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Bursaries, internships and learnerships

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Choosing a career path can be a difficult decision. To choose the right career, you need to first find out what you like and enjoy doing. Take some time to do research and consider your options. Read up on career websites and newspapers and consider job shadowing, learnerships, or volunteering in your field of choice before making your final decision.

Perhaps you want to apply for a bursary or an internship but don’t know where to begin. We’ve put some information together on the various options available to help you make the best decision for your future. 

1. Bursaries 

A bursary is a financial award made by an institution to individuals who can't afford to pay tuition fees. Bursaries are usually renewed each year, provided that the student is making satisfactory progress. In terms of the national and provincial government, bursaries are allocated based on the needs of a specific province such as engineering, nursing, or teaching etc. The following bursary opportunities are either a full, partial, or work-back bursary. 

To apply for one of the bursaries listed below, you should contact the relevant government department, university, or public entity directly.

Western Cape Government bursaries

We offer various bursaries, internships and learnerships across all departments that’ll allow graduates to receive mentoring, on-the-job training and exposure to skills training and development that’ll make you more employable. You can visit our website to see what opportunities are available throughout the year.

Here are some of the opportunities offered by us: 

  • The Masakh’iSizwe Bursary Programme,  is run by the Department of Infrastructure, and offers bursaries for study towards a degree or higher diploma to develop professionals in engineering and the built environment.
  • The Provincial Treasury is advancing our youth by spending R13 million this year on bursaries, internships and its chartered accountant's training academy.  The bursaries are available to Grade 12 learners and post- and undergraduate students interested in pursuing careers in economics, accounting, finance and auditing.
  • Every year the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness offers a limited number of bursaries for full-time study for professions in health.
  • The Western Cape Department of Agriculture offers full-time undergraduate and postgraduate bursaries. Find out more about these bursaries from Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute.

Universities in the Western Cape

Bursaries offered by national departments

Bursaries offered by public entities

Other bursaries

  • The Chevening Scholarships in South Africa offer opportunities and financial support to study for a Masters degree at one of the United Kingdom's leading universities and to become part of an influential and highly regarded global network. 
  • The Anglo-American mining company offers bursary and graduate opportunities to top-performing learners interested in disciplines or fields of study relevant to the mining industry, such as Mining, Engineering, Process, Geosciences and Finance, through its Blast Programme.
  • The Nedbank Bursary Fund awards bursaries to students who need help to meet the costs of studying at higher education institutions full-time.

2. Learnerships on offer in the Western Cape

Learnerships are learning programmes that lead to an occupational qualification. This includes classroom-based learning at the institute and on-the-job training at our research farms. The learnerships available are:

  • The Year Beyond programme appeals to local and international volunteers with mathematics, technology, and language skills to give a year of their time to tutor primary and secondary school learners in these subjects. Applications for this programme open towards the end of the year.
     
  • The Services Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) is a government body that organises  education and training programmes within a specific sector. There are 21 sectors, and each sector has its own SETA. Find out more.
     
  • The National Youth Service Programme is aimed at unemployed youth in the technical trade industry with no work experience and those in the technical trade industry with work experience but no trade certification.
     
  • The Expanded Public Works Programme focuses on skills development by giving unemployed people (between 16 and 35) access to temporary work.
     
  • The Contractor Development Programme aims to develop skills and promote business sustainability for emerging contractors in the construction industry. 

3. Internships, apprenticeships and artisanships  

Internships provide real-world experience to those looking to explore or gain the relevant knowledge and skills required to enter into a particular career field.  

Apprenticeships provide on-the-job training and are often accompanied by coursework.

Artisanships offer practical training focusing primarily on employable skills training and development.