South Africa’s next generation of economists has just been handed a golden opportunity. The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) has opened applications for its external bursary programme, inviting talented students who will begin their first year of undergraduate studies in the 2027 academic year to apply before the closing date of Wednesday, 30 September 2026.
The programme is aimed squarely at opening doors for young people who might otherwise never afford a university education. “The SARB, as part of addressing the severe shortage of skills in South Africa, provides scholarships and bursaries to students in relevant fields of study who are from disadvantaged backgrounds,” the central bank said in its call for applications, reported by SAnews.
Backing the Economists of Tomorrow
The bursaries are offered by the SARB’s Economic Research Department in collaboration with the SARB Academy, and cover studies in economics, economics and econometrics, economics and mathematical statistics, and economic science. Several external scholarships and bursaries are made available every year as part of the bank’s corporate social investment work and its External Bursary Scheme.
For a country working hard to grow its pool of home-grown financial expertise, initiatives like this one do double duty: they change the life of an individual student, and they strengthen the national skills base that keeps South Africa’s economy well managed.
Who Can Apply
To be considered, applicants must meet a clear set of requirements:
- Provisional acceptance into an undergraduate degree in the field of economics;
- An average pass mark of 70% in their current year of study, with a strong command of English and Mathematics (70% and above);
- Be younger than 30 years of age; and
- Be in financial need — unable to attend university without a bursary.
Applicants must submit their examination results, proof of acceptance at a recognised institution, and any other supporting documents, and should quote the promo code SARBERD27 in their applications. Applications can be emailed to sarbbursary@ttibursaries.co.za or submitted online, and shortlisted candidates will be invited to interviews. Successful applicants will sign a bursary agreement with the SARB.
A Ladder Worth Climbing
The Reserve Bank has long invested in financial literacy and skills development, and its bursary scheme is one of the most practical expressions of that commitment. For a matriculant with strong marks, a passion for numbers and a dream of shaping economic policy, the message is simple: the application window is open, and the country’s central bank is looking for you.
Prospective students are encouraged to apply well before the 30 September deadline and to share the opportunity with learners, teachers and school counsellors across the country.
Photo: commons.wikimedia.org
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