Beyond Accounting: 62 Commerce Bursaries and Scholarships for 2028

Commerce is the broadest degree category on this site, covering everything from actuarial science and investment management to marketing, supply chain, and business administration - which is exactly why so many different types of employer fund it. This guide brings together every verified commerce-field bursary, scholarship, and learnership currently tracked on this site for the 2027/2028 intake.

A BCom Opens More Doors Than Accounting Alone

If a Chartered Accountancy pathway isn't your goal, a general BCom or specialised commerce degree still opens a wide range of careers: actuarial science (one of the highest-paid and most exam-intensive commerce specialisations), investment and asset management, insurance and risk management, supply chain and logistics, marketing and brand management, and business administration roles across every industry from banking to mining to retail. Because commerce skills are needed everywhere, you'll notice funders here span far beyond banks and insurers - mining houses, water utilities, agricultural bodies, and car manufacturers all fund Finance, HR, or Business Administration streams alongside their more technical bursaries, since every operation needs people who can run the business side, not just the technical side.

Before You Start Applying

Read each bursary's specific field list carefully - "Commerce" is broad enough that a bank's bursary might fund only Actuarial Science and Finance, while an industrial company's "Commerce stream" might mean only Supply Chain and Business Administration. Matching your specific specialisation to the right funder saves you from wasting an application on a close-but-not-quite fit.

Financial Services, Banking, and Actuarial Bursaries

From banks, insurers, and asset managers - actuarial science bursaries here are especially valuable given how few actuarial graduates South Africa produces each year.

Capitec Bank Bursary - For citizens 27 or younger with a 70%+ average. Covers registration, tuition, textbooks, accommodation, meals, and work-readiness training.

Standard Bank Bursary - For 65%+ average students in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Risk Management, Investment Management, or Business Management. Full tuition, textbooks, a laptop, accommodation, meals, and a living allowance. Closes 30 September 2026.

Momentum Investments Bursary - For previously disadvantaged citizens with a 75%+ average, household income under R600,000/year, in 1st-3rd year BCom study. Tuition, textbooks, and accommodation, plus the Phambili internship programme after graduating. Closes 31 August 2026.

Coronation Fund Managers Bursary - For disadvantaged citizens in commerce-related Bachelor's/Honours study (75% Matric average, or 70%+ at tertiary level) - excludes TVET, private colleges, and distance learning. Tutoring, mentorship, and a post-graduation work-back commitment. Closes 19 August 2026.

Sanlam Bursary - Runs an Actuarial Science stream (historically ~90%+ Matric Maths) and an IT stream. Tuition, accommodation, a book allowance, pocket money, board exam cost support (Actuarial stream), mentoring, and guaranteed employment after graduating.

Santam Bursary - For 2nd-year-and-above or Honours/PGDip students with a 65%+ average, particularly in agriculture, data, engineering, finance, and risk-related studies. Tuition, living costs, and hands-on experience. Closes 30 September 2026.

MMI Holdings Bursary - For actuarial science students who've completed 1st year with a 70%+ average. Tuition and academic expenses, mentorship, vacation work, and networking. Closes 31 August 2026.

Old Mutual Imfundo Trust Scholarship - For 1st/2nd-year (or postgraduate Climate Studies) citizens with 70%+ in Grade 12 Maths, preference to rural/township backgrounds. Funds Business, Commerce, Finance, Management Sciences, Computer Science, and Climate Studies. Closes 30 September 2026.

South African Reserve Bank Bursary - For citizens under 30 with 70%+ in June Grade 12 results, financial need, entering first-year in a Reserve Bank-relevant field. Tuition and related costs. Closes 30 September 2026.

Sasria Bursary - For citizens with a strong Pure Mathematics result studying insurance, risk, finance, IT, or related fields. Full or partial funding depending on need and places available.

Nicasia Holdings Aon Bursary - For students in finance, insurance, risk management, or engineering with no other funding source (NSFAS recipients don't qualify). Reported at up to R120,000, covering tuition, textbooks, accommodation, and a monthly allowance.

Corporate and Retail Bursaries

From retailers, manufacturers, and consumer brands funding commerce degrees alongside their more technical fields.

Shoprite Bursaries - For under-27s entering 2nd year or higher with 60%+ average (65%+ for Accounting). Prioritises tuition and books, with surplus paid monthly.

Hollywoodbets Bursary - For citizens with 65%+ (Matric) or 60%+ (tertiary) studying full-time in an approved field - TVET students aren't eligible. Registration, tuition, textbooks, and accommodation. Closes 3 September 2026.

