Company Summary
The FirstRand Empowerment Foundation is the corporate social investment and transformation arm of FirstRand Group — one of South Africa’s largest and most diversified financial services groups, and the holding company behind FNB (First National Bank), RMB (Rand Merchant Bank), WesBank, and Ashburton Investments. FirstRand is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and is consistently ranked among the top financial institutions on the African continent.
The FirstRand Empowerment Foundation exists to invest in the education and development of talented young South Africans who lack the financial means to access higher education. Rather than administering the bursary directly, the Foundation partners with StudyTrust — one of South Africa’s most reputable and long-standing bursary administration organisations — to manage the selection, placement, and ongoing support of bursary recipients. StudyTrust has decades of experience managing corporate bursaries and provides bursars with wraparound support that goes beyond just paying fees.
For a Grade 12 learner or recent matriculant from a financially constrained background, this bursary represents one of the most comprehensive and well-resourced funding opportunities available in South Africa. It does not just pay your fees — it covers nearly every financial barrier between you and a completed degree.
Opportunity Overview
The FirstRand Empowerment Foundation, administered by StudyTrust, is offering fully funded undergraduate bursaries for the 2027 academic year to qualifying South African Grade 12 learners and recent matriculants who intend to pursue their first undergraduate degree at a recognised South African university.
Bursary Type: Fully funded undergraduate bursary Administered by: StudyTrust on behalf of the FirstRand Empowerment Foundation Target Applicants: Grade 12 learners and recent matriculants Academic Year: 2027 Closing Date: 30 September 2026
What the Bursary Covers
This is one of the most comprehensive bursary packages available to South African students. The FirstRand Empowerment Foundation bursary covers:
- Tuition fees — full payment of university registration and academic fees directly to the institution
- Accommodation — university residence or approved off-campus accommodation costs
- Meals — a meals allowance or campus meal plan to ensure you are fed and focused
- Learning materials — textbooks, study materials, and prescribed resources for your course
- Monthly stipend — a personal allowance paid monthly to cover transport, toiletries, and day-to-day living costs
- Laptop — a device provided to ensure you can study, research, and complete assignments without a technology barrier
This means that as a FirstRand Empowerment Foundation bursar, your only job is to study, perform, and graduate. Every major financial obstacle has been addressed.
Eligible Fields of Study
The bursary supports students pursuing undergraduate degrees across a broad range of disciplines, including:
- Engineering — Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Chemical, Industrial, and related fields
- Information Technology and Computer Science
- Accounting and Financial Sciences
- Health Sciences — Nursing, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, and related fields
- Law (LLB)
- Natural Sciences — Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and related fields
- And other relevant undergraduate degree fields
Applicants should confirm the full and current list of eligible fields directly with StudyTrust at the time of application, as eligible programmes may be updated for the 2027 intake.
Key Requirements
- South African citizen
- Currently in Grade 12 or a recent matriculant who has not yet commenced undergraduate study
- Applying for or intending to enrol in a first undergraduate degree at a recognised South African university
- Demonstrated financial need — this bursary is targeted at students who genuinely cannot afford higher education without support
- Strong academic performance — while specific grade requirements should be confirmed with StudyTrust, bursaries of this calibre typically require a solid Grade 11 and Grade 12 academic record
- Mathematics is typically required for most eligible fields — confirm the specific subject requirements for your intended degree
- Good character, community involvement, and personal motivation will strengthen your application
- Must not already be in receipt of another full bursary covering the same costs
What You Will Gain Beyond the Funding
Being a FirstRand Empowerment Foundation bursar is about more than money. Bursary recipients typically benefit from:
- Association with the FirstRand brand — one of South Africa’s most respected corporate groups. This association carries weight on your CV and in future job applications, particularly if you pursue a career in financial services, technology, or professional services
- StudyTrust support structures — StudyTrust provides ongoing administrative, academic, and pastoral support to bursars throughout their studies, helping you navigate university life and stay on track
- Networking opportunities — exposure to FirstRand Group businesses including FNB, RMB, and WesBank through events, career days, and engagement programmes
- Potential employment pipeline — bursary recipients who perform well academically are frequently considered for vacation work, internships, and graduate programmes within the FirstRand Group after completing their studies
- A completed undergraduate degree with zero student debt — one of the most powerful financial and professional foundations a young South African can have
Possible Bursary Interview or Selection Questions
If shortlisted, you may be invited to an interview or assessment. Prepare for questions such as:
- Why did you choose your intended field of study, and how does it connect to your long-term career goals?
