THE NEDBANK EXTERNAL BURSARY PROGRAMME

Supporting academically deserving students with proven financial need to take their first steps toward achieving their dreams and obtain their first undergraduate degree.

The 2024 Nedbank External Bursary Programme applications are currently closed.

The 2025 Nedbank External Bursary Programme applications will open later in the year

At Nedbank, we believe in using our financial expertise to do good by helping bright young leaders pursue their academic dreams.

The Nedbank External Bursary Programme (bursary) aims to fund academically deserving students who do not have the financial means to study full-time towards a first undergraduate degree or diploma at a South African public university or university of technology. The aim of the bursary program is to address South Africa's scarce-skills shortages, with a specific focus on green-economy skills.

In short, a green economy promotes sustaining and advancing economic, environmental, and social well-being. Green-economy skills refer to those areas of study that focus on improving human well-being and social equity while also significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcity. Green-economy skills include reducing carbon emissions and pollution, increasing energy and material efficiency, and enhancing our natural capital.

Criteria for selection

1. We will only consider applications from South African citizens.

2. You must have a proven financial need, as determined by household income.

3. You must have obtained the following minimum academic results:

    3.1 Achieve 65% for all your major subjects in the year that you are applying for the bursary, i.e., in grade 12 or at the university level.

    3.2 Achieve an average of 65% for the required subjects aligned to the degree you plan to study at university.

4. We will not consider applicants who have completed their grade 12 or senior certificate in mathematics literacy.

5. You must have obtained admission to a South African public university or university of technology for the undergraduate qualification you plan to study.

Supporting documents required for your application

1. A certified copy of your South African identity card or document.

2. Your most recent academic transcript, i.e.,

    2.1 Grade 11 final results, as well as your mid-year results if you are currently in Grade 12.

    2.2 Grade 12 final results as well as your mid-year results if you are currently in your first year at university.

    2.3 Your last academic year results as well as your current mid-year results if you are currently in your second or third year at university.

3. The financial check affidavit must be signed by:

    3.1 your parent(s) or guardian(s);

    3.2 you, the bursary applicant.

Download the affidavit here, complete it, make sure it is signed by all the parties above, and add it to your application.

The screening process

1. We will only consider bursary applications submitted online via the link we have provided.

2. Incomplete bursary applications will be rejected.

3. Bursary applications will be screened and shortlisted according to the qualifying criteria listed as mentioned above.

The 2024 Nedbank External Bursary Programme applications are currently closed. The 2025 Nedbank External Bursary Programme applications will open later in the year.

For assistance, contact the Nedbank Bursary Team:
Unlockyourambition@nedbank.co.za.
 

Application process


The application process is specifically designed to ensure that the right students are selected for this programme. Here are a few pointers on how we select our candidates:


  • We accept applications online via the relevant link provided. Incomplete applications will be rejected.
  • We screen bursary applications against the Nedbank external bursary selection criteria to shortlist applicants.


The parents and legal guardians of shortlisted applicants will be requested to do the following:


  • Provide written consent that they understand that personal information will be requested and given to third parties who will assist the trust with verifying income.
  • Complete an income and expenditure statement for the combined family income.
  • Provide certified copies of the following within seven working days, in a single batch:
    • Identity documents.
    • Certified or official copy of recent payslip, letter of employment, not older than three months, for each parent or guardian.
    • Proof of income, bond statement and council rates accounts (not older than three months) if parents or guardians are informal traders or hawkers.
    • IRP5, IT3 and IT12 (past two years) if parents and guardians are earning commission.
    • Copy of an official pension slip or bank statement if parent or guardian receives income such as pension / grant / maintenance / rental / interest from investment (not older than three months).
    • Copies of divorce certificates, where applicable.
    • Copies of death certificates, where applicable.

On completion of the document review process, shortlisted applicants will be requested to do the following:


  • Participate in psychometric and other assessments.
  • Attend an interview.

When screening process is completed, the applications of eligible students, together with their screening results, are presented to the Nedbank Education Trust for review. Bursaries are awarded at the sole discretion of the trust.


We will give feedback about applications to all applicants when the process is completed.

At Nedbank, we grow our people and our business to create the impact we want to see.

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