Free State Office of the Premier

About the Free State Office of the Premier

The Free State Office of the Premier sits at the centre of the provincial government. Its stated mission is to give strategic direction and to coordinate service delivery across departments. Its offices are in the OR Tambo Building in Bloemfontein. Instead of running clinics or schools itself, it steers the work of the departments that do.

Its functions include communications, financial management, human resources, legal services, intergovernmental relations and monitoring and evaluation. This coordinating role also shapes how the province plans for skills. A province cannot deliver good health care, engineering or agriculture without trained people, so the Office funds study in fields where graduates are scarce.

How the Office supports students

The Free State Office of the Premier bursary is a provincial skills-development programme for unemployed youth. It is aimed at young people between 18 and 35 who live in the Free State. Recent calls also mention a household income limit of R600 000 a year, so the programme targets families who struggle to pay fees.

The funding is for full-time study at a recognised higher education institution. Priority fields have included healthcare, education, engineering, data science, finance, agriculture and the built environment. Depending on the year, the support can cover tuition, accommodation, prescribed textbooks, meals and a monthly living allowance. Some calls also mention learning devices and transport. The exact package can change, so always read the current advertisement.

Because the Office acts as a public funder, its aim is to build local capacity. Graduates who qualify as nurses, engineers, social workers or veterinarians can then serve Free State communities. For students from smaller towns and rural areas, this is a rare chance to study without fee debt.

What to know before applying

Bursary holders must work in the Free State after they graduate. The period equals the number of years they were funded. For example, three years of funding means three years of service in the province. Think carefully about this condition before you accept an award.

Other conditions usually apply. Applicants must be South African citizens, must already hold or be applying for a place at a university or similar institution, and should not hold another bursary at the same time. Applications are normally open once a year, and recent rounds closed in November. Late submissions are not considered, so prepare your documents early. You will generally need a certified ID copy, academic results, proof of residence and proof of household income.

The Office's website has a bursaries page, and the main switchboard is listed as 051 405 5799. Check the latest closing date and the list of approved fields there before you submit.