- Tell us about a challenge you have faced in your life or education — how did you overcome it?
- How has your financial situation affected your ability to access higher education, and what has that experience been like?
- What does receiving this bursary mean to you and your family?
- How do you plan to give back to your community or contribute to South Africa once you have completed your degree?
- What do you know about FirstRand Group and the businesses it operates?
- What are your greatest academic strengths, and where do you feel you need to grow?
- How do you manage your time and stay motivated when studying is difficult?
Tip: The FirstRand Empowerment Foundation invests in people, not just qualifications. In your application and interview, tell your story honestly and fully. Where you come from, what obstacles you have faced, and what you intend to do with the opportunity matter just as much as your marks. Do not underestimate the power of your personal narrative — write it with care, honesty, and purpose.
Career Advice
- Apply as early as possible — do not wait until 30 September. Bursary selection processes are competitive and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. A strong, complete application submitted in July or August will receive more careful attention than one rushed together in the final days of September. Set yourself a personal deadline of no later than mid-August and work toward it now.
- Your motivation letter is the most important part of your application. Bursary administrators read hundreds of applications from academically strong candidates. What distinguishes one from another is almost always the quality, authenticity, and specificity of the motivation letter. Explain clearly who you are, where you come from, why you chose your field of study, what you intend to do with your degree, and why this bursary specifically matters to you. Write it yourself, in your own voice, and have someone you trust review it before submitting.
- Get your documents in order now — do not wait. A complete bursary application typically requires your ID document, latest school results, proof of income or financial need for your household, and a motivation letter. Certified copies of documents take time to obtain. Start gathering everything immediately so that you are not scrambling at the last minute.
- Academic performance during Grade 12 matters enormously — do not let your marks slip now. Bursary providers monitor academic performance throughout the year. If your mid-year results are weak, address it immediately. Tutoring, study groups, and past papers are your tools. A strong final matric result strengthens your bursary application and confirms your university admission.
- Understand what you are committing to. Most bursaries of this nature include academic performance conditions — typically a minimum pass rate or academic average that must be maintained each year for funding to continue. Read the terms and conditions carefully. Know what is expected, plan accordingly, and take your first year of university extremely seriously. Many bursars lose their funding in first year because they underestimate the academic step-up from matric to university.
- For Engineering and IT applicants: The South African economy has a critical shortage of engineers and technology professionals. A funded Engineering or IT degree from a recognised university, backed by the FirstRand name, places you in an exceptionally strong position when you graduate. Use every vacation period to apply for internships and vacation work — ideally within the FirstRand Group — to build your practical experience alongside your academic qualification.
- For Accounting applicants: FNB, RMB, and WesBank all have significant finance and accounting functions. A FirstRand bursary in Accounting is a direct line of sight to one of South Africa’s most prestigious graduate employment pipelines. Perform well academically, engage with the Foundation’s events and touchpoints, and make yourself known — this bursary could be the beginning of a long career within the FirstRand ecosystem.
- Zero student debt is a life-changing advantage. Most South African graduates enter the job market owing tens of thousands — sometimes hundreds of thousands — of rands in NSFAS debt, student loans, or family obligations. Completing your degree fully funded means your first salary goes toward building your life, not paying off your past. The financial freedom that creates, compounded over a career, is genuinely transformational. Do not take it for granted.