South African learners and students who dream of becoming Chartered Accountants but are worried about the cost of university should take note of the Thuthuka Bursary Programme for 2027.
Established in 2005 by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA), the Thuthuka Bursary Fund is designed to support eligible Black African and Coloured South African students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds who want to follow the academic pathway towards becoming a Chartered Accountant [CA(SA)].
Check if you Qualify for this Bursary Before you Apply
What makes Thuthuka particularly important is that it is not simply a bursary that pays university expenses. SAICA describes it as an integrated programme that combines financial assistance with academic, social, emotional and professional development support.
Applications for the 2027 Thuthuka Bursary Programme close on 31 August 2026 at 11:59 pm.
Quick Overview: Thuthuka Bursary 2027
- Programme: Thuthuka Bursary Programme
- Organisation: South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA)
- Study field: BCom Accounting on an approved CA-stream
- Academic year: 2027
- Target group: Eligible Black African and Coloured South African students
- Minimum Mathematics requirement: At least 60% in Grade 11 Mathematics
- Household income requirement: Combined family income of R350,000 per year or less
- NBT required: Yes
- Maths Literacy accepted: No
- Technical Mathematics accepted: No
- Closing date: 31 August 2026
About SAICA and the Thuthuka Bursary Programme
The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) is the professional accountancy body associated with the CA(SA) designation in South Africa.
Thuthuka was established in 2005 as part of efforts to increase access to the Chartered Accountancy profession for students from disadvantaged communities.
The programme specifically assists qualifying students pursuing undergraduate BCom Accounting degrees on the CA-stream.
For applicants, it is important to understand that becoming a CA(SA) is a structured professional journey. Receiving a Thuthuka bursary can provide crucial support during the university component of that journey, but students must still meet the academic and professional requirements associated with their studies and subsequent CA(SA) pathway.
What Does the Thuthuka Bursary Cover?
According to SAICA, the programme goes beyond paying basic university expenses.
Financial support includes areas such as:
- Tuition
- Books
- Meals
- Residence fees
- Accommodation
However, one of the distinguishing features of Thuthuka is its “wrap-around” support model.
Students may also receive:
Academic Support
The programme provides academic assistance aimed at helping students manage the demanding university curriculum.
This can include:
- Additional tutorials
- Academic enrichment programmes
- Study-skills workshops
- Other forms of academic development
This support can be particularly valuable during the transition from high school to university, where students are expected to work more independently and manage considerably larger workloads.
Social and Emotional Support
Financial assistance does not automatically remove all the challenges associated with university.
Moving away from home, adapting to a new environment and managing academic pressure can be difficult. Thuthuka therefore incorporates social and emotional support into its model.
Mentoring and Counselling
Students can also receive mentoring and counselling.
Access to mentors can help students understand the profession they are entering and learn from people who have already navigated university and the accounting environment.
Work-Readiness and Life-Skills Training
Completing a degree is only one part of building a successful career.
Thuthuka therefore also provides work-readiness and life-skills development intended to prepare students for the professional environment.
Exposure to Chartered Accountants and Business Leaders
Students can gain exposure to experienced Chartered Accountants and business leaders as mentors.
This can provide valuable insight into what professional accounting careers actually involve and the expectations graduates may encounter in the workplace.
Official Requirements for the Thuthuka Bursary 2027
The following eligibility requirements come from SAICA’s official Thuthuka bursary information.
Applicants must:
- Be a South African citizen.
- Be Black African or Coloured.
- Be in Grade 12, have completed Matric no more than two years previously, or currently be a university student studying a CA-stream BCom degree.
- Have achieved at least 60% in Mathematics in Grade 11, equivalent to Level 5 or higher on the NSC achievement scale.
- Apply or be in the process of applying for a BCom Accounting CA-stream degree at a university participating in the Thuthuka programme.
- Come from a family with a combined annual income of R350,000 or less.
- Write the National Benchmark Tests (NBT).
Mathematics Is an Important Requirement
Applicants should pay particularly close attention to the Mathematics requirement.
You need at least: 60% in Grade 11 Mathematics.
