University of Cape Town Bursaries 2027: Amazon, Old Mutual and More
The University of Cape Town (UCT) offers a wide range of bursaries and scholarships to help students meet the cost of higher education. These opportunities come from the university itself, government agencies, foundations, companies, trusts and other funding organisations.
For students planning to study at UCT in 2027, this means there is no need to depend on a single scholarship opportunity. The university maintains a bursary and loan noticeboard where students can find funding opportunities for undergraduate and postgraduate study.
Current listings include opportunities connected to organisations such as Amazon, Old Mutual, FirstRand, CSIR, SAPOA and other funding bodies, although eligibility, closing dates and fields of study differ from one bursary to another.
Amazon Bursary at UCT
The UCT bursary noticeboard currently lists the Amazon Recruitment Bursary among its funding opportunities.
The bursary is associated with undergraduate and postgraduate study in Computer Science and Engineering, making it particularly relevant to students pursuing technology-related careers.
UCT's current noticeboard lists September 30, 2026 as the closing date for the 2027 Amazon Recruitment Bursary.
Students interested in this opportunity should carefully review the current application instructions and eligibility requirements before applying because the bursary is not intended for every course at UCT.
Old Mutual Bursary Opportunities
Old Mutual-linked funding also appears among UCT's financial-support opportunities.
The current UCT-hosted information for the Imfundo Trust indicates that its funding has covered areas such as Business, Commerce, Finance and Management Studies, Computer Science and related qualifications, Data Science, Climate Studies and Engineering, with specific study-level conditions applying. The published information also states that only South African citizens are considered for that particular bursary.
Applicants should therefore avoid assuming that every Old Mutual-related bursary has the same requirements. Each funding programme should be checked separately before an application is submitted.
Other UCT Bursaries for 2027
UCT's bursary noticeboard contains a much broader selection of funding opportunities.
Among the current undergraduate listings are:
CSIR Bursary Programme
SAPOA Bursary Fund
FirstRand Bursary
Department of Agriculture Bursary
Amazon Recruitment Bursary
Polyoak Family Education Foundation
Land Reform and Rural Development Bursary
KN Inzuzo Trust
Motsepe Foundation Bursary
National Student Financial Aid Scheme
Monocle Foundation Bursary
GABS Bursary
Standard Bank funding
Student Hero funding
The available opportunities change during the academic year, so students should check the UCT noticeboard regularly rather than relying on an old list.
Who Can Apply for UCT Bursaries?
There is no single eligibility requirement for all UCT bursaries.
Some funding opportunities are designed specifically for South African citizens or permanent residents, while others have different requirements. The student's level of study, academic performance, field of study, financial circumstances and other factors can affect eligibility.
For example, UCT's postgraduate financial-aid bursary for 2027 is specifically listed for South African citizens and permanent residents studying at Honours, Master's or Doctoral level. Applications for that funding close on November 10, 2026.
Students should therefore read the eligibility conditions attached to each individual bursary before applying.
UCT Undergraduate Financial Assistance
UCT provides financial support through its Student Financial Aid Office, alongside external bursaries and scholarships.
The university explains that undergraduate students can apply for financial aid and that the Student Financial Aid Office also provides information about other sources of funding.
South African citizens and permanent residents may also be eligible for support through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), subject to the applicable requirements.
UCT's bursary noticeboard currently lists NSFAS for undergraduate study, with a October 31, 2026 closing date shown for the current listing.
UCT Postgraduate Bursaries
Postgraduate students have access to a separate range of funding opportunities.
UCT's current 2027 postgraduate funding noticeboard includes awards for Honours, Master's and Doctoral students. Examples include the UCT Postgraduate Financial Aid Bursary, NRF funding, the Kristina Plattner Scholarship, Healthy Futures South Africa PhD Fellowship and several donor-supported awards.
The university also states that postgraduate funding awards can range from smaller supplementary amounts to larger contributions towards the cost of study. It does not describe its general postgraduate funding as guaranteed full-cost funding.
This is important for students planning their finances because receiving a bursary does not necessarily mean that every university and living expense will be covered.
Can International Students Apply?
International students should check each bursary individually.
Some UCT funding opportunities are specifically restricted to South African citizens or permanent residents. For example, the university's 2027 Postgraduate Financial Aid Bursary is for South African citizens and permanent residents.
However, UCT also lists funding opportunities that may be available to international students under particular conditions.
The university's Faculty of Humanities, for example, provides an International Term Fee Bursary for deserving non-SADC international Master's and Doctoral students who have already been accepted into an eligible Humanities postgraduate programme. The awards are based on academic merit and/or financial need, with preference given to students from African countries.
Therefore, international applicants should not assume that every UCT bursary is open to them, but they should also not assume that no funding is available.
What Students Should Prepare
The documents required depend on the bursary.
Students should generally be prepared to provide relevant academic records, proof of admission or application, identification documents and financial information where required.
Some external bursaries may also request:
Proof of South African citizenship or permanent residence
Academic transcripts
Proof of household income
A motivation letter
Curriculum vitae
Proof of university registration
References
Course or programme information
Applicants should follow the document requirements specified by the organisation offering the bursary.
How to Find and Apply for UCT Bursaries
The safest starting point is UCT's official Bursary and Loan Noticeboard.
Students can review the available opportunities, study levels, fields of study and closing dates. Some bursaries require applications through UCT, while others direct students to the external organisation's application system.
Applicants should:
Identify bursaries that match their course and study level.
Check citizenship or residency requirements.
Confirm the closing date.
Read the complete eligibility requirements.
Prepare the required documents.
Apply through the official application channel.
Keep proof of submission.
Students should not pay individuals who claim they can guarantee a bursary or scholarship award.
Important 2027 Deadlines
UCT's noticeboard currently shows different deadlines for different funding opportunities.
For example, the current listings include:
| Bursary or Funding | Level/Field | Current Closing Date |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon Recruitment Bursary | Undergraduate & Postgraduate, Computer Science & Engineering | September 30, 2026 |
| FirstRand Bursary | Undergraduate | September 30, 2026 |
| Department of Agriculture Bursary | Undergraduate & Postgraduate | September 30, 2026 |
| KN Inzuzo Trust | Undergraduate & Postgraduate, Commerce | October 18, 2026 |
| Motsepe Foundation Bursary | Undergraduate | October 16, 2026 |
| NSFAS | Undergraduate | October 31, 2026 |
| Monocle Foundation Bursary | Undergraduate & Postgraduate | October 31, 2026 |
| UCT Postgraduate Financial Aid Bursary | Honours, Master's & Doctoral | November 10, 2026 |
These dates are based on UCT's current noticeboard and can change when organisations update their calls.
Final Advice for UCT Scholarship Applicants
The University of Cape Town provides access to a broad funding network rather than relying on one scholarship programme.
Students should therefore search according to their course, study level, citizenship status and financial circumstances. A Computer Science student, for example, may find technology-specific opportunities such as the Amazon Recruitment Bursary, while a postgraduate student may find funding through UCT's Postgraduate Funding Office or external research organisations.
The most important step is to apply before the relevant deadline and follow the instructions for the specific bursary. Students should also continue checking the official UCT funding noticeboard because new opportunities can be added throughout the year.
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