City of Cape Town Bursaries 2027: Scarce Skills Funding for Cape Town Residents

The City of Cape Town is offering bursary funding for the 2027 academic year to South African students residing in Cape Town who are pursuing qualifications in scarce and critical skills. This opportunity aims to support students from undergraduate to doctoral levels in fields essential for the municipality’s services.

Application Closing Date: 17 August 2026
Location: Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
Programme Duration: Not specified
Stipend: Not specified
Minimum Qualification: Matric with 65% average

About the City of Cape Town Bursary Programme

The City of Cape Town Bursary Programme provides financial assistance to students who are studying, or plan to study, towards qualifications identified as scarce skills. These are fields where the municipality needs skilled professionals to support its operations in areas like planning, finance, technology, and environmental management. The bursary supports both undergraduate and postgraduate studies, including Honours, Master’s, and Doctoral degrees.

This initiative is designed to address the shortage of qualified individuals in specific sectors that are vital for the city’s growth and service delivery. By funding these studies, the City of Cape Town invests in developing a future workforce equipped to meet its evolving needs. The programme focuses on ensuring that students from Cape Town have the opportunity to gain the necessary education and training.

About the City of Cape Town

The City of Cape Town is the local government responsible for providing services and managing the affairs of the metropolitan municipality. It operates across various sectors, including infrastructure, housing, economic development, and environmental management. The municipality plays a key role in the Western Cape’s economy and is committed to improving the quality of life for its residents through effective governance and service delivery.

Fields of Study Covered

The bursary specifically targets qualifications in fields identified as scarce skills. These are areas where there is a high demand for professionals and a limited supply of qualified individuals. Supporting these fields helps the City of Cape Town to build capacity and ensure it has the necessary expertise to function effectively.

The bursary will support studies in the following areas:

• Accounting
• Auditing
• Internal Auditing
• Chemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Chemical Science
• Contract Management
• Data Science
• Statistics
• Economics
• Civil Engineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Industrial Engineering
• Environmental Management
• Water Sciences
• Ecology
• Geographic Information Systems
• Geohydrology
• Information Technology
• Information Systems
• Information Management
• Law
• Library Sciences
• Logistics Management
• Marine Biology
• Microbiology
• Atmospheric Science
• Regional Planning
• Urban Planning
• Town Planning
• Project Management
• Industrial Psychology
• Organisational Psychology
• Water and Waste Management
• Water Quality
• Urban Design
• Landscape-related studies
• Surveying
• Architecture

Qualifications outside these listed areas will generally not be considered.

What the Bursary Offers

The City of Cape Town bursary aims to alleviate the financial burden of higher education for students pursuing critical skills. Successful applicants can expect financial support towards their studies.

The bursary will cover the following expenses:

• Registration fees
• Examination fees
• Tuition fees

Funding for accommodation, meals, transport, textbooks, laptops, study equipment, or personal allowances is not explicitly confirmed and should not be assumed.

Programme Duration and Location

The bursary is intended for students studying at recognised and accredited tertiary institutions within South Africa. The primary location for the bursary programme is Cape Town, Western Cape. While the specific duration of the bursary is not detailed, it is typically awarded for the duration of the chosen qualification, subject to academic performance.

Minimum Requirements

To be considered for the City of Cape Town Bursary Programme, applicants must meet all the following criteria:

• Be South African citizens.
• Reside in Cape Town, Western Cape.
• Be currently completing Matric or have already completed Matric.
• Have achieved a minimum overall Matric average of 65%.
• Be studying or planning to study towards one of the listed scarce-skills qualifications.
• Intend to study full-time, with limited exceptions for part-time programmes if a qualification is not offered full-