SAICA explicitly states that applicants who took Mathematical Literacy or Technical Mathematics are not considered under the published eligibility requirements.
This means applicants should not assume that a high mark in Maths Literacy can substitute for Mathematics.
If you are currently in Grade 12, check your final Grade 11 results before starting your application.
Which Degree Must You Study?
Thuthuka is not a general bursary for every accounting or commerce qualification.
Applicants must have applied, or be in the process of applying, for an appropriate BCom Accounting CA-stream degree at a university offering the Thuthuka programme.
This distinction is extremely important.
A university may offer several accounting-related qualifications, but that does not automatically mean every one of those programmes meets the Thuthuka requirements.
Applicants should therefore confirm the exact degree and participating institution before making study decisions based on the expectation of Thuthuka funding.
View the Thuthuka university partners list
The National Benchmark Tests Are Also Required
One requirement applicants should not leave until the last minute is the National Benchmark Tests (NBT).
SAICA states that Thuthuka applicants must apply for and write the NBT before the end of August, or submit their results if they have already written the tests.
The NBT assesses academic readiness for university. There are two tests: Academic and Quantitative Literacy (AQL) and Mathematics (MAT). Universities and faculties determine which tests applicants need and how the results are used.
Applicants can obtain official information and manage bookings through the National Benchmark Test website.
Do not assume that submitting the Thuthuka application means your NBT requirement has automatically been completed.
These are separate processes that need your attention.
Supporting Documents
Applicants should prepare the required documentation before trying to complete the application.
The supporting documents listed for the application include:
- Signed consent form
- Applicant’s ID
- Parent or guardian ID documents
- Parent or guardian salary slip
- ID copies for people dependent on the family’s income
- Final Grade 11 results
- Final Grade 12 results, where Grade 12 has already been completed
- Full university academic transcript, if already studying at university
- University provisional acceptance letter, if you are still in high school
The documents required may differ depending on whether you are currently in Grade 12, have already completed Matric or are already studying at university.
How to Apply for the Thuthuka Bursary 2027
Applications should be completed through SAICA’s official Thuthuka application process.
Apply for the Thuthuka Bursary through SAICA
Before submitting, applicants should work through the application carefully.
Make sure that:
- Your personal details correspond with your official ID.
- Your academic results are complete and readable.
- Your household income information is accurate.
- You have uploaded the required supporting documents.
- You have applied for an eligible CA-stream BCom Accounting programme.
- You have dealt with the NBT requirement.
- You submit before the deadline.
Thuthuka Bursary 2027 Closing Date
Applications close: 31 August 2026 at 11:59 pm.
Applicants should avoid treating 31 August as the day to begin the process.
There are multiple components involved, including university applications, supporting documentation and the NBT requirement. Waiting until the final hours increases the risk of discovering that something is missing when there is very little time to correct it.
Edupstairs Application Guidance
The following guidance is from Edupstairs and should not be confused with SAICA’s official eligibility criteria.
Apply to University as Early as Possible
The bursary application and university application are related but separate processes.
If you are currently in Grade 12 and want to study towards becoming a CA(SA), make sure you are also completing the appropriate university applications.
Do not wait for a Thuthuka bursary outcome before dealing with university admission.
Check the Exact Qualification
Do not simply search for “BCom Accounting” and choose the first programme you see.
Confirm that the qualification is an appropriate CA-stream programme and that the institution participates in Thuthuka.
Prepare Financial Documents Early
Household-income verification can cause delays when applicants only begin looking for documents at the last minute.
Speak to your parent or guardian early and explain what documents you require.
Do Not Ignore the NBT
This is one of the most important points for 2027 applicants.
The NBT is specifically included in SAICA’s eligibility information. SAICA says applicants must write it before the end of August or provide results if they have already written it.
Treat this as an important part of your application planning rather than an optional extra.
Check Every Uploaded Document
Before submitting, open your uploaded files again.
Check that:
- The entire page is visible.
- The document is readable.
- You uploaded the correct document.
- Your name and relevant details can be seen.
- You did not accidentally upload the same document twice in different fields.
A five-minute document check can prevent an avoidable application problem.
