EY Bursary 2025-2026

EY is committed to growing and transforming the Chartered Accountancy profession. Importantly, we believe in individual development from school level through university and into the world of work.

Bursaries are awarded to individuals who we believe have the commitment to qualify as a Chartered Accountant and an academic record which indicates the ability to do so with due regard to financial need. In return for the bursary, the student is required to work at EY for the duration of their training contract (a minimum of three years).

There are two types of bursaries open for application.

1. Academic Merit with Financial Need Bursary: This covers one or more, or a combination of tuition, accommodation, books and/or meals.
2. Academic Merit Bursary: This covers a portion of the tuition fees

Eligibility requirements

The first requirement to be eligible for a bursary is South African citizenship and a valid South African identity document. We require an academic record of a minimum of four A’s, excluding Life Orientation; that you will be studying toward a relevant CA degree (three to four years) and a year Accounting Honours/Certificate in Theory in Accounting (CTA). Further, you should be accepted and/or enrolled at a SAICA (South African Institute of Chartered Accountants) accredited University.

University of Witwatersrand

University of Free State

University of Western Cape

University of Cape Town

University of Stellenbosch

Walter Sisulu University

University of Johannesburg

Rhodes University

University of Limpopo

University of Pretoria

UNISA

Monash

University of KZN

University of Fort Hare

University of Zululand

North West University

Institute of Accounting Science

University of Venda

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University

What does a Chartered Accountant do?

A Chartered Accountant analyses and evaluates both financial information and business risks facing the organisation they are working with (the ‘client’). CA’s bear a key responsibility in undertaking and effecting their duties as they will use that information to advise the client on the financial state of the business and the areas of potential risk in order to support the business’ continued viability and profitability. The work that CA’s do for individual clients provides assurance to the market, which the market (investors) rely upon to inform their decisions of whether to invest in a company or not. Investment can mean the different between success or failure for many organisations.

What happens once you enter into a training contract with EY?

A training contract spans a three-year period. First year trainees, called ‘assistants’ will get to know the client and their business and thereafter write the Qualifying Exam 1- Initial Test of Competence (ITC). Second year trainees titled ‘seniors’ take on more responsibility and are expected to contribute more to the team and later write the Qualifying Exam 2- Assessment of Professional Competence (APC). ‘Supervisors’, who are third and final year trainees, manage or run a client assignment, and supervise and coach junior trainees. Once third year trainees pass both exams and complete the training, they will register with SAICA as a CA(SA).