Top 100+ Engineering Bursaries and Scholarships for 2028

Engineering is, by a wide margin, the most heavily bursary-funded field on this site - which makes sense, since South Africa's power utilities, mines, water boards, and manufacturers all compete for the same limited pool of qualified engineers every year. This guide brings together over 100 verified engineering bursaries, scholarships, and learnerships currently tracked on this site for the 2027/2028 intake.

Engineering Still Has the Best Bursary-to-Job Pipeline in the Country

Almost every engineering discipline you can name has dedicated funding here: civil, electrical, mechanical, chemical, mining, metallurgical, industrial, mechatronic, and more specialised tracks like maritime and aerospace engineering. What sets engineering apart from most other fields is how directly a bursary tends to lead to a job - Eskom, Sasol, and the major mining houses all run bursary programmes explicitly designed to feed their own Graduate Development Programmes, so a strong bursary application is often the first real step in a specific company's hiring pipeline, not just financial aid. All practising engineers also need to register with ECSA (the Engineering Council of South Africa) at the appropriate level (Candidate, Professional, or specialist categories) to legally sign off on engineering work, so factor accreditation status into which university and qualification you choose.

Before You Start Applying

With over 100 options here, don't try to apply everywhere - shortlist 5-8 bursaries that genuinely match your specific discipline (not just "Engineering" broadly), your province if there's a residency requirement, and your year of study, since first-year-only and final-year-only bursaries are common and easy to misread. Many engineering bursaries, especially from mining and utility companies, come with mandatory vacation work and a multi-year work-back obligation after graduation - read those terms as carefully as the financial package itself.

Power, Energy, and Chemicals Engineering

From the country's power utility and major energy and chemicals companies.

Eskom Bursaries - Covers Chemical, Civil, Computer, Electrical (light and heavy current), Electromechanical/Mechatronics, Industrial, Mechanical, and Metallurgical Engineering. Full tuition, accommodation, meals, textbooks, allowances, vacation work, and typically guaranteed employment afterward - but doesn't fund students already registered elsewhere or already holding another bursary.

Sasol Bursary - For strong Maths/Physical Science students in Chemical, Mechanical, Electrical, or Mining Engineering and related sciences. Full tuition, accommodation, textbooks, mentorship, and vacation work, with a strong route into Sasol's Graduate Development Programme. Closes 17 May 2026.

Exxaro Bursary - The Students Living with a Disability stream for citizens aged 18-28 in a 3-year+ diploma or degree, generally resident in Exxaro's Limpopo/Mpumalanga host communities.

NERSA Bursary - For Master's/PhD students in electricity, gas, or petroleum pipeline regulation-relevant fields, means-tested funding.

Astron Energy Bursary - Runs a dedicated Engineering stream (Chemical, Electrical, Industrial, Mechanical, Metallurgical) for citizens under 35. Full tuition, textbooks, accommodation, meals, and a monthly allowance.

Shell Bursary - For citizens with 75%+ overall Matric average and financial need, funding tuition, textbooks, accommodation, and living expenses.

Mining and Metals Engineering

Every major mining house on this site funds engineering specifically - see our dedicated Mining bursaries guide for full detail on all of these, several of which are platinum, gold, coal, and manganese producers: Northam Booysendal Platinum, Royal Bafokeng Platinum, Southern Sphere Platinum, Two Rivers Platinum, Marula Platinum, Ivanplats, Evander Gold Mining, Mbuyelo Coal, Trans Hex, Tronox, Samancor Chrome, Tshipi é Ntle Manganese Mining, Idwala Industries, Assmang Manganese BRMO, Imerys Refractory, Minopex, Seriti, West Wits Mining, African Rainbow Minerals, and Council for Geoscience.

Rand Refinery Bursary - For 18-25 year-olds in 1st-3rd year Electrical, Chemical, Mechanical, Industrial Engineering, or Robotics & Advanced Control. Full bursary: tuition, a laptop, books, accommodation, and a stipend; a lower-threshold partial bursary is also available.

Water, Civil, and Built-Environment Engineering

From water boards, civil engineering firms, and built-environment programmes - see our dedicated Construction and Built Environment guide for full detail on Knight Piésold, Jones & Wagener, Power Construction, Martin & East, SAICE SPEBS, MISA, and Alfred Nzo District Municipality.

Department of Water and Sanitation Bursary - For first-year undergrad/Honours citizens with financial need at listed public institutions. Registration, tuition, book/stationery allowances, accommodation, food, and a monthly stipend. Closes 30 September 2026.

Rand Water Bursary - For citizens with a 65%+ average, not already funded elsewhere. Full financial support for the qualification's duration.

ERWAT Bursary - For strong students who've completed 1st year in an engineering/science field at a Gauteng institution, willing to work for ERWAT afterward. Tuition, books, accommodation, and a stipend, with a matching work-back period.

