The Sugar Industry Trust Fund for Education (SITFE) was founded as a private sector initiative in the year 1965 has opened its 2026 academic year bursary application and is inviting all interested applicants to apply. Below is more information this bursary.

Closing Date: 17th January 2026

Bursary Requirements:

• You must reside within KwaZulu-Natal or Mpumalanga province (known as the “sugarcane growing provinces”)
• You must fall into 1 of these categories:
  • You must have registered or applied to study towards an Agriculture, Engineering or Science qualification, at a public University, University of Technology or Agricultural College (Owen Sitole College of Agriculture or Cedara College of Agriculture) in South Africa
  • OR
  • You must be a child of a sugarcane farm worker, who has registered or applied to study in ANY field of study, at a University, University of Technology or Agricultural College
• You must be from the “Missing Middle” group (i.e. you must have a total combined family income of between R350 000 and R600 000 per annum)
• Your family income must be from sugarcane growing areas, where mills and sugar industry administrative infrastructure are situated
• Preference will be given to students in their 1st year of study

Bursary Coverage:

Bursaries are available for studies within the fields of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, at any public University, University of Technology or Agricultural College (Owen Sitole College of Agriculture or Cedara College of Agriculture) in South Africa.

Method of Application:

Download and complete the SITFE Bursary Application Form 2026 (.pdf)

Supporting Documents:

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 final trial results and statement of results, if not studying yet (certified copy)
• Tertiary final exam results, if currently studying (certified copy)
• Proof of connection to the sugar industry connection, if applicable (certified copy)
• Proof of parents or guardians household income (payslips if employed, pension receipts if on pension, affidavit if unemployed) (certified copy)
• Death certificate if a parent is deceased (certified copy)
• Proof of application or registration at an University, University of Technology or Agricultural College for 2026

Applications must be submitted in one of the following ways:
1) Email: bursaries@sasa.org.za
(Insert the words “SITFE Bursary Application 2026” in the email subject line).

2) Post:
Agricultural College bursaries:
Hirst Simpson Agricultural Bursaries
(Cedara College) Sugar Industry Trust Fund for Education
c/o South African Sugar Association
PO Box 700
Mount Edgecombe
4300

OR

Owen Sithole Agricultural Bursaries
Sugar Industry Trust Fund for Education
c/o South African Sugar Association
PO Box 700
Mount Edgecombe
4300

University of Technology bursaries:
University of Technology Bursaries
Sugar Industry Trust Fund for Education c/o South African Sugar Association
P O Box 700
Mount Edgecombe
4300

University bursaries:
University Merit/Non-Merit Bursaries
Sugar Industry Trust Fund for Education
c/o South African Sugar Association
P O Box 700
Mount Edgecombe
4300