 2026 (.pdf).
Alternatively, forms can be collected from the Office of the Premier (FSTDI and OR Tambo Building), Thusong Centres, Central University of Technology (CUT), and University of the Free State (UFS).
Step 2: Compile Supporting Documents
Submit clear, certified copies of the following compulsory documentation along with your completed application form:
ID document (certified copy)
Matric results (September results if currently in Matric, or Matric certificate if completed Matric) – certified copies.
Proof of acceptance from a registered Higher Education Institution.
Proof of residence (not older than 3 months).
Parents or guardians ID documents or death certificates if deceased (certified copies).
Parents or guardians proof of household income (certified copy of latest payslips if employed - not older than 3 months, affidavit if unemployed, or proof of SASSA grant or pension if applicable).
Step 3: Submission (Hand Delivery)
Applications must be hand-delivered to the following address:
FSTDI Brahman Building
124 Nelson Mandela Drive
Westdene
Bloemfontein
9301
(Bursary unit at the Reception area)
5. Contact Information
For any queries related to this bursary programme, please contact the Free State Office of the Premier directly:
Email:
bursariesfs@fspremier.gov.zaContact People & Tel: Mr ME Makhetha (065 742 5935), Ms NB Thekiso (060 533 4702), Ms MC Motaung (065 742 6737)
Office Hours: 07:30 to 16:00
Postal address: Free State Office of the Premier, Bursary Section, Private Bag X 20565, Bloemfontein, 9300.
