Sasol Foundation Scholarship 2026 for South African Students Open
If you are a South African student planning a first undergraduate degree in STEM, the Sasol Foundation Bursary 2026 is one of the major funding programmes currently open.
Applications opened on 1 August 2026 and close at midnight on 23 August 2026.
Before applying, however, check the nationality rule carefully: this bursary is only for South African citizens by birth. International students and foreign nationals are not eligible.
What Does the Sasol Foundation Bursary Support?
Sasol describes this as a comprehensive bursary for talented students undertaking full-time undergraduate study at an approved public South African University or University of Technology.
Priority is being given to STEM degrees connected with future skills in the green economy and digitalisation, including areas such as:
- Engineering
- Information Technology
- Data Science
- Agricultural Science
- Environmental Sciences
- Medical Sciences
- Construction and Manufacturing
Postgraduate bursaries are not available through the Sasol Foundation programme for the forthcoming academic year.
Who Can Apply?
You should apply only if you satisfy all of the core requirements and the candidates must:
- Be a South African citizen by birth
- Be no older than 25 at the time of application
- Be pursuing their first undergraduate degree
- Study full-time at an approved public South African university or University of Technology
- Have a combined household income of no more than R800,000 per year
Students already in second, third or fourth year must have achieved an average of at least 60% across their modules. First-year applicants should either currently be completing matric or generally have completed matric within the required recent period specified by Sasol.
What About Non-STEM Students?
Non-STEM funding exists, but it is much more restricted. These bursaries are reserved for qualifying applicants from Sasol fence-line communities, children of Sasol Khanyisa shareholders and children of Sasol employees.
So a South African student studying a non-STEM subject does not automatically qualify simply because they meet the financial-income threshold.
Is This the Same as the Sasol Mining Bursary?
No. Sasol is running several different programmes with different dates and eligibility rules.
The Sasol Foundation Bursary closes on 23 August 2026.
The Sasol Mining Bursary opens on 24 August and closes on 13 September 2026. It focuses on students from Sasol Mining fence-line communities pursuing selected engineering, science and technology qualifications.
The Technician Development Programme also opens on August 24 but closes on 11 September 2026, while the Graduate Development Programme Top-Ups run from 14 September to 4 October 2026.
Applicants should therefore not mix the requirements of one Sasol programme with another.
How Do You Apply?
Applications must be submitted online through the official Sasol Bursaries website.
Sasol does not accept applications submitted by email, and incomplete or late applications will not be considered.
Only one application per student is accepted, and applicants should ensure that academic results, household-income information and personal details are accurate. Providing incorrect information can lead to an application or bursary being withdrawn.
Sasol Foundation Bursary 2026 Deadline
The last date to apply for the Sasol Foundation Bursary Programme 2026 is 23 August 2026 at midnight.
Students should apply before the final day because missing documents or incorrect academic information can cause an otherwise eligible application to be rejected.
Questions Applicants Commonly Ask
Can international students apply?
No. Sasol explicitly limits these bursaries to South African citizens by birth.
Can postgraduate students apply?
Not through the 2026 Sasol Foundation Bursary programme. Postgraduate bursaries are not available for the forthcoming academic year under this stream.
Can students older than 25 apply?
No. Applicants must not be older than 25 when applying.
Can a second- or third-year university student apply?
Yes, provided the student meets the programme requirements and has at least a 60% average across all modules.
Does Sasol fund private universities or UNISA?
The bursaries are intended for approved public South African institutions. Sasol specifically states that UNISA and distance-learning study are not eligible under the relevant bursary conditions.
Unsure Which Sasol Programme Fits You?
If you are confused about the Foundation Bursary, Mining Bursary, your university, degree, household income or age eligibility, leave your question in the comments below this article. Mention your current study year and course, and we can help you identify which Sasol 2026 funding route actually matches your profile.