Standard Bank, Africa’s largest bank by assets, is funding full-cost bursaries for the 2027 academic year through its Standard Bank Group Bursary Programme. The bursary covers everything: university fees, accommodation, meals, books, a laptop and a monthly stipend. It is open to academically strong South African students in fields from engineering and science to commerce and behavioural economics, and applications close on 30 September 2026.
About the Programme
The Standard Bank Group Bursary Programme is designed to promote academic excellence and develop the next generation of African talent and leaders. The bank has operated in South Africa for more than 160 years and employs tens of thousands of people across the continent, which makes its bursary one of the most sought-after in the country.
The programme is administered by StudyTrust, a registered educational trust with more than 50 years of experience and over R1 billion in bursaries awarded. It funds undergraduate students from their second year of study onwards as well as postgraduate students up to Master’s level at public South African universities. Beneficiaries who receive an employment offer from Standard Bank after graduation will be required to work for the bank, which for most recipients is a benefit rather than a burden: a funded degree with a job waiting at the end.
What Is Covered
- Full university fees
- Accommodation in a university residence or approved private accommodation
- Meals, whether provided by the university or self-catering
- Books and other study materials
- A laptop computer
- A monthly stipend for living costs
- Transport between home and campus four times a year
Who Can Apply
- South African citizens studying full-time at a public South African university
- Undergraduates on track to complete first year who need funding from second year onwards, or postgraduates studying up to Master’s level
- An average of 65 percent or above in your latest examinations
- Studying in a funded field: Agriculture, Commerce, Engineering, Mathematics, Science (Actuarial, Analytics, Business, Computer, Data, Information), Statistics, Technology (Financial, Information) or Behavioural Economics disciplines (Economics, Behavioural Finance, Sociology, Psychology, Neuroscience)
- Financial need is considered in the selection process
- Willingness to complete a psychometric assessment and an interview if shortlisted
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Required Documents
- Certified copy of your ID
- Proof of all academic results to date, including your Grade 12 certificate
- Full tertiary academic record
- Proof of combined household income
How to Apply
- Open the Standard Bank bursary page on the StudyTrust website
- Read the eligibility criteria for your level of study carefully
- Prepare certified copies of your ID, academic records and household income documents
- Complete the StudyTrust online application and upload all supporting documents
- Submit before 30 September 2026, and apply early because the platform gets busy in the final weeks
Closing Date
The closing date for the Standard Bank Group Bursary 2027 is 30 September 2026. No late applications will be accepted.
Why It Matters
University fees, residence and food can cost well over R100,000 per year, and thousands of capable students drop out for financial reasons rather than academic ones. A full-cost bursary removes that risk entirely. What sets the Standard Bank bursary apart is the pathway attached to it: the bank actively recruits its bursary holders into graduate roles, which means recipients often walk out of university with both a degree and a job at a major financial institution.
For a student from a household earning too much for NSFAS but too little to self-fund, this bursary is one of the few complete solutions available. Your application through StudyTrust is also automatically considered for other bursaries you qualify for, so one application works multiple times.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can first-year students apply?
The undergraduate bursary funds students from second year onwards. You apply while completing first year, and funding starts in your second year if you are selected.
What average do I need?
You need at least 65 percent in your latest examinations, whether you are applying as an undergraduate or postgraduate.
Do I have to work for Standard Bank afterwards?
If the bank offers you employment after graduation, you are required to accept and work for Standard Bank. If no offer is made, no work-back applies.
Is the bursary available at private colleges?
No. Funding applies to full-time study at public South African universities and universities of technology only.
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