The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) invites ambitious Black African and Coloured students to apply for the Thuthuka Bursary Programme 2026. This transformative bursary supports students who are committed to qualifying as Chartered Accountants (CA(SA)).
Bursary Application Closing Date: 31 August 2025
Location: South Africa (National, at accredited universities)
What Does the Bursary Cover?
The Thuthuka bursary provides full financial and academic support, including:
- Full tuition fees
- Textbooks
- Meals
- Residence accommodation
- Academic enrichment (tutorials, workshops)
- Life skills and work-readiness training
- Counselling and mentoring by business leaders
- Dedicated programme manager support
Note:
- The bursary does not cover existing student loans or historical debts.
- Recipients must sign a contract with the Thuthuka Education and Upliftment Fund (TEUF) and NSFAS.
Who Can Apply?
To qualify, applicants must:
- Be a South African citizen
- Be Black African or Coloured
- Be from a disadvantaged background
- Be in Matric (or completed it in the last two years)
- Achieve at least 60% for Mathematics in Grade 11 or 12 (Pure Maths only – NOT Maths Literacy)
- Plan to study at a SAICA-accredited university in 2026
- Have a combined family income below R350,000 per year
- Have written or registered to write the NBT (National Benchmark Test) by the closing date
Supported Universities & Courses
The bursary applies to the following qualifications at these SAICA-accredited institutions:
- University of Johannesburg (UJ): BAcc (BCA012)
- University of Pretoria (UP): Accounting Sciences (07130044)
- University of Witwatersrand (WITS): BAcc Science (CB008)
- University of Free State (UFS): BAcc (BC636060) / PGCA (BC656060)
- University of Fort Hare (UFH): BCom Accounting (60001)
- University of Cape Town (UCT): BCom (CB024) / PGDA (CG010ACC01)
- University of Western Cape (UWC): BCom (1021 or 1753)
- Stellenbosch University (SU): BCom Accounting (3091001)
- Rhodes University (RU): BCom Accounting
- Nelson Mandela University (NMU): BCom Accounting (40103)
- North West University (Potch Campus): BCom CA (5DAH01-E302)
- University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN): BCom Accounting (BCOM-C)
- University of Limpopo (UL): PGDA (CTA only)
How to Apply
Online Application Link: SAICA Thuthuka Bursary Application 2026
You’ll need to upload the following certified supporting documents:
- Your South African ID
- Grade 11 final results (if in Matric) or latest Matric results
- Final Matric results (if completed)
- University provisional acceptance letter (if available)
- Full university academic record (if currently enrolled)
- Parents/guardians’ ID copies
- Parents/guardians’ income proof (payslips/affidavit)
- Birth certificates or ID copies of siblings/dependents
- Signed Thuthuka Consent Form (.pdf)
Selection Criteria
Applicants will be assessed on:
- Academic performance
- Financial need (as determined by NSFAS means test)
- NBT scores
Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. If you don’t hear back, please consider your application unsuccessful.
Experienced career development professional with a background in student administration and guidance across several South African universities. Over the years, I have supported students in shaping their academic and professional journeys, providing career counselling, employability training, and placement support. I now focus on helping young graduates successfully transition from university or college into the workplace, bridging the gap between education and employment through practical guidance and career-readiness initiatives.
