FirstRand Empowerment Foundation Honours Bursary 2026
FREF HONOURS BURSARY – PROGRAMME OVERVIEW / DESCRIPTION (UPDATED)
- Programme Title:
- FirstRand Empowerment Foundation Honours Bursary (South Africa) – 2026
- Organisation:
- FirstRand Empowerment Foundation (FREF)
Programme Purpose
The FirstRand Empowerment Foundation Honours Bursary supports academically strong, financially deserving South African students pursuing their first postgraduate (Honours) qualification. The bursary aims to develop graduates in critical areas that drive national economic growth, innovation, and social transformation—especially among previously disadvantaged groups.
Programme Description
The bursary provides comprehensive financial support for a full-time one-year Honours degree at any public university in South Africa. Funding includes:
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Tuition fees
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Book allowance
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Travel or living allowance
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Food vouchers
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Airtime allocation
The programme targets students who demonstrate academic excellence, financial need, and a desire to use their education to positively impact South Africa’s economy and society.
Funded Fields of Study
The FREF Honours Bursary funds postgraduate (Bachelor of Honours) studies in the following fields:
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Accounting
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Actuarial Science
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Agricultural Sciences
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BA Arts (Psychology)
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Biosciences
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Business Information
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Climate Sciences
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Computer Science
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Data Science
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Economics
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Electronics
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Engineering
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Environmental Sciences
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Financial Management
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Indigenous Knowledge Systems
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Information Management
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Information Science
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Information Systems
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Information Technology
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Mathematical Sciences
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Mathematics
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Physics
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Renewable Energy
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Risk
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Sciences
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Society and Sustainability
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Statistics
These fields are chosen due to their alignment with national development priorities, scarce skills needs, and emerging industry demands.
Key Focus Areas of the Programme
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Promoting access to higher education for disadvantaged students
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Supporting postgraduate development in scarce-skill and high-impact fields
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Advancing transformation through B-BBEE-aligned initiatives
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Developing future leaders and problem-solvers
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Encouraging contributions to South Africa’s socio-economic development
Candidate Profile
Ideal applicants:
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Maintain strong academic performance
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Demonstrate financial need
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Plan to study full-time at a South African public university
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Are passionate about contributing to their field and community
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Meet all minimum eligibility criteria (including age, citizenship, income, and academic requirements)
Programme Benefits
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Full academic and essential living-cost support
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Opportunity to obtain an Honours qualification without financial burden
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Increased employability through advanced studies
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Inclusion in a reputable foundation’s development pipeline
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Support for personal, academic, and professional growth