A new university bursary scheme, launched in 2026, worth R520 million, will assist more than 5,000 South African students in obtaining tertiary education.
The scheme is available to South African citizens who are enrolled as first, second, or final-year students at a public university in South Africa.
The funding is limited to R100,000 per student per year and is intended to support students throughout their studies, as long as they maintain satisfactory academic progress and meet their field-specific requirements.
This initiative stems from a collaboration between Universities South Africa (USAf), which represents all 26 public universities in the country, and the Services Sector Education and Training Authority (Services SETA).
So far, 24 of the 26 public universities in South Africa have received R20 million each, enabling 200 students at each institution to focus on their studies without the burden of financial worries.
The organisers of this initiative emphasise that the timely distribution of funds is essential for improving administrative efficiency, ensuring accurate verification, and minimising the dependence on emergency funding at the last minute.
“This announcement marks a day of both jubilation and immense responsibility on our part as
partners of the Services SETA Bursary Project,” said USAf CEO Phethiwe Matutu.
Matutu said that USAf, in collaboration with the Services SETA, would hire external auditors and ensure the auditing process was on track before the close of the financial year.
This will allow universities to receive the next instalment of funding promptly for students returning in 2027.
The Acting CEO of Services SETA, Sibusiso Dhladhla, discussed issues his organisation is facing, which is currently under administration due to governance failures.
“Our goal is to affirm this kind of programme so it can serve as a benchmark for other sectors to
adopt. This is the legacy we would like to leave behind,” he said.
The cost of tertiary education
Tertiary education is considered crucial for securing employment in South Africa, where youth unemployment exceeds 45%.
In contrast, the unemployment rate for graduates was 8.7% in the fourth quarter of 2024, showing an improvement from 9.8% in the third quarter of 2024.
While attending university does not guarantee a job, it significantly increases the chances of obtaining one.
However, pursuing a university education imposes a significant financial burden on South Africans.
In addition to tuition fees, students must also cover additional costs, such as accommodation, food, and essential equipment, such as textbooks.
To help alleviate these financial challenges, many South African companies offer bursaries that help students cover expenses beyond tuition.
BusinessTech examined the costs associated with a year’s study at universities across the country for 2026.
The fees mentioned apply to first-year studies for 2026 and serve as approximations; they exclude other costs such as textbooks, travel, and accommodation.
The analysis includes fees for the following undergraduate degrees:
- Bachelor of Commerce (BCom)
- Bachelor of Science (BSc)
- Bachelor of Law (LLB, undergraduate)
- Bachelor of Science/Engineering (BEng)
Tuition fees are typically charged per module needed to accumulate the credits required for a given degree.
Therefore, the fees outlined provide a general idea of the cost of a single year of study rather than a comprehensive overview.
A Bachelor of Science in Engineering is included for institutions that do not offer a Bachelor of Engineering program.
| University | BA | BCom | BSc | LLB | BEng |
| University of Cape Town | R 79 000 | R62 340 to R 110 580 | R 87 000 | R 80 410 | R 82 820 to R 89 780 |
| University of the Witwatersrand | R61 480 to R77 250 | R62 830 to R85 260 | R52 050 to R80 750 | R47 930 to R83 760 | R 76 320 |
| Stellenbosch University | R57 767 | R 59 856 | R 72 647 | R 61 121 | R 81 563 |
| University of KwaZulu Natal | R54 065 | R57 836 | R47 848 to R68 224 | R54 911 | R64 167 |
| University of Pretoria | R60 000 to R70 000 | R60 000 to R72 000 | R64 000 to R95 000 | R65 000 to R75 000 | R62 000 to R80 000 |
| Rhodes University | R63 519 | R69 494 | R66 082 | R 71 254 | N/A |
| University of Johannesburg | R49 800 to R61 520 | R53 730 to R81 550 | R52 140 to R87 000 | R50 370 to R57 850 | R58 870 to R72 780 |
| University of Free State | R59 980 | R60 380 | R53 600 to R80 760 | R49 130 | N/A |
Note: These are 2026 fee estimates available on the respective websites at the time of publication.
Some universities calculate their fees per module, require student registration, or do not provide an estimated degree value by the time of publication.
