Key Facts
- Status
- Check Provider for Dates
- Provider
- Field of Study
- Study Level
Eligibility Requirements
- South African citizen aged 18 to 35
- Admitted to, or registered at, a recognised public higher education institution
- Studying a BSc in engineering or a national diploma in a listed field
- Average of at least 60% for students who already study
Documents Needed
- Completed application form
- Proof of acceptance at a tertiary institution
- Proof of residence
- Certified copy of your ID
- Matric certificate or latest results
About PRASA Bursary
The PRASA Bursary funds South African students who study engineering and related fields for the railway sector. The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa, or PRASA, runs commuter and long-distance rail services, and it needs engineers to keep its trains and tracks safe.
We could not open PRASA's website on 8 November 2026, so the terms below come from copies of its adverts. One copy says that the 2027 round closed on 30 September 2026, while others show 15 November, so confirm the date with PRASA.
Funding Details
The copies we saw did not give a consistent list of what the bursary covers. Bursaries from public rail bodies usually pay tuition and may add books, accommodation and a stipend, but PRASA must confirm this for the current round.
Ask PRASA for the terms in writing. Also ask whether you must work for PRASA after you qualify and for how long. Many public bursaries carry a work-back period that equals the years of funding.
Read the agreement closely before you sign. Keep your marks up, because the copies tie renewal to academic results.
Rail safety depends on careful engineering, so reviewers tend to look for steady results and a clear sense of purpose. Keep your marks above the minimum, join a student engineering society if your campus has one, and read about the history of rail in South Africa so that your motivation sounds informed.
Where You Can Study
You must study at a recognised public higher education institution in South Africa. That means a public university or a university of technology. Private colleges do not seem to qualify under the copies that we saw.
Ask PRASA whether your programme is accredited and whether the institution is on its approved list.
About PRASA
About PRASA PRASA, the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa, is a state-owned entity that runs much of the country's passenger rail network. It was launched in 2009 and answers to the national Department of Transport. I…
View full provider profile →- Address
- 1040 Burnett Street, Hatfield, Pretoria, 0083
- Phone
- +27 12 748 7000
Fields of Study & Who Can Apply
The copies say that applicants must be South African citizens aged between 18 and 35. They must be admitted to, or registered at, a recognised public higher education institution in South Africa. Students who already study need an average of at least 60%.
The bursary is for students who study for a Bachelor of Science in Engineering or a national diploma. Fields named in the copies are listed below, and some copies add quantity surveying.
- Civil engineering
- Electrical engineering (heavy and light current)
- Electronic engineering
- Industrial engineering
- Mechanical engineering
Explain in your motivation why you want to work in rail. Students who ride trains to campus often have a clear story to tell.
Application Procedure
Look for the current advert on the PRASA website and follow the steps that it gives. Because the copies disagree on the closing date, treat none of them as final. Apply only through PRASA's own channels and never pay anyone to submit for you.
Last verified:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the PRASA closing date?
Copies show 30 September 2026 for one round and 15 November for another. Confirm the date with PRASA.
Is the bursary only for engineers?
The copies name engineering fields and sometimes quantity surveying.
Is there an age limit?
The copies say that applicants should be between 18 and 35.
