Articles / Funding

Funding for students & graduates

Grants, loans, incentives and competitions from government, development financiers, foundations and corporates. Amounts and eligibility as published by the funder; every card links to the funder's own application page. 34 programmes listed.

  • Bursary / scholarship

    Solomon Kalushi Mahlangu Scholarship Fund

    National Youth Development Agency (NYDA)

    Full cost of study (tuition, accommodation, books, allowance)

    A full scholarship for academically strong young South Africans from poor households to study at a public university or TVET college.

    Students & graduatesYouth (18–35)Rolling applications
  • Grant

    TIA Seed Fund for early-stage technology

    Technology Innovation Agency (TIA)

    Up to about R650 000 per project in recent calls

    Small grants to turn research and early ideas into prototypes and fundable technology ventures, channelled through universities, science councils and incubators.

    Tech & innovationStart-upsStudents & graduatesRolling applications

Grants are rare, loans are not

Most "government funding" is a loan or a cost-sharing incentive. True grants (NYDA, BBSDP, TIA seed, foundations) are competitive and paid to suppliers, not to you.

Get the paperwork first

CIPC registration, a SARS tax compliance pin, a business bank account, six months of statements and three quotations per item. Incomplete packs are the main reason for rejection.

Never pay to apply

No funder on this page charges an application fee. Anyone asking for a "processing fee" for NYDA, SEDFA or dtic money is a scam. Read our 2026 funding guide.