The Competition Commission of South Africa is inviting applications for its second intake of the 2026 Internship Programme, offering 12 internship opportunities to final-year students who need practical workplace experience to complete their qualifications.
This is not a general graduate internship for anyone who has already completed their studies. The programme specifically targets final-year learners with no previous work experience in their field whose qualification requires workplace experiential learning.
Students studying Human Capital, Information Technology, Law, Economics, Finance, Supply Chain Management and Communications are among those who may qualify.
The internship runs for six months, and successful candidates will receive a monthly stipend, structured workplace learning, coaching and professional development. On successful completion, interns are expected to receive a certificate of completion and a letter of recommendation from their assigned coach.
Applications close on 21 August 2026 at 17:00.
Quick Overview
- Organisation: Competition Commission South Africa
- Programme: 2026 Internship Programme – Second Intake
- Job Reference Number: I1000001
- Department: Internship
- Industry: Public Policy
- Job Type: Fixed-term contract
- Duration: 6 months
- Number of Positions: 12
- Target Group: Final-year students requiring workplace experiential learning
- Previous Experience: Applicants must have no prior work experience in the same field
- Academic Performance: Strong academic record required; an average of 70% or higher is an added advantage
- Citizenship: South African citizens
- Stipend: Monthly stipend offered
- Salary/Stipend Amount: Not specified; advertised as market related
- Closing Date: 21 August 2026 at 17:00
- Application Method: Online applications only
Who Is This Internship Actually For?
This is one of the most important parts of the advert.
The Competition Commission is targeting learners who:
- Are currently in their final year of theoretical study;
- Need workplace experience to complete their qualification;
- Have no previous work experience in the same field; and
- Need the internship as part of their institution’s formal experiential learning requirements.
In practical terms, your university, university of technology, TVET college or other recognised academic institution should be able to confirm that workplace learning forms part of your qualification.
This explains why applicants are required to provide an Experiential Learning Requirement Letter from their academic institution.
If you have already completed your qualification and do not require experiential learning to graduate, do not automatically assume that you qualify simply because you are unemployed. The wording of this particular intake specifically targets final-year learners requiring workplace experience.
Fields of Study Accepted
The second intake is open to final-year learners requiring workplace experience in the following areas:
Human Capital
Students studying Human Resources, Human Resource Management or another relevant programme may be considered where their qualification aligns with the Commission’s Human Capital requirements.
Possible workplace exposure could relate to the broader HR environment, but applicants should rely on the actual placement information provided by the Commission rather than assuming specific duties that are not stated in the advert.
Information Technology
IT students have an opportunity to gain exposure within a public-sector regulatory organisation.
Depending on the placement requirements, the environment may help students understand how technology supports the operations of a national institution.
Law
The Commission is particularly relevant to students interested in the relationship between law, markets, regulation and public policy.
The organisation deals directly with matters involving competition legislation, including restrictive practices, dominant firms and mergers.
Economics
Economics is central to understanding competition, market structures and the behaviour of firms.
For an economics student, workplace learning within a competition authority can provide valuable context for concepts that may previously have been studied primarily in lectures and textbooks.
Finance
Finance students are also included in this intake.
This makes the opportunity relevant beyond students specialising directly in competition economics or competition law. The Commission requires corporate and support functions to operate effectively, creating experiential-learning opportunities across different disciplines.
Supply Chain Management
Final-year Supply Chain Management students who require workplace experiential learning may apply.
Applicants should ensure that their academic institution can provide the required experiential-learning letter.
Communications
Communications students are also included.
For students interested in institutional communication, public information and working within a public-interest organisation, this could provide useful early-career exposure.
Official Eligibility Requirements
According to the internship information supplied by the Competition Commission, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Be a South African citizen.
- Have no prior work experience in the same field.
- Be in the final year of theoretical study.
- Require practical workplace experience to complete the requirements of their qualification.
- The internship must form part of the applicant’s academic curriculum.
- Have a strong academic record.
- An academic average of 70% or higher will be an added advantage.
- Provide evidence of notable academic or extracurricular achievements.
- Demonstrate proactive involvement in initiatives or community service beyond academic coursework.
- Demonstrate a commitment to public interest and societal impact.
- Have strong interpersonal skills.
- Have strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Demonstrate analytical, research and investigative skills.
- Be computer literate.
Is 70% an Absolute Minimum?
The wording matters.
The advert says that an average of 70% or above will be an added advantage.
It does not explicitly state that applicants below 70% are automatically disqualified.
Applicants should therefore avoid interpreting 70% as a guaranteed hard cut-off unless the online application system specifically states otherwise.
