Dreaming of becoming a nurse, doctor, paramedic or pharmacist but worried about fees? The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness has opened its bursary programme for the 2027 academic year. Unemployed South Africans living in the Western Cape who have completed Matric can apply for funding towards nursing, medicine, emergency medical care and other health science qualifications. Applications close on 30 September 2026, and the application is fully online.
About the Programme
The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness runs one of the largest provincial health systems in South Africa, with 428 public primary care facilities plus major hospitals, rehabilitation centres and specialised units serving millions of residents. To keep those facilities staffed, the Department invests every year in training its own future workforce through this bursary.
The bursary targets qualifications the province’s health service needs most, and recipients sign a contract to work for the Department after completing their studies. That work-back model means the bursary is more than funding: it is effectively a pipeline into a public health career in the Western Cape, with your community service year counting as the first year of your obligation.
What Is Covered
- Registration fees
- Tuition fees
- Examination fees
- Note: accommodation is not covered by this bursary
Funded qualifications include: Emergency Care Assistant (Higher Certificate), Emergency Medical Care (National Diploma), Medicine (MBChB Degree), Nursing R169 (Higher Certificate), Nursing R171 General Nurse (Diploma), Nursing R174, Nursing (Bachelor’s Degree), Occupational Therapy, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy and Speech Therapy. The Department may adjust the list of funded qualifications each year based on service delivery needs.
Who Can Apply
- South African citizens residing in the Western Cape province
- Unemployed applicants only
- Matric must be completed
- Studying or intending to study full-time towards one of the listed health science qualifications
- Studying, accepted, or awaiting acceptance at an accredited Higher Education Institution
- Willing to complete clinical hours where required
- Willing to sign a full-time bursary contract with a work-back obligation
- No criminal record
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Required Documents
- Certified copy of your ID document
- Certified copy of your Matric certificate
- Certified copy of your most recent qualification or academic results
- Certified proof of residence in the Western Cape
- Parents’ or guardians’ proof of income: latest payslips, SASSA letter or SARS tax certificate (certified)
- Certified proof of disability, if applicable
- A motivational letter supporting your application
How to Apply
- Certify all your supporting documents and scan them clearly.
- Write a motivational letter explaining why you deserve the bursary and your commitment to public health.
- Register an account on the official Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness bursary platform using your 13-digit ID number.
- Log in and complete the online application form in full.
- Upload every compulsory document. Missing documents may disqualify your application.
- Submit before 30 September 2026 and keep your confirmation. Outcomes are expected to be concluded around January to February.
Apply at the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness
Closing Date
The closing date for the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness Bursary 2027 is 30 September 2026. No late applications will be accepted.
Why It Matters
Healthcare is one of the few fields in South Africa where qualified people are almost guaranteed work, yet the cost of nursing and medical studies keeps thousands of capable young people out. This bursary attacks the problem from both sides: it pays your registration, tuition and exam fees, and it contracts you into a public post afterwards, which means you graduate with a job path already mapped out. For unemployed Western Cape youth, especially those called to nursing and emergency care, few opportunities offer this combination of funded study and near-certain employment in service of your own community.
Frequently Asked Questions
I live in another province. Can I apply?
No. This bursary is strictly for South African citizens who reside within the Western Cape, and certified proof of residence is a compulsory document.
Will I have to work for the Department after I qualify?
Yes. Recipients sign a contract to work back the bursary. Your community service year counts as the first year of the obligation, after which you apply for a post within the Department and work back the remaining years. If you do not, you must refund all bursary expenses. Internship does not count towards the work-back obligation.
Does the bursary pay for accommodation or food?
No. It covers registration, tuition and examination fees only, so budget separately for accommodation, transport and meals.
I have not been accepted by a university or college yet. Can I still apply?
Yes. You may apply while awaiting acceptance at an accredited institution, as long as you intend to study full-time towards one of the listed health science qualifications in 2027.
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