Tomorrow Trust

About Tomorrow Trust

Tomorrow Trust is a South African non-profit organisation based in Johannesburg. It supports orphaned and vulnerable children, and it marked 20 years of work in 2024 and 2025. The Trust describes its approach as walking alongside learners from Grade R right through to graduation and into the workplace.

Its work begins long before university. Younger children attend junior holiday and Saturday school programmes, and learners in Grades 8 to 12 join senior programmes that strengthen their marks. The Trust also offers one-on-one counselling with qualified psychologists, career guidance and digital skills training.

How Tomorrow Trust supports students

The Tomorrow Trust bursary sits at the end of that pathway. It is aimed at orphaned and vulnerable youth, first-generation university students and young people from low-income households. Funding has been directed at undergraduate degrees in science, engineering, information technology and computer science, property sciences and other STEM-related fields.

Reported coverage includes tuition fees, textbooks, equipment, accommodation and a living allowance. Money alone rarely keeps a vulnerable student in university, however. For that reason, the Trust adds mentorship and coaching, psychosocial support, masterclasses, personal mastery and future-ready skills, and career networking. Students are tracked and helped throughout their studies, not just at registration. As a result, a struggling student can get help early, before a failed module turns into a dropout.

There is no formal employment work-back obligation. Instead of a work contract, recipients receive support that prepares them for the job market. This fits the Trust's focus on youth development rather than on supplying staff to one company.

What to know before applying

Published criteria ask applicants to be South African citizens between the ages of 18 and 35. You should be in matric or have completed it, and you must plan to study full time towards an undergraduate degree in an approved field. A diploma or a non-STEM degree may fall outside the current call, so read the list of fields carefully.

Need matters as much as marks. The Trust looks for learners from difficult circumstances who also show academic ability and determination. Be ready to provide your identity document, matric or university results, proof of household income and, where relevant, documents that show your orphan or vulnerable status.

Intakes, deadlines and the exact fields of study can change each year. For example, one cycle may favour engineering while another widens the list. Check the official Tomorrow Trust website for the current call before you apply. You can also use the contact details published there to ask questions. Do not pay anyone to submit an application on your behalf. Keep your results and contact details up to date, because the Trust may need to reach you during the selection process.