FirstRand Empowerment Foundation Undergraduate Bursary South Africa 2025

ABOUT THE BURSARY PROVIDER – FIRSTRAND EMPOWERMENT FOUNDATION

The FirstRand Empowerment Foundation (FREF), founded in 2005 as part of FirstRand Limited’s broad-based black economic empowerment (B-BBEE) initiative, is committed to reducing poverty and inequality by supporting public benefit activities aligned with B-BBEE principles. The foundation’s leadership primarily consists of individuals classified as black under the Financial Sector Charter.

FREF envisions a South Africa where all citizens have equitable access to economic opportunities, fostering inclusive growth. By focusing on empowering communities to actively participate in the national economy, the foundation has outlined key strategic areas to drive this mission forward.

ABOUT THE FIRSTRAND EMPOWERMENT FOUNDATION BURSARY PROGRAMME – FIELDS COVERED

The FirstRand Empowerment Foundation is inviting students to apply for their Bursary Programme, for the 2025 academic year.

Bursaries will be awarded for studies towards critical skills programmes, specifically for Undergraduate Degree studies in the following fields:

• • Agricultural  Sciences: All specialisations
  • Arts: Psychology
  • Commercial Sciences: Accounting, Actuarial  Science, Economics, Financial Management
  • Engineering: All specialisations
  • Environmental Sciences: Climate Sciences, Renewable Energy
  • Information Sciences: Business Information Systems, Computer Science, Data Science, Information Systems, Information Management, Information Technology
  • Mathematical Sciences: Mathematics, Risk, Statistics
  • Natural Sciences: Biosciences, Electronics, Physics
  • Social Sciences and Law: Society and Sustainability, Indigenous Knowledge Systems, Law

(Read about the FirstRand Empowerment Foundation Honours Bursary here).
 

MORE ABOUT THE FIRSTRAND EMPOWERMENT FOUNDATION BURSARY PROGRAMME – EXPENSES COVERED & OTHER OPPORTUNITIES

The bursary will provide cover for the following expenses: tuition fees, learning resources, computer (for 1st year students), accommodation, meals and a monthly stipend.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE FIRSTRAND EMPOWERMENT FOUNDATION BURSARY

Applicants must satisfy the following minimum entry criteria before applying (please note that failure to satisfy all the requirements will lead to your application not being considered):

• You must be a South African citizen
• You must be Black, as defined by the BBBEE Act
• You must NOT be older than 21 years in your first year of study
• You must be currently in Matric or have completed Matric within the last 3 years (applicants who completed Matric more than 3 years ago may NOT apply)
• You must have achieved a minimum of level 5 for Mathematics in Matric
• You must have a strong academic record
• You must intend on studying full time, towards a first undergraduate degree in one of the fields listed above, in 2025
• You must have applied for and been provisionally admitted to study at a public university in South Africa, in 2025
• You must have a combined gross family income NOT more than R600 000 per annum

HOW TO APPLY FOR THE FIRSTRAND EMPOWERMENT FOUNDATION BURSARY

Applications must be submitted online at: FirstRand Empowerment Foundation Bursary Application 2025

Applicants must read the Study Trust Bursary Applications Page before applying.
Submit clear copies of the following supporting documentation along with your application (the submission of these documents is compulsory – if any items are missing, your application may be disqualified):

• Clear photograph (head and shoulders)
• South African ID document (certified copy)
• Grade 11 final results and Matric June results, if currently in Matric
• Matric certificate, if completed Matric
• Proof of university acceptance/ provisional acceptance for 2025
• Proof of parents or guardians household income (latest payslips if employed/ affidavit if unemployed/ affidavit stating annual income if self-employed/ most recent audited financial statement or 3 months’ most recent bank statements if they own a business/ SASSA letter stating the grants received if applicable)
• Parents death certificates if deceased
• Letter from the court stating child support amounts if parents are divorced or affidavit from the parent stating the child support amount received if parents are separated

CLOSING DATE FOR THE FIRSTRAND EMPOWERMENT FOUNDATION BURSARY

15 December 2024.
(Applications submitted after this date will not be accepted – please apply before the closing date to ensure your application is considered.)

CONTACT THE BURSARY PROVIDER

For any queries related to these bursary programmes, please contact StudyTrust (the administrators for this bursary) directly:
Tel: 011 403 1632
Email: apply@StudyTrust.org.za
Please do NOT contact StudyTrust or the FirstRand Empowerment Foundation if this bursary has already closed.