Key Facts
- Status
- Applications Closed
- Provider
- Field of Study
- Study Level
- Academic Year
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2026
- Application Closes
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Eligibility Requirements
- South African citizen
- Already completed first year of undergraduate study (first-year and postgraduate students do not qualify)
- Enrolled at an accredited public university in South Africa
- Studying Engineering, Built Environment, or Health Sciences
- Total household income not more than R380,000 per year
About Fem Bursary
The FEM Bursary is run by the FEM Education Foundation (FEMEF), a non-profit company established in 2016 and funded by the Federated Employers Mutual Assurance Company (FEM). FEM itself was founded in 1936 and provides workplace injury and illness insurance to construction companies and their employees, so the foundation's bursary programme naturally leans toward Engineering, Built Environment, and Health Sciences qualifications.
FEMEF exists to widen access to education and to give students from disadvantaged backgrounds the psycho-social support and leadership development they need to finish their studies, not only the money to start them.
Funding Details
The FEM Bursary covers full tuition, prescribed textbooks, accommodation, meals, and a monthly living allowance for qualifying students. This makes it a comprehensive, full-cost bursary rather than a partial contribution toward study costs.
Where You Can Study
Recipients must be enrolled at an accredited public university in South Africa. FEMEF has not published a shortlist of specific universities beyond this accreditation requirement.
About FEM Education Foundation
The FEM Education Foundation NPC, known as FEMEF, is a South African non-profit company established in 2016 and based in Houghton Estate, Johannesburg. It is funded by the Federated Employers Mutual Assurance Company (FE…
View full provider profile →- Address
- 114 Oxford Road, Houghton Estate, Johannesburg, 2196
- info@femef.co.za
Fields of Study & Who Can Apply
This bursary supports students studying Engineering, Built Environment, or Health Sciences at an accredited public South African university. It specifically excludes first-year students and postgraduate students, so applicants must already have completed at least their first year of undergraduate study before applying.
Application Procedure
Apply directly with the provider using the official application link below, before the closing date.
Applications for this cycle have closed. Check the provider's site for the next intake.
- Closes
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Last verified:
Frequently Asked Questions
Can first-year students apply for the FEM Bursary?
No. The bursary specifically excludes first-year students, along with postgraduate students, and only funds students who have already completed at least one year of undergraduate study.
What does the bursary actually cover?
It covers full tuition, textbooks, accommodation, meals, and a monthly living allowance, making it a comprehensive funding package.
Is FEM the same organisation as the FEM Education Foundation?
FEM (Federated Employers Mutual Assurance Company) is a workplace insurer founded in 1936. It funds the FEM Education Foundation (FEMEF), a separate non-profit company established in 2016 that runs the bursary programme.
What is the household income limit?
Applicants' total household income must not exceed R380,000 per year.
When does the application period close?
For the 2026 academic year, applications closed on 15 November 2025.
