What is happening?
The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) has officially opened its 2026 bursary programme for undergraduate and postgraduate students pursuing heritage-related and international studies.
Applications must be submitted online only before the deadline: 31 January 2026. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
Why it matters to you
This bursary offers up to R110,000 per student to cover tuition, accommodation, meals, books, transport, and even a laptop. It’s one of the few public bursaries in South Africa that specifically supports heritage and cultural disciplines, including archaeology, museum studies, palaeontology, and Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS).
However, funding is limited to only 45–50 students nationwide, so early and complete applications are essential.
What you need to know
Who qualifies
You must meet all the following:
- Be a South African citizen
- Be under 40 years old
- Achieve at least 65% average academic performance
- Be accepted or provisionally accepted for full-time study in 2026
- Be enrolled at an institution registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training
- Be unemployed or earning less than R130,000 annually
- Not already funded by another bursary or donor
Covered study fields
Only applicants studying in the following fields will be considered:
- Physical and Biological Anthropology
- Archaeology (including Maritime, Underwater, and Digital)
- Geography, Cartography, GIS (Postgraduates only)
- Archives and Records Management
- Library and Information Science
- Built Environment Conservation (Postgraduates only)
- Heritage & Museum Studies (Management, Curatorship, Preservation)
- Palaeontology
- Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS)
- History
- Digitisation of Heritage Resources
- International Studies
Applications in other fields will be rejected.
What the bursary covers
| Item | Amount Covered |
|---|---|
| Tuition Fees | 100% of official study fees |
| Prescribed Books | Full cost |
| Laptop/Device | Up to R10,000 |
| Accommodation (if needed) | Up to R50,000 |
| Meals (if needed) | Up to R18,500 |
| Transport (if needed) | Up to R10,000 |
Funds are paid directly to the university, not to students.
What you should do next
Step 1: Confirm eligibility
- Are you accepted to study in 2026?
- Is your course on the approved list?
- Can you meet the academic and financial requirements?
Step 2: Prepare your documents
Make sure all certified documents are not older than 3 months:
- SA ID copy (certified)
- Matric certificate (certified)
- Latest academic record or progress report
- Provisional acceptance or registration letter on institution letterhead
- Certified income proof (payslip, affidavit, or household income)
- Disability proof (if applicable)
- Affidavit confirming authenticity of income details
Step 3: Apply online
- Visit: https://www.dsac.gov.za
- Use the official application platform or scan the QR code provided on the DSAC website
Step 4: Wait for outcome
- Applications close: 31 January 2026
- If you don’t hear back by 31 March 2026, consider your application unsuccessful