Pick n Pay Learnerships - A 6-month UIF Skills Programme (R2,000/month stipend) or a 12-month Wholesale and Retail Operations Learnership (R3,000/month), both for unemployed Grade 12 holders with no retail experience required.

Toyota SA Motors Bursary and Toyota South Africa Motors Bursary - Two related Toyota listings for citizens studying Commerce, Engineering, or Science fields. Financial support, vacation work, and a possible graduate development route. Both close 30 September 2026.

Mercedes-Benz Bursary - For citizens with a 70%+ Matric average. Tuition, meals, accommodation, stationery, allowances, and possible vacation work at the East London plant.

Wilmar Bursary - A final-year-only top-up for disadvantaged citizens with a 70%+ average. Tuition, accommodation, books, and a living allowance for your last year of study. Closes 19 August 2026.

Bester Bursary Graduate Development Programme - For students in agriculture, business, finance, logistics, or marketing willing to commit to mandatory vacation work and post-graduation employment at Bester. Full tuition and paid vacation placements.

Schauenburg Education Trust Bursary - For Black 2nd-4th year students in Electrical/Electronic Engineering or Business Administration/Management, preference to Black women and students with disabilities. Tuition, registration, exam fees, hostel-rate accommodation, textbooks, and a living allowance.

Clockwork Empowerment Fund Bursary - For young Black South African women facing financial barriers, studying Marketing, Advertising, Communications, Design, Development, or Public Relations. Full bursary donation covering the chosen qualification.

Astron Energy Bursary - Runs a Commerce stream (Project Management, Business Administration, Property Studies, Supply Chain, Logistics, Digital Marketing, HR) alongside its Engineering stream. Full tuition, textbooks, accommodation, meals, a monthly allowance, and mentorship.

Nestlé Future Talent Bursary - For citizens aged 17-25 with strong academic results. Reported to include tuition, books, accommodation, and food - confirm the current package directly.

AWS Skills Development Bursary and Amazon Bursary - Both require 65%+ in Matric Maths and English (or 65%+ overall at tertiary level). Full-cost: tuition, stationery, books, a computer, accommodation, subsistence, and transport. Both close 30 September 2026.

Avemel Group Bursary - For first-years in Supply Chain and Logistics, Finance/Administration, or IT, committing to work at Avemel's Durban operations afterward. First-year tuition support.

EY Bursary (Ernst & Young) - Also funds Commerce-adjacent CA(SA)-track study alongside its core Accounting focus. Covers tuition, accommodation, books, and/or meals depending on the stream, with a training contract offer. Closes 30 September 2026.

Cipla Bursary - For citizens with a 70%+ average studying a scarce-skills field relevant to Cipla's business, including commerce-adjacent fields. Tuition, accommodation, meals, books, and a laptop allowance.

Roche Bursary - Spans several fields including Commerce for students entering 2nd year or later. Reported benefits include tuition, textbooks, accommodation, meals, and a laptop.

Industry-Specific and Niche Corporate Bursaries

From mining, energy, water, and agricultural companies funding the commerce/business side of their operations.

Rand Water Bursary - For citizens with a 65%+ average, not already funded elsewhere, in undergraduate or postgraduate study. Full financial support for the duration of the qualification.

SAPREF Bursary - For citizens entering 1st or 2nd year at a mainstream public university (private institutions excluded) in one of SAPREF's listed fields.

Goldwind Bursary - Runs an NESA (engineering/technology) stream and a 4RE (business/commerce) stream for undergraduate citizens. Specific coverage isn't independently confirmed - check directly with Goldwind.

Probe IMT Bursary - For citizens with a university exemption and 60%+ in English, Maths, and Physical Science. Covers tuition and some study-related expenses.

Pyrotec Bursaries - For Affirmative Action/Employment Equity candidates, preference to first-years with 70%+. Full tuition and registration, hostel-rate accommodation, and a R5,000 textbook allowance.

West Wits Mining Bursary - Includes a Finance stream alongside its technical fields, preference to communities around its Witwatersrand Basin Project.

Mwelase Group of Companies Bursary - Includes Commerce-related fields (Mathematics/Accounting at 60%+) alongside engineering, preference to Emalahleni and Steve Tshwete municipality residents.

Afrimat Coega Quarry Bursary and Afrimat Denver Quarry Bursary - Both for Nelson Mandela Bay Metro residents with a 60%+ average, funding Engineering, Finance, or HR streams, subject to Mine Health and Safety Act medical fitness standards.

Agricultural Research Council (ARC) Bursary - For unemployed citizens aged 18-35 with a completed Honours (Master's applicants) or Master's (Doctoral applicants) in an agriculture-related field. Study-cost support, mentorship, and ARC lab access.

