City bursaries offer Cape Town students a pathway to opportunity

Cape Town students planning to study in 2027 have until 31 August 2026 to apply for the City of Cape Town’s external bursary programme, which provides financial support to residents pursuing studies in a range of priority and scarce-skills fields.

The bursaries cover registration, tuition and examination fees, together with capped allowances for study materials, transport and meals. Applicants pursuing qualifications aligned with the City’s identified scarce skills are prioritised.

City Mayoral Committee Member for Corporate Services, Alderman Theresa Uys, encouraged prospective students not to be discouraged by the competitive nature of the programme.

“Each application we receive is considered diligently,” said Uys, noting that many previous recipients have gone on to secure skills development opportunities or permanent positions within the City after completing their studies.

The programme offers more than financial assistance. While studying, bursary recipients can receive practical training from the relevant City department and are allocated a departmental mentor, providing exposure to the workplace and municipal environment.

One former recipient, 30-year-old Brackenfell resident Brent Jordaan, studied Civil Engineering at Stellenbosch University. He joined the City in April 2022 as an Assistant Professional Officer in Roads Infrastructure Management and recently moved into a Professional Officer position.

Jordaan said the bursary removed a significant financial burden and gave him the confidence to focus on his studies and future career.

Another former recipient, 23-year-old Luke Rossouw from Grassy Park, studied Architectural Technology at CPUT. He says the bursary demonstrated that the City is investing in young people and that a person’s background does not have to determine their future. Rossouw now works for the City, gaining practical experience in architecture, planning and public service.

The City’s scarce-skills pathways include accounting, artisan work, auditing, construction management, urban design, landscaping, planning, architecture, supply chain management, science, renewable energy, public health, project management, pharmacy, nursing, medicine, library sciences, legal studies, information systems and technology, psychology, graphic design and environmental management, among others.

Applicants can download the external bursary application form from the City’s website or collect one from a City library or Walk-in Centre. Completed applications and supporting documents can be submitted electronically to external.bursaries@capetown.gov.za or delivered to a City Walk-in Centre.

The City has also compiled information on additional financial-support opportunities offered by other government spheres and organisations.

For prospective students, the message from previous recipients is simple: applying is the first step. As Jordaan puts it, taking the chance to apply changed the trajectory of his life – and could do the same for another young Capetonian.

Application and further information

• Apply for a City bursary
• Financial support and funding opportunities
• City of Cape Town Scarce Skills List
• Application deadline: 31 August 2026
• Email: external.bursaries@capetown.gov.za

The City confirms that its scarce-skills list is intended to guide skills-development planning and is not an exhaustive list of positions