The KZN Sport Scholarship 2027 is open to talented athletes from KwaZulu-Natal, whether at school or studying after school. The provincial Department of Sport, Arts and Culture is offering a limited number of these scholarships for the 2027 academic year.
If you have competed at national or international level, or represented the province at school championships, this is meant for you. Athletes with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Applications close on Wednesday, 9 December 2026.
About the KZN Sport Scholarship 2027
The department says the scholarship exists to keep and develop sporting talent in the province, and to give opportunities to talented athletes from rural and historically disadvantaged areas. It also aims to help athletes reach podium positions at national and international competitions.
- Funder: KwaZulu-Natal Department of Sport, Arts and Culture
- Who: Talented athletes at school, college or university
- Province: KwaZulu-Natal
- Number of awards: Limited
- Closing date: Wednesday, 9 December 2026
- How to apply: Hand deliver to a district office, or email
The department has not published the value of the scholarship or the costs it covers.
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Who Can Apply
Basic requirements
- You are a South African citizen living in KwaZulu-Natal, and your parents or guardians also live in the province.
- You are a learner at school or a student at an institution of higher learning.
- If you are going to study after school, you meet the entry requirements for your programme at an institution accredited by the Department of Higher Education and Training. That includes universities, universities of technology, TVET colleges and private colleges.
Sporting achievement
You must be a talented athlete who has done at least one of these:
- Represented South Africa and excelled at international competitions in your sport
- Finished on the podium at national competitions
- In a team sport, played at national level in the past two years, with evidence
- Represented the province at the National Primary and Secondary Schools Championships, or the Schools Winter, Summer or Autumn Games, through the School Sport Programme
- Been identified for the department’s Elite Athlete Development Programme, Project 350 or Academy System
Only performances from 1 November 2025 to 31 October 2026 count.
Who gets preference
- Applicants who can show, with their academic record, that they have the potential to succeed academically
- Applicants who are willing to sign a contract to serve the province in their sport
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Documents You Need
The application form lists these documents:
- Certified copies of your ID or birth certificate
- Certified copies of your latest academic results
- Your acceptance letter for study in 2027
- A letter on letterhead from your coach or sport federation confirming your level of achievement
- A declaration of any other bursary, scholarship or sponsorship for study in 2027
- Written confirmation of your disability from a registered medical practitioner, if this applies to you
In addition, every application needs a certified portfolio of evidence of your sporting achievements, including results and national and international rankings. The advert also asks for your parents’ or guardian’s ID if you are a minor.
How to Apply
- Download the Sport Scholarship Application Form 2027 from the department’s website. Forms are also available from the KwaZulu-Natal Sport Confederation and KZN sport federations.
- Complete every section, including your sporting achievements, and sign the declaration. Your parent or guardian signs too, with witnesses.
- Attach all your documents and your portfolio of evidence.
- Hand it in at a district office, or email it, before the closing date.
Hand delivery
Place your application in a sealed envelope marked “Scholarship Applications” and deliver it to one of these district offices:
- Amajuba: 37 A Voortrekker Street, Newcastle
- Umzinyathi: 85 Karel Landman, Dundee
- Uthukela: 24 Lyell Street, Ladysmith
- eThekwini: 83-93 Jan Smuts Highway, Mayville, Durban
- Ilembe: R102 Corner and Link Road, KwaDukuza
- Umgungundlovu: 135 Pietermaritz Street, Pietermaritzburg
- Ugu: 31 Daas Road, Uvongo, Margate
- Harry Gwala: 02 Margarette Street, Ixopo
- King Cetshwayo: 5 Aloe Lopp Street, Veld and Vlei, Richards Bay
- Zululand: 1st Floor, Old Legislature Building, King Dinuzulu Highway, Ulundi
- Umkhanyakude: 45 Koedoe Street, Hluhluwe
Email applications go to scholarships@kzndsac.gov.za. The department does not mention any application fee, so never pay anyone to apply for you.
Closing Date
Get your KZN Sport Scholarship 2027 application in by 9 December 2026. The department has not said when applicants will hear back.
FAQs About the KZN Sport Scholarship
Can school learners apply?
Yes. The scholarship is for both learners in schools and students at institutions of higher learning.
Which sporting results count?
Only performances between 1 November 2025 and 31 October 2026.
Can I apply if I live in another province?
No. You must live in the province, and so must your parents or guardians.
Do I have to declare other funding?
Yes. You must declare any existing bursary, scholarship or funding from another public or private institution.
