Free State Office of the Premier Bursary South Africa 2025

 

ABOUT THE BURSARY PROVIDER – FS OFFICE OF THE PREMIER

The Free State Office of the Premier is committed to providing strategic direction and coordinating integrated service delivery within government in the Free State province.

The Office has three main strategic goals:
1. Supporting the Premier and Executive Council in achieving the government’s goals and priorities.
2. Providing strategic guidance and coordination for departments within the Free State Provincial Government, particularly on cross-cutting corporate support functions.
3. Ensuring that the activities of departments and municipalities in the Free State are integrated and aligned with the government’s goals and priorities.
 

ABOUT THE FS OFFICE OF THE PREMIER BURSARY PROGRAMME – FIELDS COVERED

The Free State Office of the Premier is inviting students to apply for their bursary programme, for the 2025 academic year.

Bursaries will be awarded to students residing within the Free State province, for studies within the following fields, which are critical/ scarce skills fields:

  • Commercial (BAcc, B Com Accounting / Economics, Actuarial Science, etc)
  • Psychological studies (Clinical, forensic, developmental – focus on ECD)
  • Scarce and Critical skills as contained in the Provincial Work Skills plan
  • Skills for the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan
  • STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)

Bursaries will be awarded to 3 categories of students, each with slightly different eligibility criteria:

  • Category A – Top Achievers: students who have identified by the Free State Department of Education as a Top Performing Learner.
  • Category B – Missing Middle: students from missing middle households, with an income of between R350 000 and R600 000 per year.
  • Category C – Marginalised students: students from low income backgrounds with no breadwinner or household income or are SASSA dependent and not approved by the NSFAS, with an annual household income of less than R70 000.

Through their bursary programme, the Free State Provincial Government is committed to improving the capacity of the workforce in order to meet the need for scarce and critical skills that will contribute to the economy both provincially and nationally.
 

** RELATED BURSARIES **

 

MORE ABOUT THE FS OFFICE OF THE PREMIER BURSARY PROGRAMME – EXPENSES COVERED & SELECTION

The bursary will provide cover for the following expenses: registration fee per semester/year, registered subjects per year, residence (double room) and meal fees, books and/or study materials.

The bursary will also pay for special equipment necessary for the study field – this will be paid for separately on receipt of such a request by the bursary holder and recommended by the HEI. The bursary will also cover special equipment for disabled bursary holders – to be paid on receipt of such a request by the bursary holder and recommended by the HEI’s Disability Office.

Shortlisted candidates will be contacted within 4 months of the closing date. If you do not receive any feedback within this time, please consider your application unsuccessful.

www.zabursaries.co.za is committed to keeping you up to date with the latest bursary opportunities, and this article covers all details about the Office of the Premier Bursary.
 

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE FS OFFICE OF THE PREMIER BURSARY

Applicants must satisfy the following minimum entry criteria before applying (please note that failure to satisfy all the requirements will lead to your application not being considered):
Category A – Top Achievers:

  • You must be a South African citizen
  • You must reside within the Free State province
  • You must be between 18 and 35 years old
  • You must have completed Matric
  • You must have been identified by the Free State Department of Education as a Top Performing Learner
  • You must have a household income of LESS than R600 000 per annum
  • You must NOT be receiving any other bursary awards or another sponsorship
  • You must be accepted to study full-time towards a qualification within one of the fields of study listed above
  • You must be accepted to study at a recognised and accredited Higher Education Institution (HEI) in South Africa

Category B – Missing Middle:

  • You must be a South African citizen
  • You must reside within the Free State province
  • You must be between 18 and 35 years old
  • You must have matriculated in the Free State
  • You must be from a “missing middle” household, with an income of between R350 000 and R600 000 per year
  • You must NOT be receiving any other bursary awards or another sponsorship
  • You must be accepted to study full-time towards a qualification within one of the fields of study listed above
  • You must be accepted to study at a recognised and accredited Higher Education Institution (HEI) in South Africa

Category C – Marginalised students:

  • You must be a South African citizen
  • You must reside within the Free State province
  • You must be between 18 and 35 years old
  • You must have matriculated in the Free State
  • You must come from a low income background with no breadwinner or household income or are a SASSA dependent and not approved by the NSFAS
  • You must have an annual household income of less than R50 000 to R70 000
  • You must have achieved a minimum overall average of 50% for Mathematics and Science or any other major subjects, in Matric
  • You must NOT be receiving any other bursary awards or another sponsorship
  • You must be accepted to study full-time towards a qualification within one of the fields of study listed above
  • You must be accepted to study at a recognised and accredited Higher Education Institution (HEI) in South Africa

 

HOW TO APPLY FOR THE FS OFFICE OF THE PREMIER BURSARY

Download and complete the Free State Office of the Premier Bursary Application Form 2025 (.pdf)

Enter “www.zabursaries.co.za” in the field asking how you heard about the FS Office of the Premier bursary.
 

Submit clear copies of the following supporting documentation along with your completed application form (the submission of these documents is compulsory – if any items are missing, your application may be disqualified):

  • ID document (certified copy)
  • Matric certificate/ final exam results (certified copy)
  • Proof of acceptance from a registered Higher Education Institution
  • Proof of residence (municipal account/ clothing account with affidavit if in your parents/ guardians name not older than three 3 months)
  • Parents or guardians ID documents (certified copies)
  • Parents or guardians proof of household income (certified copy of latest payslips if employed – not older than 3 months/ affidavit if unemployed/ proof of sassa grant or pension if applicable)
  • Motivational letter to support your application (read our tips on how to write a motivational letter for your bursary application)
  • If previously funded: proof why you are no longer funded

 

Applications must be hand delivered to the following address:
FSTDI Brahman Building
124 Nelson Mandela Drive
Westdene
Bloemfontein
9301
(Bursary unit at the Reception area)
 

CLOSING DATE FOR THE FS OFFICE OF THE PREMIER BURSARY

31 January 2025 (at 16:00).
(Applications submitted after this date will not be accepted – please apply before the closing date to ensure your application is considered.)
 

CONTACT THE BURSARY PROVIDER

For any queries related to this bursary programme, please contact the Free State Office of the Premier directly:
Contact people:
Mr ME Makhetha – Tel: 065 742 5935 / email: makhetha.makhetha@fspremier.gov.za
Ms NB Thekiso – Tel: 060 533 4702 / email: nthabiseng.thekiso@fspremier.gov.za
Ms MC Motaung – Tel: 065 742 6737 / email: motshidisi.motaung@fspremier.gov.za

For any further enquiries and assistance in completing the application form, please contact the Bursary office at Brahman Building, 124 Nelson Mandela Street, Bloemfontein.
Postal address: Free State Office of the Premier, Bursary Section, Private Bag X 20565, Bloemfontein, 9300.
 

Please do NOT contact the Free State Office of the Premier if this bursary has already closed. View our other bursaries open for application here: https://www.zabursaries.co.za/bursary-news/

This bursary listing was last updated in January 2025.

SA Bursaries wishes you the best of luck with your application! Please remember to SHARE this page with anyone you know who may be in need of bursary funding.