Department of Sports, Arts & Culture Bursaries 2026 for South African Students. Apply below.
When is Application Deadline?
31st January 2026
Tell Me About Award:
South Africa’s Department of Sports, Arts, and Culture invites students to apply for the Bursaries Programme 2026 academic year.
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Bursaries will be awarded for Undergraduate and Postgraduate studies within heritage-related programmes, specifically these fields:
What about Eligible Field(s) of Study?
- Anthropology (focused on forensic / medical anthropology)
- Archaeology (focused on marine and underwater cultural heritage, and forensic)
- Archives and Records Management
- Conservation of the Built Environment (including preventive conservation)
- Collections (Cultural & Natural) Management (Not Nature Conservation)
- Digital heritage
- IKS or Courses that contribute to the preservation and promotion of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) and S.A. Living Heritage
- Marketing of heritage
- Museum Studies or Management and Curatorship
- Palaeontology
Who is Eligible?
Applicants must satisfy the following minimum entry criteria before applying (please note that failure to satisfy all the requirements will lead to your application not being considered):
- You must be a South Africa citizen
- You must be 40 years old or younger
- You must be studying or intend on studying towards an Undergraduate or Postgraduate qualification, in one of the heritage related programmes listed above
- You must be studying or have been accepted to study at an institution that is accredited and registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training
- You must have a strong academic record
- You must NOT be receiving any other bursary funding
- You must NOT be currently full-time employed within the private sector, government or state agencies
- You must NOT earn more than R130 000 per annum
How many Awards?
Not specified
What is Value of Award?
The bursary will be awarded to the maximum value of R110 000 per student and will be paid directly to the higher institution of learning.
The bursary will provide cover for the following expenses:
- Full cover for tuition fees
- Full cover for books
- Laptop, to the maximum value of R10 000 (students must provide 3 receipt/ invoices)
- Accommodation, to the maximum value of R50 000 (where applicable)
- Meals, to the maximum value of R18 500 maximum amount (where applicable)
How to Apply?
Documents to attach
In order to be considered, you must attach all the following required documents:
*Any certified copy must not be older than three (3) months
- Certified copy of a valid South African identity document.
- Letter of Provisional Acceptance or Proof of Registration written on the institution’s letterhead and signed. No screenshots will be accepted.
- Certified copy of senior national certificate (Matric) and a certified copy of latest academic results or progress report for those who are already doing post graduate studies.
- Certified proof of parent’s or guardian’s household income.
- Certified latest payslip (not older than three months)
- Proof of disability (if applicable to the applicant)
- Certified proof of the household’s income.
- Provide affidavit confirming that the salary advice/ payment slips of parents/ guardians are authentic.
Before you apply for the Heritage Bursary, please confirm the following questions:
- Have you provisionally/been admitted to study in the 2026 academic year?
- Does your qualification fall within the fields of study highlighted above?
- NB: Applications will be rejected if the study field does not fall within the specified list highlighted above.
Students awarded the heritage bursary in academic year of 2025 must apply again to receive the bursary for the academic year of 2026.
NB: The department is only able to award 45 to 50 applicants. Therefore, submitting an application does not automatically mean that the applicant will be awarded the bursary.
Enquiries regarding the bursary applications should be directed to:
Ms Reinette Stander : reinettes@dsac.gov.za; or
Mr Maano Muhadi: (012) 441-3622 / maanom@dsac.gov.za
Do NOT apply directly to the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture – your institution will send your application on your behalf.
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