Company: Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC)
Programme: Heritage Bursary Programme 2026
Employment Type: Bursary (Undergraduate & Postgraduate Students)
Location: South Africa (Public DHET-accredited Institutions)
Closing Date: 31 January 2026
Programme Purpose
The DSAC Heritage Bursary Programme 2026 supports students pursuing heritage-related qualifications. It aims to develop skills in the preservation, promotion, research, and digitisation of South Africa’s heritage.
The bursary provides financial support for tuition, study materials, and living expenses, enabling students to study full-time without financial constraints.
Bursary Coverage
- Tuition fees: Fully covered
- Prescribed textbooks: Fully covered
- Electronic device: Up to R10,000
- Accommodation: Up to R50,000 (where applicable)
- Meals: Up to R18,500 (where applicable)
- Transport: Up to R10,000 (where applicable)
Eligible Fields of Study
Funding is available for heritage-related programmes, including:
- Physical and Biological Anthropology
- Archaeology (including Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage)
- Geography and Geomatic Sciences (preference to postgraduates in Cartography and GIS)
- Archives and Records Management
- Library and Information Sciences
- Conservation of the Built Environment
- Heritage and Museum Studies (Management, Curatorship, Preservation)
- Palaeontology
- Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS)
- History
- Digitisation of Heritage Resources
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must:
- Be a South African citizen
- Be 40 years old or younger
- Be registered or provisionally accepted as a full-time student
- Study in a heritage-related field
- Have a minimum 65% academic average
- Not be permanently employed earning more than R130,000 per year
- Not receive funding from another bursary or donor
Required Documents
All documents must be certified copies not older than 3 months:
- South African ID copy
- Proof of registration or provisional acceptance
- Matric certificate
- Latest academic results or postgraduate progress report
- Proof of parents’ or guardians’ household income and payslips
- Affidavit confirming authenticity of income documents
- Proof of disability (if applicable)
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted online only via the DSAC bursary portal. Email or hand-delivered applications will not be accepted.
Apply Here: DSAC Heritage Bursary Portal
Application Guidance
- Click Apply Here to access the DSAC bursary portal.
- Complete your online profile with personal and academic details.
- Upload all required certified documents.
- Review your application carefully and submit before the closing date.
Important Notes
- Only 45–50 bursaries will be awarded nationally.
- All certified documents must be recent (not older than three months).
- Applicants not contacted by 31 March 2026 should consider their application unsuccessful.
Enquiries:
- Ms Reinette Stander: reinettes@dsac.gov.za
- Mr Maano Muhadi: 012 441 3622 | maanom@dsac.gov.za