HORTGRO Bursary - For students in a field relevant to the deciduous fruit industry. Full or partial tuition, a stipend, internships, and mentorship.

Indalo Education Bursary - For undergraduate (60%+) or postgraduate (65%+, water-sector research) students with a demonstrated interest in the water industry. Full tuition plus mentorship and internships (undergrad), or full tuition, research costs, and conference funding (postgrad).

Government and Municipal Funding

Government and municipal bursaries that include Commerce among their eligible fields.

Eastern Cape Department of Education (ECDoE) - For unemployed Eastern Cape residents aged 18-35 with a Bachelor's pass. Registration, tuition, stationery, accommodation, and meals.

Eastern Cape Provincial Treasury Bursary - For Eastern Cape residents in a financial or economics-related field, preference for limited-means households.

N3TC Bursary - For 3rd-year+ students in the nine named N3 corridor municipalities. Tuition and mandatory textbooks.

Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) Bursary - For 15-35 year-olds studying an eligible field including Finance and Supply Chain Management.

Compensation Fund Bursary - For unemployed COID beneficiaries with a permanent disablement, or their dependants aged 17-35. Tuition, materials, accommodation, and a stipend.

Greater Letaba Municipality Bursary - For financially needy residents of the Greater Letaba area studying a municipal priority field. Coverage confirmed case-by-case.

GrandWest Bursary - For Western Cape residents registering at UWC, CPUT, UCT, or Stellenbosch, disability applicants specifically encouraged. Registration, tuition, and a textbook allowance, with community-service hours required.

Trusts, Foundations, and Leadership Scholarships

From independent trusts and leadership-development organisations funding commerce study alongside other fields.

MAD Leadership Foundation Scholarship - For citizens with academic and leadership potential in STEM, Commerce, or CA-related study, genuine financial need. Financial assistance, mentorship, and leadership development.

Canon Collins RMTF Scholarship - For citizens of South Africa or neighbouring SADC countries in postgraduate Economics (among other justice-related fields). R20,000-R100,000/year.

Moshal Scholarship Program - For citizens with household income under R200,000/year and 70%+ in English, Maths, and Physical Science or Accounting. Funds STEM and Commerce degrees at partner universities. Closes 31 December 2026.

SACBW Foundation Bursary - For female Matric learners under 20 with a 70%+ average, in Accounting/Bookkeeping, Business Development, or Marketing-related fields. Paid directly to your institution, plus the Youth Leader Award. Closes 31 August 2026.

Genesis Analytics Bursary (GEFT) - For previously disadvantaged citizens applying for Honours/Master's in Economics or related fields, 65%+ average. Tuition, books, and stationery. Closes 26 August 2026.

Allan Gray Orbis Fellowship Bursary - For Grade 12 learners planning Commerce (among other fields) at partner universities. Funding scales with household income, plus entrepreneurial leadership development.

FirstRand Foundation Honours Bursary - For citizens aged 21-35 entering a full-time Honours year. Tuition, a book allowance, travel/living allowance, and support workshops.

Donald White / Mandla A. Ndwanya Memorial Fund Bursary - For students connected to the fund's Nyanga, Cape Town focus, studying Commerce, Business, or related fields. R10,000 toward registration and textbook/technology costs.

Kuehne+Nagel Inzuzo Trust Bursary - Exclusively for Black South African women in 2nd year or later. Tuition and related expenses.

Cape Gate Erwin Robert Balde (ERB) Bursary - For first-year BCom (CA stream) students with 65%+ in Matric. Registration, tuition, book and computer allowances, and accommodation.

Glencore Bursary - For Grade 12 learners or students with strong academics (70%+ English). Registration, tuition, textbooks, meals, and accommodation.

BANKSETA and Skills Programmes

From the Banking Sector Education and Training Authority, funding both degree study and shorter workplace-based learnerships.

UNISA BANKSETA Bursary - For UNISA distance-learning citizens under 35 in Banking, Financial Management, Risk Management, Economics, Business Administration, IT, or Accounting.

BANKSETA/UKZN Outstanding Student Debt Fund - For UKZN students in the School of Accounting, Finance & Economics with outstanding debt. Closes 31 October 2026.

BANKSETA Letsema Learnership - A one-year learnership for unemployed citizens with 50%+ in Matric English and Accounting/Maths (or 60%+ Maths Literacy). Theoretical and practical banking-sector training with a monthly stipend.

Didn't find the right fit? Browse the full bursaries and scholarships listing for every field, or read our guide on writing a CV for a bursary application before you start sending yours out.