Key Facts
- Status
- Check Provider for Dates
- Provider
- Field of Study
- Study Level
- Academic Year
-
2027
Eligibility Requirements
- South African citizen
- Currently unemployed
- Accepted to study full-time at an accredited public tertiary institution
- Enrolled in, or admitted to, a qualification aligned to the chemical, plastics or pharmaceutical manufacturing sector
- Able to demonstrate financial need
Documents Needed
- Certified copy of South African ID
- Certified Matric certificate or results
- Proof of acceptance or registration at a public tertiary institution
- Most recent academic transcript
- Proof of household income
- Motivational letter
About Chieta Bursary
The CHIETA Bursary (formally the CHIETA Industrial Futures Bursary Discretionary Grant) is administered by the Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority (CHIETA), the sector education and training authority for South Africa's chemical, plastics and pharmaceutical manufacturing industries. It funds unemployed South African youth who have been accepted to study, at an accredited public university, towards a qualification aligned to the chemical sector.
The bursary is one part of CHIETA's broader skills development mandate under the Skills Development Act, run alongside learnerships, skills programmes and internships aimed at building a technical skills pipeline for the sector.
Funding Details
Tuition fees are covered up to a stated annual maximum tied to level of study, based on the institution's official statement of account (recent cycles have referenced amounts in the region of R76,000 a year for undergraduate study, rising for postgraduate study). Because CHIETA reviews the exact amount and scope of cover for each application window, applicants should confirm the current figures when they apply rather than relying on a prior cycle's numbers.
Where You Can Study
CHIETA does not publish a restricted list of universities for this bursary. Any accredited South African public university offering a chemical-sector-aligned qualification should qualify, provided the applicant has been accepted for full-time study there.
About Chemical Industries Education & Training Authority (CHIETA
CHIETA (the Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority) is one of South Africa's sector education and training authorities, coordinating skills development and training within the chemical, pharmaceutical, and …
View full provider profile →- Address
- 2 Clamart Road, Richmond, Johannesburg, 2092
- Phone
- +27 11 628 7000
- headoffice@chieta.org.za
Fields of Study & Who Can Apply
Applicants must be South African citizens who are currently unemployed and have been accepted to study full-time at an accredited public tertiary institution, in a qualification aligned to the chemical, plastics or pharmaceutical manufacturing sector (for example chemical, electrical, industrial or mechanical engineering, environmental science, biochemistry, analytical chemistry, polymer technology, or a related field). Published guidance on the age criteria has varied slightly between cycles, so applicants close to either end of the youth bracket should confirm current age eligibility directly with CHIETA.
Application Procedure
Apply directly with the provider using the official application link below, before the closing date.
Questions about this application?
Contact Chemical Industries Education & Training Authority (CHIETA directly:
Last verified:
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the CHIETA Bursary open for the 2027 academic year?
CHIETA has typically opened a new application window each year, historically around February, closing three to four weeks later. As of August 2026, CHIETA had not yet published dates for a 2027 intake - check chieta.org.za or the CHIETA online application portal closer to the start of the year.
Did I miss the closing date?
The most recently published CHIETA Industrial Futures Bursary window (for the 2026/27 academic year) closed in February 2026, so that specific window has lapsed. A new window for the 2027 academic year had not yet been announced as of August 2026.
What does the bursary cover?
Tuition fees up to a stated annual maximum, based on the institution's official statement of account.
Which fields of study qualify?
Qualifications aligned to the chemical sector, including chemical, electrical, industrial and mechanical engineering, environmental science, and related applied sciences.
How do I apply?
Recent cycles have used the CHIETA online application portal, with certified supporting documents emailed to bursary@chieta.org.za where instructed - check the current cycle's instructions before applying.
