About The FirstRand Foundation:
The FirstRand Foundation was established in 1998 as the legal vehicle for corporate social investment initiatives by FirstRand Limited. It channels the corporate social investment efforts of major franchises like WesBank, RMB, and FNB, both individually and collectively. Through the FirstRand Foundation, donations are made to public benefit organizations, and the FirstRand Educational Trust supports educational projects and institutions. Over the past two decades, the FirstRand Foundation has been a significant corporate social investor and knowledge collaborator, contributing to the development of a better South Africa through various initiatives, including capacity building, mainstreaming disability, knowledge sharing, and partnerships.
FirstRand Foundation’s community development focuses on various sectors, including the creative economy, green economy, food security and agriculture livelihoods, education, and more.
The FirstRand Foundation Trust Undergraduate Bursary 2025-2026:
The FirstRand Foundation Trust Undergraduate Bursary for the upcoming study year is now open for applications. This bursary program supports degree programs in the fields of commerce, engineering, science, and technology. These fields encompass specific majors:
Commerce: Financial Management, Economics, Law, Accounting, Risk. Engineering: All specializations. Science: Statistics, Electronics, Physics, Climate sciences, Indigenous knowledge systems, Actuarial science, Society and sustainability, Data science, Mathematical sciences, Renewable energy, Biosciences, Environmental sciences, and Agricultural sciences. Technology: Information science, Business information systems, Information management, Information systems, Computer science, and Information technology. The bursary covers tuition fees, learning resources, accommodation, meals, a monthly stipend, and provides a computer for first-year students.
The Trust maintains an ongoing interaction with students, including invitations to FirstRand offices, vacation work, mentoring, on-campus interactions with FirstRand personnel, think tanks, transportation between the campus and provincial headquarters for students, hackathons, and support for obtaining a driver’s license.
Eligibility Criteria:
To be eligible for the FirstRand Foundation Trust Undergraduate Bursary, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Must be a Black South African citizen.
- Must not be older than 21 years in your first year of study.
- Must have applied for and provisionally admitted to a South African public traditional university for full-time studies in the specified degree fields.
- Must have obtained a minimum Level 5 for Mathematics in Grade 12.
- Must belong to the “missing middle” and prove that your combined annual gross family income falls between R350,000 and R600,000.
- Must be currently in Grade 12 or have completed Grade 12 not more than 3 years ago.
How to Apply:
Complete the application process on StudyTrust’s online application platform. You can submit your application by filling out the online application form.
Applicants are advised to read the StudyTrust Bursary Applications Page before starting the application process.
Documents Required:
Applicants should submit the following documents along with their application:
- Copy of your ID or Refugee permit.
- A signed consent form (downloadable from the official address mentioned above).
- Proof of your parents’ income or death certificate, whichever is applicable.
- Proof of your guardian’s income, if applicable.
- Your profile picture.
- Proof of acceptance or registration.
- Proof of address.
- Full academic record, if applicable.
Closing Date:
The application deadline for the bursaries for 2025-2026 is September 30. Late submissions will not be considered by the Trust.
Contact Details:
As StudyTrust administers the FirstRand Foundation Trust Undergraduate Bursary, you can contact StudyTrust for any inquiries related to the program. You can find their contact details on their website: StudyTrust Contact Information.
