HCI Foundation

About the HCI Foundation

The HCI Foundation is the corporate social investment arm of Hosken Consolidated Investments, a JSE-listed investment holding company. HCI has interests in gaming, hotels, property, transport, media and mining. The Foundation is an independent trust. Its trustees include members of the HCI board, employees of group companies and outside experts. Its office is in Sea Point, Cape Town.

The Foundation has funded tertiary education since 2006. It also gives financial and strategic support to non-profit organisations across South Africa. Its aim is to uplift disadvantaged communities, and education is a central part of that work.

How the HCI Foundation supports students

The bursary programme gives partial funding. In the 2026 round, the award covered up to 75% of tuition fees, with a ceiling of R40,000 a year. The money is paid into the student's fee account at the university, around July. As a result, students must find other ways to pay for books, residence, transport and living costs.

Earlier versions of the programme worked differently. For instance, funding once focused on dependants of employees in HCI group companies, and the maximum amounts were lower. Amounts and rules clearly change, so avoid relying on old information.

Recipients are expected to give something back. Past conditions included community service, tutoring or mentoring, volunteering, surveys and workshops. These activities build leadership skills and link the students to the Foundation's mission.

The Foundation's reach is national, even though its office is in Cape Town. The universities listed for new applicants in 2026 included UCT, UWC, Stellenbosch, UKZN, Pretoria, Wits, Johannesburg, Rhodes, Nelson Mandela, the Free State and North-West. Because applications run through these institutions, the financial aid staff on campus are your first point of contact.

What to know before applying

Applicants must be South African citizens, refugees or asylum seekers aged 35 or younger. They must study full-time and come from a household earning below R38,000 gross per month. Students who hold a full or large partial bursary elsewhere cannot apply.

In the 2026 round, new applicants were considered for honours or postgraduate diplomas at a list of public universities. Current recipients could continue with undergraduate study at any public university or technology institution. Therefore, check whether your level of study is open before spending time on an application.

Applications went through the university's financial aid office, not straight to the Foundation. The window ran from 1 February to 10 March 2026. Applicants submitted an ID copy, academic records, proof of income and a motivational letter of 550 to 750 words. Dates differ every year, so confirm the current timetable with your university's financial aid office or the HCI Foundation website.