However, the Commission is clearly looking for high-achieving learners with strong academic records, so academic performance is likely to be an important consideration.
Documents Required
Applicants should prepare the following supporting documents:
- Latest Academic Transcript
- Experiential Learning Requirement Letter from your academic institution
- Comprehensive CV
Applicants who obtained an international qualification must also provide a:
-
SAQA evaluation certificate
Do not leave document preparation until the final hours before the deadline.
The experiential-learning letter may require assistance from your faculty, Work Integrated Learning office, academic department or another authorised representative of your institution.
The Experiential Learning Letter Is Particularly Important
For this internship, the experiential-learning requirement is not a minor administrative detail.
It goes directly to eligibility.
The Commission wants learners who need workplace experience to complete their academic programme. The letter from your institution provides evidence that you fall within that target group.
Edupstairs recommends that the letter clearly comes from your academic institution and confirms your experiential-learning requirement.
Do not create such a letter yourself or submit an unofficial document pretending to be institutional confirmation.
What Successful Interns Will Receive
The Competition Commission states that the programme offers:
- A monthly stipend;
- A supportive and collaborative working environment;
- Exposure to the work of South Africa’s competition authority;
- Practical workplace experience;
- Structured learning;
- Coaching;
- Professional development opportunities;
- Hands-on exposure relevant to competition law, economics, finance and corporate services; and
- Exposure to an organisation working towards a competitive, dynamic, deconcentrated and inclusive economy.
The actual monthly stipend amount was not specified in the information provided for the vacancy. Applicants should therefore not rely on unofficial stipend figures circulating online unless confirmed by the Commission.
Upon successful completion of the programme, learners will also receive a certificate of completion and a letter of recommendation from their assigned coach, according to the advert.
How to Apply
APPLY FOR THE COMPETITION COMMISSION 6-MONTH INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME 2026 HERE
The Commission explicitly states that only online applications will be accepted.
Before beginning your application, have your latest academic transcript, experiential-learning requirement letter and CV ready.
When completing the application:
- Read the vacancy requirements carefully.
- Confirm that your field of study is included.
- Confirm that you are in your final year of theoretical study.
- Confirm that workplace experiential learning forms part of your qualification.
- Obtain the required letter from your academic institution.
- Update your CV.
- Prepare your latest academic transcript.
- If you hold an international qualification, prepare the required SAQA evaluation certificate.
- Complete every required section of the online application accurately.
- Upload the correct documents in the appropriate sections.
- Review your application before submitting it.
- Submit before 21 August 2026 at 17:00.
Do not wait until 16:50 on closing day. Internet problems, forgotten passwords, incorrectly formatted documents or portal congestion can turn an otherwise strong application into a missed opportunity.
Edupstairs Application Guidance
The following advice is Edupstairs guidance and not additional official Competition Commission requirements.
Make Your CV Relevant to Your Field
If you do not have work experience, that does not mean your CV has to be empty.
You can highlight relevant academic evidence such as:
- University or college projects;
- Research assignments;
- Presentations;
- Academic achievements;
- Leadership roles;
- Student organisations;
- Volunteering;
- Community projects;
- Competitions;
- Relevant software skills; and
- Extracurricular activities.
This is especially relevant because the Commission specifically asks applicants to demonstrate notable academic or extracurricular achievements and involvement beyond academic coursework.
Show Evidence Instead of Making Generic Claims
Avoid filling your CV with statements such as:
“I am hardworking, passionate, motivated and a team player.”
Those claims are difficult for a recruiter to evaluate without evidence.
Instead, demonstrate the quality through an achievement or activity.
For example, if you say you have leadership skills, identify a student organisation, academic project or community initiative where you exercised leadership.
If you claim strong research skills, mention a substantial research project or relevant academic assignment where appropriate.
Don’t Pretend to Have Experience You Don’t Have
This internship specifically seeks candidates with no previous work experience in their field.
You therefore do not need to manufacture experience to make your CV look stronger.
Academic projects, volunteering and extracurricular activities can demonstrate capability without misrepresenting employment history.
Common Application Mistakes to Avoid
One major mistake would be applying without checking whether your qualification actually requires experiential learning.
Other problems to avoid include:
- Uploading an outdated academic transcript;
- Forgetting the experiential-learning letter;
- Submitting an incomplete CV;
- Providing incorrect contact information;
- Uploading unreadable documents;
- Applying for a field unrelated to your qualification;
- Assuming that being unemployed automatically makes you eligible;
- Claiming qualifications or achievements you cannot verify;
- Waiting until the closing hour to apply; and
- Failing to check that uploaded files open correctly.
