Department of Sport, Arts and Culture invites South African students to apply for the Heritage Bursary Programme 2026.
Bursary Application Closing Date: 31 January 2026
Bursary Location: South Africa (with selected international study options)
Eligible Levels: Undergraduate & Postgraduate (full-time studies)
The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) is inviting eligible South African students to apply for the 2026 Heritage Related Studies Bursary Programme, which supports both local and selected international studies. The bursary aims to strengthen the sector by funding students committed to preserving, developing, and promoting South Africa’s heritage.
The programme is open to full-time students pursuing heritage-related qualifications at institutions accredited by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET). The bursary also supports specialised international programmes in archaeology, conservation, heritage preservation and digital archaeology.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify, applicants must:
- Be South African citizens
- Be 40 years or younger
- Have outstanding/satisfactory academic performance (minimum 65% average)
- Be full-time students in 2026
- Be accepted/provisionally accepted in a heritage-related field
- NOT be employed full-time
- If employed part-time or contract: annual income must not exceed R130 000
- Must submit certified proof of income
- NOT be funded by any other bursary or donor
- Submit all required supporting documents (certified within 3 months)
Important: Students funded in 2025 must reapply for the 2026 academic year.
Bursary Value (Up to R110 000 per student)
The bursary covers:
- Study fees: 100% of tuition
- Books: Full cost of prescribed books
- Electronic device: Up to R10 000
- Accommodation: Up to R50 000 (where applicable)
- Meals: Up to R18 500 (where applicable)
- Transport: Up to R10 000 (where applicable)
Note: All funds are paid directly to the institution.
Fields of Study Supported for 2026
Local Studies (South Africa)
- Physical & Biological Anthropology
- Archaeology (including Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage)
- Geography & Geomatic Sciences (GIS, Cartography)
- Archives & Records Management
- Library and Information Science
- Conservation of the Built Environment
- Heritage & Museum Studies (Management, Curatorship, Preservation)
- Palaeontology
- Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS)
- History
- Digitisation of Heritage Resources
International Study Components
- Maritime Archaeology & Underwater Cultural Heritage
- Digital Archaeology
- Heritage Conservation & Preservation
Required Documents
(All certified copies must not be older than 3 months)
- Certified copy of South African ID
- Proof of registration or provisional acceptance (no screenshots)
- Certified Matric certificate
- Latest academic results or postgraduate progress report
- Certified proof of parents’/guardian’s household income
- Certified latest payslip (if applicant is employed)
- Proof of disability (if applicable)
- Affidavit confirming authenticity of salary slips/income documents
Before Applying – Confirm the Following
- Are you provisionally accepted for a 2026 heritage-related programme?
- Does your chosen qualification fall within the approved fields above?
Applications that fall outside the supported fields will be rejected.
How to Apply
Click here to apply for the DSAC Heritage Bursary Programme 2026
👉 Apply Online
Note:
Only applications submitted via the online platform will be considered.
No late applications will be accepted.
Enquiries
For assistance with bursary applications, contact:
📧 Ms Reinette Stander: reinettes@dsac.gov.za
📞 Mr Maano Muhadi: 012 441 3622 / maanom@dsac.gov.za
Important Dates
- Closing Date: 31 January 2026
- Outcome Notification: By 31 March 2026
- If no response is received by this date, consider your application unsuccessful.