Xylem SA Trust Bursary - For students in a field directly linked to water quality, technology, or infrastructure. Tuition and approved academic expenses.

Vaal Central Water Bursary - For 18-25 year-olds with 60%+ in Maths/Physical Science in a water/engineering/environment field, preference to fence-line communities. Full tuition, textbooks, accommodation, and a living allowance, with a two-year work-back obligation.

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

IMESA Bursary - For 2nd-year+ Civil, Electrical, or Mechanical Engineering students at an ECSA-accredited programme. Up to R50,000 toward tuition and books, plus a mentor. Closes 15 September 2026.

Masakh'iSizwe Bursary - For Western Cape partner-institution students in transport, engineering, or built environment, preference to women, disabled applicants, and disadvantaged backgrounds. Full tuition, materials, accommodation/meals or a transport allowance, tutoring, and wellness support. Closes 31 August 2026.

Manufacturing, Materials, and Industrial Engineering

From steel, glass, paper, and chemicals manufacturers, plus the sector's own SETA.

Columbus Stainless Bursary - For Middelburg/Witbank-area residents with a 70%+ average; Engineering applicants must have completed Matric already. All-inclusive funding. Closes 28 August 2026.

Isanti Glass Bursary - Recently open only to female 4th-year students in Chemical, Electrical, Industrial, Materials, or Mechanical Engineering (65-75% average, varies by cycle). Tuition, final-year project costs, food/transport allowances, and vacation work.

AfriSam Bursary - For strong Mechanical or Electrical Engineering students with financial need, not funded elsewhere. Coverage details not fully published - confirm directly.

PAMSA Bursary - For final-year or recent Chemical Engineering graduates (60%+ average). R320,000 over two years for Master's study and research at one of four partner universities.

Sappi Bursary - For 17-25 year-olds with 70%+ in Maths and Physical Science, studying Engineering or Forestry and Wood Science. Tuition, textbooks, accommodation, a living allowance, and a route into Sappi's Engineer-in-Training Programme. Closes 30 September 2026.

Actom Bursary - For final-year Electrical Engineering students at a University of Technology, residing in Rustenburg, Madibeng, or Moses Kotane. Tuition, textbooks, and mentorship.

Schneider Electric Bursary - For citizens by birth in STEM/Automation fields (Matric through 3rd year), university-level applicants need financial need. Registration, tuition, accommodation, a meal allowance, and textbooks.

John Crane Bursary - Unusual structure: settles outstanding tuition fees for engineering students or graduates, rather than funding new study - no living allowance or accommodation included.

Alaris Antennas Bursary - For 3rd/4th-year or postgraduate students in Electronic, Mechanical, Mechatronic, Computer, or Software Engineering with an interest in microwave/RF antennas (75%+ average). Registration, tuition, accommodation, a subsistence allowance, and paid vacation work in Johannesburg, with a work-back clause.

CHIETA Bursary - For unemployed citizens in a chemical/plastics/pharmaceutical-manufacturing-aligned qualification. Tuition covered up to an annual maximum (recently around R76,000/year for undergrad).

Cape Gate Isaac Joffe Fellowship - For Matric learners or 1st/2nd-year students in Electronic/Electrical, Mechatronics, or Metallurgical Engineering, with strong results and financial need. Registration, tuition, book and computer allowances, and accommodation or a living allowance.

Safripol Community Bursary - For residents of Wentworth, Jacobs, or Bluff (Durban) pursuing Engineering. Tuition, textbooks, an accommodation allowance, a living stipend, and a laptop.

Transport, Maritime, Aerospace, and Defence Engineering

From transport authorities, the defence industry, and maritime-sector funders.

South African Road Federation Bursary - For road transport-related postgraduate study especially (undergrads considered in special cases); National Diploma students need 1st semester passed, Degree students need 1st year passed. Closes 31 August 2026.

TETA Scholarship at the World Maritime University and TETA Bursary - The Scholarship funds postgraduate maritime study at the World Maritime University specifically; the Bursary is TETA's broader transport-field funding for 18-35 year-olds with household income under R350,000/year. Both close 31 October 2026.

Southern African Transport Conference (SATC) Bursary - For SA/SADC Master's or Doctoral students researching transportation. R170,000 tax-free, paid in two instalments, renewable annually.

Traxtion Bursary (TraxWagon Programme) - For previously disadvantaged women aged 18-35 in engineering/logistics TVET qualifications, in North West, Free State, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, or Gauteng. Roughly R700,000 allocated across the current cohort.

Armscor Bursary - For citizens interested in a defence-industry career, in Mechanical, Electrical, Electronic, Industrial, or Aeronautical Engineering, or Computer Science/IT. Tuition, textbooks, accommodation, meals, mentorship, and vacation work.

Rheinmetall Denel Munition (RDM) Bursary - For citizens in Engineering or Science, from Grade 12 through postgraduate level, with a possible route into RDM's Accelerated Graduate Programme.