Remember that being eligible does not guarantee selection. There are only 12 positions available, and the programme is aimed at high-achieving learners.
What Happens After You Apply?
The Commission states that feedback will be provided to shortlisted candidates only.
Shortlisted applicants may also be required to undergo assessments.
Successful applicants will be subject to the Commission’s security screening and vetting processes.
The Commission further reserves the right not to make an appointment or to withdraw the recruitment process depending on factors including budgetary constraints and organisational priorities.
Applicants should therefore treat submission of an application as the beginning of a competitive recruitment process rather than confirmation of placement.
Tools you may find useful:
- SETA Platform
- RDP / BNG Housing Eligibility Checker
- SASSA Grant Eligibility Checker
- SAPS / Metro / Traffic / DCS Eligibility Checker
- Youth Employment Eligibility Checker
- SA Bursary & NSFAS Eligibility Checker
- UIF Benefits Eligibility Checker and Payment Estimator
View Other Employment Opportunities here
Need Help?
Edupstairs Advice
This opportunity deserves particular attention from final-year students who have reached the frustrating stage where they have completed most of their theoretical studies but cannot finish their qualification without workplace experience.
Before focusing on your CV, first establish whether you meet the programme’s defining eligibility condition: Does your academic programme formally require workplace experiential learning?
If the answer is yes, contact your institution as soon as possible and obtain the required confirmation letter.
Then focus on making your academic achievements visible.
The Commission is not merely asking whether you passed your subjects. Its criteria indicate that it is interested in candidates who can demonstrate academic strength, extracurricular achievement, community involvement, analytical ability and a commitment to public interest.
Use your application to provide credible evidence of those qualities.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
How many Competition Commission internship positions are available?
There are 12 positions available in this intake.
-
How long is the internship?
The programme is offered on a six-month fixed-term contract.
-
When do applications close?
Applications close on 21 August 2026 at 17:00.
-
Can graduates who have already completed their qualifications apply?
The advertised target group is specifically final-year learners who require workplace experiential learning to complete their qualification. Applicants who have already completed all qualification requirements should therefore carefully check their eligibility before applying.
-
Can I apply if I have previous work experience?
The official requirement states that applicants must have no prior work experience in the same field.
-
Do I need a 70% average?
The Commission requires a strong academic record and states that an average of 70% or higher is an added advantage. The wording supplied does not state that 70% is an absolute minimum requirement.
-
Which qualifications are being considered?
The intake covers learners requiring workplace experience in Human Capital, Information Technology, Law, Economics, Finance, Supply Chain Management and Communications.
-
Is there a stipend?
Yes. The Commission states that interns will receive a monthly stipend, but the specific amount was not provided in the vacancy information supplied.
-
What documents do I need?
Applicants need a latest academic transcript, experiential-learning requirement letter from their academic institution and CV. Applicants with international qualifications must additionally submit a SAQA evaluation certificate.
-
Is this internship suitable for TVET students?
The advert does not restrict applications solely to university students. The decisive requirement is that the applicant is in the final year of theoretical study and requires practical workplace experience as part of the qualification. TVET students should therefore assess their qualification and field against the official criteria rather than assuming automatic eligibility.
-
Can persons with disabilities apply?
Yes. The Competition Commission specifically encourages persons with disabilities to apply.
-
Will everyone receive feedback?
No. The advert states that feedback will be provided to shortlisted candidates only.
-
Will I receive anything after completing the internship?
According to the advert, learners who successfully complete the programme will receive a certificate of completion and a letter of recommendation from their assigned coach.
-
Can applications be submitted by email?
The vacancy states that only online applications will be accepted.
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Disclaimer
Edupstairs is an independent educational and career information platform and is not the Competition Commission of South Africa.
Publication of this opportunity does not mean that Edupstairs participates in the recruitment, shortlisting or selection process. Applicants should verify important information on the official application platform before submitting an application.
Never pay anyone who claims they can guarantee you an internship position.
The Competition Commission also reserves the right not to make appointments or to withdraw the recruitment process based on budgetary constraints, organisational priorities or other relevant considerations.
Editorial Integrity
Edupstairs independently explains employment, internship, learnership, bursary and educational opportunities using information supplied by employers and official sources.
Our purpose is to make opportunities easier for applicants to understand while adding practical application guidance.
Where information has not been specified by the employer, we do not present assumptions as confirmed facts. This is why, for example, this article does not invent a stipend amount and flags the apparent inconsistency in the advertised internship dates rather than silently changing them.
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