Universities South Africa (USAf) and the Services Sector Education and Training Authority (Services SETA) have launched a R520 million bursary scheme that will fund more than 5,000 students at the country’s public universities in 2026, according to BusinessTech.
The collaboration brings together USAf, which represents all 26 of South Africa’s public universities, and the Services SETA in what organisers describe as a significant intervention to widen access to higher education.
How the funding will be shared
According to the brief, 24 of the 26 public universities each received R20 million under the scheme. That allocation is expected to enable roughly 200 students per institution to access support.
Funding is capped at R100,000 per student per year, and continued support is subject to satisfactory academic progress.
The scheme is open to South African citizens enrolled at public universities. Key eligibility details include:
- Applicants must be South African citizens.
- Students must be enrolled as first, second or final-year students at a public university.
- Support is capped at R100,000 per student per year.
- Continued funding depends on satisfactory academic progress.
A benchmark for other sectors
USAf CEO Phethiwe Matutu described the launch as “a day of both jubilation and immense responsibility,” signalling the weight placed on delivering results for the students who benefit.
Services SETA Acting CEO Sibusiso Dhladhla framed the initiative as a benchmark for other sectors, suggesting the partnership model could be replicated more broadly across the skills development landscape.
By spreading funding across nearly every public university, the scheme aims to broaden the reach of financial support beyond the country’s largest or best-resourced institutions, with each participating university positioned to assist around 200 students.
What it means for students
For the more than 5,000 students set to benefit, the bursary covers a substantial portion of study costs, with the R100,000 annual cap intended to ease the financial pressures that often prevent learners from completing their qualifications.
The focus on first, second and final-year students means support is available at multiple stages of a student’s academic journey, from those beginning their studies to those approaching graduation.
With the requirement for satisfactory academic progress, the scheme links continued funding to performance, an approach designed to encourage students to stay on track toward completing their degrees.
As the 2026 academic year unfolds, the partnership between USAf and the Services SETA represents one of the larger recent efforts to channel sector-based skills funding directly into the public university system.
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