Industrial Development Corporation invites South African students to apply for the IDC External Bursary Programme 2027.
Bursary Application Closing Date: 30 September 2026
Bursary Location: South Africa
Industrial Development Corporation IDC Bursary South Africa 2027
The Industrial Development Corporation has opened applications for its External Bursary Programme for the 2027 academic year.
This bursary is aimed at academically talented South African students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds who want to study in critical and scarce skills fields.
The IDC Bursary Programme supports students whose studies can contribute to South Africa’s economic growth, industrial development and future skills pipeline.
The bursary is open to current Matric learners planning to study in 2027, as well as current undergraduate students studying in approved fields.
About the Industrial Development Corporation
The Industrial Development Corporation is one of South Africa’s leading development finance institutions.
Established in 1940, the IDC plays an important role in promoting industrial growth, economic development, job creation, entrepreneurship and investment across different sectors of the economy.
Through the bursary programme, the IDC invests in future professionals, engineers, scientists, accountants, economists, legal experts, technology specialists and other skilled graduates.
Bursary Overview
Organisation: Industrial Development Corporation
Programme: IDC External Bursary Programme 2027
Opening Date: 01 June 2026
Closing Date: 30 September 2026
Funding Type: Full study bursary
Age Requirement: Not older than 26 years
Citizenship: South African citizens only
Institution Type: Public universities and universities of technology
Qualification Level: Undergraduate and first qualification
Application Method: Online
Fields of Study Funded
The IDC Bursary supports a wide range of qualifications aligned with national development priorities.
Engineering Fields
Bursaries may be awarded for the following Engineering fields:
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
Bursaries may be awarded for the following Science and Technology fields:
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
Bursaries may be awarded for:
Agricultural Studies.
Agriculture-related qualifications.
Finance and Commerce Fields
Bursaries may be awarded for the following Finance and Commerce fields:
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
Bursaries may be awarded for:
Transport Management.
Logistics Management.
Supply Chain Management.
Law Qualifications
Bursaries may be awarded for:
BCom Law, Commercial Law.
Bachelor of Laws, LLB.
Diploma in Law Studies.
Postgraduate Law qualifications.
Quantitative Fields
Bursaries may be awarded for:
Actuarial Science.
Quantitative Risk Management.
Mathematics.
Statistics.
What the Bursary Covers
The IDC Bursary provides financial support for selected study-related expenses.
Successful bursary recipients may receive funding for:
Full registration fees.
Full tuition fees.
Examination fees, where applicable.
University residence accommodation.
University-accredited off-campus accommodation.
Laptop, as a once-off allocation.
Academic resources.
Meal allowance.
Transport allowance.
This funding package helps students focus on their studies without carrying the full burden of major education-related costs.
Who Can Apply?
Applicants must be South African citizens.
Applicants must have a valid South African ID document.
Applicants must be unemployed.
Applicants must not be older than 26 years.
Applicants must be admitted or planning to study at a South African public university or university of technology.
Applicants must study full-time.
Applicants must be applying for an approved field of study.
Academic Requirements for Matric Learners
Current Grade 12 learners must submit:
Grade 11 final results.
June 2026 Grade 12 results.
Preference will be given to learners with a minimum APS of 75%.
Academic Requirements for Current University Students
Current university students must have achieved at least a 65% average in their latest academic results.
Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 60% throughout the bursary period.
Financial Need Requirements
The IDC Bursary is mainly intended for students from financially disadvantaged households.
Preference will be given to applicants whose combined household income is R350 000 per annum or less.
Applicants from households earning between R350 000 and R600 000 per annum may still be considered.
An affordability assessment will be conducted.
Preference Criteria
Additional consideration may be given to:
Students living with disabilities.
Learners from Quintile 1, 2 and 3 schools.
Learners from rural communities.
Students from historically disadvantaged communities.
Academically strong candidates.
Applicants demonstrating financial need.
Qualifications That Will Not Be Funded
Second qualifications will not be funded.
Most postgraduate qualifications will not be funded.
The bursary mainly supports first undergraduate qualifications.
Postgraduate Funding Exceptions
Honours-level funding may be considered only for the following fields:
Law qualifications.
Accounting, CA stream.
Actuarial Science.
Mathematics.
Statistics.
Required Supporting Documents
Applicants must upload clear copies of all required supporting documents.
Personal Documents
Recently certified South African ID copy, not older than 3 months.
Recently certified proof of residence.
Academic Documents
2026 mid-year results or latest academic results.
Matric certificate, if already completed.
Grade 11 final results and June 2026 results for current Matric learners.
Parents or Guardians Financial Documents
Where applicable, applicants must submit:
Latest payslips.
Three months’ bank statements.
Affidavit for unemployed parents.
Six months’ bank statements for self-employed parents.
SASSA grant confirmation letter.
Death certificates, if parents are deceased.
Certified copies of parents’ IDs.
Divorce certificate, if parents are divorced.
Sworn statement, if parents are separated.
Failure to submit complete supporting documentation may result in disqualification.
How to apply
Click here to apply for Industrial Development Corporation IDC Bursary South Africa 2027.
Applicants must complete the online application form.
Applicants must upload all required supporting documents.
Applicants must complete the interview questionnaire.
Applicants must ensure that all information submitted is accurate and complete.
Applications must be submitted before the closing date.
Bursary Enquiries
For bursary-related enquiries, applicants may contact:
Contact Person: Noluthando Baepi
Tel: 011 269 3374
Email: noluthandob@idc.co.za
Email: ExternalBursaryQueries@idc.co.za
Closing Date
The closing date for the Industrial Development Corporation IDC Bursary South Africa 2027 is 30 September 2026.
Applications submitted after the closing date will not be accepted.
Final Thoughts
The Industrial Development Corporation IDC Bursary South Africa 2027 is a valuable opportunity for academically strong South African students who need financial support to pursue studies in scarce and critical skills fields.
Students interested in Engineering, Science, Information Technology, Finance, Agriculture, Law, Supply Chain, Logistics, Mathematics, Statistics and related fields should apply before 30 September 2026 and ensure that all supporting documents are submitted correctly.