SAIMI Bursary - Reserved for Black South African women in maritime-related qualifications (undergrad through PhD). Full tuition and textbooks, subsidised accommodation and meals, funded through the National Skills Fund.

Fleet Horizon Solutions (FHS) Bursary - Reportedly for students in fleet, transport, and technical trades with financial need; full or partial tuition, textbooks, and accommodation - not independently confirmed by the company itself.

Transnet Bursary - Covers Industrial, Electrical, Electronic, Mechanical, Metallurgy, Computer, Civil, Chemical Engineering, and Mechatronics, for Matric-level applicants with 60%+ in Maths, Physical Science, and English. Full tuition, accommodation, books, meals, and structured mentorship.

Megchem Learnership - A one-year learnership toward an NQF Level 4 qualification in Computer Aided Drawing Office Practice, for 19-25 year-olds with 50%+ in Maths and Engineering & Graphics Design.

PRDW Bursary - For 3rd-year+ Engineering students (65%+ average) willing to complete vacation work in port and coastal engineering. Closes 28 August 2026.

Zutari Engineering Bursary Programme - For strong performers (70%+ Grade 12, rising thresholds each year) in Civil or Electrical Engineering, from Grade 12 through 3rd year. Full academic funding plus holistic support, selection via panel interview. Closes 31 August 2026.

Government, Corporate, and Research Funding

Government departments, research bodies, and corporates that fund Engineering alongside other fields - many detailed further in our other field guides.

Northern Cape Provincial Government Bursary - For unemployed 18-30 year-old Northern Cape residents in STEM/scarce-skills fields. Sliding scale of R80,000-R120,000/year by household income. Closes 30 September 2026.

CSIR Bursary, CSIR Sasol Foundation Bursary, SARAO Masters Scholarship, and SANSA Bursary - Research-focused funding covering engineering disciplines alongside pure sciences; the SARAO award is worth R200,000 plus travel and equipment grants for approved Master's research projects.

Tomorrow Trust SA Bursary - For orphaned/vulnerable youth and first-generation students aged 18-35. Tuition, textbooks, equipment, accommodation, living allowances, mentorship, and psychosocial support. Closes 30 September 2026.

Glencore, Accenture, Siemens, HP Inc., AWS, Investec Scholarship, Investec Bursary, and SANRAL - All fund Engineering among their core fields; see our Computer Science and IT guide and Accounting guide for fuller detail on several of these.

Toyota SA Motors, Toyota South Africa Motors, Santam, Amazon, Sage, and FirstRand Empowerment Foundation - All fund Engineering alongside Commerce and Science fields.

Mad Leadership Foundation, Allan Gray Orbis Fellowship, Nicasia Holdings Aon, PG Group, Cipla, Nestlé Future Talent, Roche, Mercedes-Benz, Mwelase Group, Probe IMT, Pyrotec, Goldwind, Absa Bank, and Fundi - Each includes Engineering among a broader list of funded fields.

Afrimat Coega Quarry, Afrimat Denver Quarry, Afrimat Blue Rock Quarry, and Afrimat Bursary - Afrimat's site-specific and group-level bursaries all include an Engineering stream alongside Finance and HR.

East London IDZ, Greater Letaba Municipality, KZN Provincial Government, GrandWest, Free State Office of the Premier, Compensation Fund, N3TC, Railway Safety Regulator, and FirstRand Foundation Honours - Government and regional funding that includes Engineering among its eligible fields.

Momentum Group Facilities Intern - For built-environment and engineering graduates, hands-on exposure to facilities operations and maintenance. Closes 30 September 2026.

African Academy Bursary - Full cover of course fees for the Multi-disciplinary Draughting N4/N5 qualification, a practical entry point into engineering-adjacent technical drawing work.

Indalo Education Bursary - For undergraduate (60%+) or postgraduate (65%+, water-sector research) students with an interest in the water industry, which draws heavily on civil and environmental engineering skills.

Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) Bursary - For unemployed citizens 26 or younger, household income up to R350,000/year prioritised. Funds Engineering among several other fields. Closes 30 September 2026.

SANSA Bursary - Funds Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering (Light Current), and Electronics among its STEM fields, for citizens with 70%+ Matric exemption or 65%+ at tertiary level. Closes 30 September 2026.

Schauenburg Education Trust Bursary - For Black 2nd-4th year students in Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, or Business Administration/Management, preference to Black women and students with disabilities.

Tharisa Bursary - For citizens with 60%+ in Maths and Physical Science, preference to communities around Tharisa's Marikana platinum operations. Full tuition, residence accommodation, textbooks, and a monthly living allowance.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Phambili Trust Bursary - For Black citizens 35 or younger in a STEM-related qualification (including engineering) from a financially disadvantaged background. Tuition and living costs for the academic year.

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.