Xylem SA Trust

About Xylem SA Trust

Xylem SA Trust is the South African bursary trust funded by Xylem Inc. Xylem is a global water technology company. It designs and builds pumps, treatment systems and smart-metering equipment for water and wastewater infrastructure around the world.

The Trust says it exists to help disadvantaged South Africans through educational funding and scholarships. This approach is common among multinational firms. Instead of running a bursary from a corporate office, Xylem channels its local education spending through a standalone trust with a clear water and sustainability focus.

How the Trust supports students

South Africa faces well-known water infrastructure and skills shortages. The Trust responds by funding students whose studies link clearly to water quality, water technology or water infrastructure. In other words, a course must show a direct connection to water to qualify.

Funding covers undergraduate and postgraduate study. Recent calls listed several groups of fields. These include water engineering and infrastructure, such as civil, mechanical and electrical engineering with water applications. They also include environmental science and management, for example hydrology, aquatic ecosystems and pollution control. Sustainability and climate studies, agriculture and food security, public health linked to water and sanitation, and emerging technologies such as data science also appear.

The awards can be full or partial. Funding is meant for students who are already registered or accepted at a recognised South African university or university of technology. Check the current advert to see exactly which costs are paid in your year.

The Trust does not describe a work-back obligation or guaranteed job. It presents the bursary as an investment in the water sector's future talent, whether or not graduates end up at Xylem.

What to know before applying

The most recent call we could confirm was for the 2026 academic year, and it closed on 28 November 2025. It asked for South African citizens who are Black, and who are not older than 35. Applicants had to show strong academic results and financial need. They also could not receive another bursary, including NSFAS.

Documents requested in that call included a certified ID copy and a matric certificate. Students already at university also had to send recent results, proof of enrolment and a fee statement. A motivational letter was required as well. Research students were asked for progress reports.

Applications were submitted online. Since requirements and dates change each cycle, always read the latest advert before you start. Write your motivation with care. Explain how your field connects to water, and how you plan to use your degree to solve a real problem in your community. Specific, honest answers stand out more than general statements.