Key Facts
- Status
- Applications Closed
- Provider
- Field of Study
- Study Level
- Application Closes
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Eligibility Requirements
- Combined household income above R350 000 and up to R800 000 a year
- Studying a qualification on the merSETA priority skills list
- Enrolled at a participating university or TVET college
- Fully completed and signed application form
Documents Needed
The circular asked for an income declaration by affidavit, proof of employment or income for both parents or guardians and clear certified ID copies. It also asked for parents' or guardians' IDs and a death certificate if a parent has died. First-year applicants also needed a copy of their Matric certificate.
About merSETA Bursary
The merSETA Bursary helps students who study engineering and related subjects, and who fall in the "missing middle". merSETA, the manufacturing and engineering skills authority, funds this arrangement, and NSFAS administers it. The latest official circular set the 2026 recruitment window from 26 January to 20 February 2026.
That window has closed, and we found no notice for 2027. The missing middle means families that earn too much for NSFAS but too little to pay fees themselves. So this engineering bursary can matter to many students who struggle to find support anywhere else.
Funding Details
The sections of the circular that we read focused on administration, and they did not state a value per student. An older advert also did not state an amount or list the costs that it covers. So ask your financial aid office what the funding pays, and whether it covers accommodation or books as well as tuition.
We found no statement on work-back in those documents. Ask about this before you sign. Older terms also required applicants to declare any other significant funding, so tell your institution about every bursary or loan you hold.
Work out your combined household income before you apply, and ask a parent or guardian to help you collect the proof.
Where You Can Study
The circular went to universities and TVET colleges, and it asked them to handle recruitment. So your financial aid office is the best place to start. Ask whether your institution takes part, and whether your exact qualification appears on its approved list. Do this before the window opens, because it can be short.
About merSETA
About merSETA merSETA is the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education and Training Authority. The Minister of Higher Education and Training set it up in 2000 under the Skills Development Act of 19…
View full provider profile →- Address
- merSETA House, 95 7th Avenue, Melville, Johannesburg, 2109
- Phone
- 011 219 3000
Fields of Study & Who Can Apply
The 2026 circular set a strict combined household income of more than R350 000 and up to R800 000 a year. Both new and returning students were part of the recruitment process, and institutions managed it.
Qualifications had to match merSETA priority skills. These were Mechanical, Chemical, Electrical, Industrial, Civil, Electronic and Power Engineering, plus Mechatronics, Robotics, Financial Management, Manufacturing Operations Management and Computer Sciences for software developers.
An older advert said applicants had to be South African citizens. It also covered people employed by merSETA-registered companies, and unemployed people who wanted to work in the sector. Check which rules apply to the current round. If your family income falls outside the limits, this route will not fit, so look at NSFAS or other engineering funding on this site.
Application Procedure
Ask your institution's financial aid office how it handles merSETA funding, since it managed the 2026 process. You will have to sign a merSETA application form. Watch the merSETA website and NSFAS notices for a new window. Older adverts listed bursaries@merseta.org.za as a contact.
Applications for this cycle have closed. Check the provider's site for the next intake.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does missing middle mean here?
The 2026 circular used a combined household income above R350 000 and up to R800 000.
When was the last window?
It ran from 26 January to 20 February 2026.
Who do I contact first?
Start with your institution's financial aid office.
