National Arts Council Bursary: Requirements & How to Apply

Key Facts

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Provider: National Arts Council of South Africa (NAC)
Field of Study: Music & Performing Arts
Study Level: Undergraduate

Honours

Postgraduate / Masters

Doctoral

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National Arts Council funding

Eligibility Requirements

South African citizen
Registered or accepted to study towards an arts qualification
Postgraduate applicants: an average of at least 65%, with 63% considered in exceptional cases
International applicants: already admitted to the institution abroad
Preference for students from previously disadvantaged backgrounds

Documents Needed

Your CV and a certified copy of your ID, no older than 12 months
The course structure and the fee structure of your institution
Proof of acceptance or registration, and your transcript of results
Certified copies of your degrees, certificates or diplomas
Proof of any other bursary funding
Two signed reference letters from industry professionals
A motivation letter, proof of household or own income, and proof of a bank account

About National Arts Council Bursary

The National Arts Council Bursary helps South Africans study towards an arts qualification, in South Africa or abroad. The National Arts Council of South Africa (NAC) offers local bursaries, for study at South African institutions, and international bursaries, for study at institutions abroad.

The NAC funds the arts in disciplines such as craft, dance, literature, music, theatre, visual arts and multidisciplinary work. Its bursaries are mainly for tuition fees, and they aim to develop talented arts professionals.

The NAC publishes each call with its own dates. For example, its 2025 international bursary call opened on 2 June 2025 and closed on 11 July 2025, with outcomes on 26 August 2025. Check the NAC website for the current call before you apply.

Funding Details

NAC bursaries are mainly for tuition fees. The NAC's panel sets the tuition amount according to the costs at your institution. If other funding already covers part or all of your tuition, the NAC may direct its funding towards accommodation, study materials, travel, research and a subsistence allowance.

International bursaries are worth up to R250,000 a year, subject to Council approval, and are renewable for the length of the course if you pass each year of study. Postgraduate students on two-year or three-year master's or doctoral degrees do not need to reapply each year, as long as they pass.

After your studies, you must share your skills with a less privileged organisation or community, for example through workshops, outreach and mentoring, and report on this to the NAC.

Where You Can Study

Local bursaries are for arts qualifications at appropriate institutions of higher learning and further education and training in South Africa. Funding may also be available for local residencies at relevant institutions or with experienced arts practitioners.

International bursaries are for study at international tertiary institutions. In assessing applications, the NAC considers the credibility of the qualification and the standing of the institution that has accepted you.

About National Arts Council of South Africa (NAC)

About the National Arts Council The National Arts Council of South Africa (NAC) is a public entity that funds and promotes the arts in South Africa. It falls under the national Department of Sport, Arts and Culture. The …

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Email: info@nac.org.za

Fields of Study & Who Can Apply

There are three routes, depending on your level of study:

Local undergraduate students cannot apply directly. Their universities and colleges apply for block bursaries on their behalf.
Local postgraduate students apply individually, if they are registered or accepted for a full-time or part-time postgraduate arts degree at a South African institution.
International students apply individually for undergraduate or postgraduate arts study abroad, once they have been admitted.

Only South Africans are eligible. Preference goes to students from previously disadvantaged backgrounds.

Application Procedure

Register on the NAC's online Grant Management System and complete the bursary application form for the call that applies to you. Check the form for any extra documents, and upload everything before the closing date. The NAC does not consider late or incomplete applications.

Undergraduate students studying in South Africa should ask their institution whether it holds an NAC block bursary. For questions, contact the NAC.

National Arts Council funding