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Why Thuthuka Is Different From a Typical Bursary
Many students understandably focus on the financial value of a bursary.
But Thuthuka’s structure is important because financial barriers are not the only obstacles students may face at university.
A first-year accounting student may suddenly have to deal with demanding modules, independent study, examinations, residence life, personal responsibilities and decisions about their future career.
Thuthuka’s combination of academic support, mentoring, counselling, life-skills development and professional exposure attempts to address these challenges together rather than treating funding as the only requirement for student success.
For an aspiring CA(SA), that broader support structure can be highly valuable.
Common Application Mistakes to Avoid
One common mistake is assuming that all accounting degrees qualify. They do not necessarily qualify; applicants should confirm the CA-stream and participating university requirements.
Another mistake is overlooking Mathematics. The published requirement specifies Mathematics and excludes Maths Literacy and Technical Mathematics.
Applicants should also avoid:
- Waiting until 31 August to apply
- Forgetting about the NBT
- Uploading incomplete documents
- Providing unreadable scans or photographs
- Failing to complete a university application
- Applying for the wrong university programme
- Providing inaccurate household-income information
- Assuming that starting an online application means it has been successfully submitted
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
If becoming a Chartered Accountant is genuinely your career goal and you meet the eligibility requirements, this is an opportunity worth taking seriously.
Start with three things immediately:
Check your Mathematics mark, confirm your university programme and sort out your NBT.
After that, gather your supporting documents and complete the bursary application well before 31 August.
Do not disqualify yourself simply because you assume the process will be difficult or highly competitive. Your job as an applicant is to establish whether you meet the published requirements and, if you do, submit the strongest complete and accurate application you can.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
What is the Thuthuka Bursary?
The Thuthuka Bursary is a SAICA initiative established to assist eligible disadvantaged Black African and Coloured South African students who want to pursue the Chartered Accountancy pathway.
-
When do Thuthuka Bursary applications for 2027 close?
Applications close on 31 August 2026 at 11:59 pm.
-
Can Grade 12 learners apply?
Yes. Grade 12 learners who meet the eligibility requirements may apply.
-
Can someone who has already completed Matric apply?
Yes. SAICA’s published criteria include applicants who have been out of school after Matric for no more than two years.
-
Can university students apply?
Yes, provided they meet the applicable requirements and are studying a CA-stream BCom degree.
-
Is Maths Literacy accepted?
No. SAICA states that Maths Literacy applicants are not considered under the published Mathematics requirement.
-
Is Technical Mathematics accepted?
No. SAICA also specifically excludes Technical Mathematics under the published requirements.
-
What Mathematics mark do I need?
Applicants need at least 60% in Grade 11 Mathematics.
-
What is the household-income limit?
The published requirement is a combined family income of R350,000 per year or less.
-
Do I have to write the NBT?
Yes. The NBT is included in SAICA’s eligibility criteria. Applicants are instructed to write it before the end of August or submit existing results if they have already written.
-
Does Thuthuka only pay tuition fees?
No. SAICA says the programme can cover tuition, books, meals, residence fees and accommodation, while also providing broader academic, emotional, mentoring and work-readiness support.
-
Can I use Thuthuka for any BCom degree?
No. Applicants need to apply for the appropriate BCom Accounting CA-stream degree at a participating university.
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Disclaimer
Edupstairs is not SAICA and does not administer the Thuthuka Bursary Programme. Bursary requirements, funding arrangements, participating institutions, deadlines and application procedures are determined by the official programme administrators and may be amended.
Applicants should verify important information on SAICA’s official website before applying.
Editorial Integrity
Edupstairs independently explains education, employment and youth-development opportunities using information supplied by official organisations and credible primary sources.
For this article, the eligibility requirements and programme structure were checked against SAICA’s official Thuthuka information. Additional sections labelled as Edupstairs guidance provide practical application advice and should not be interpreted as additional SAICA eligibility requirements.
Edupstairs does not guarantee selection, admission, funding or placement.
EDUPSTAIRS IS A REGISTERED NON-PROFIT ORGANISATION NPO No: 232 – 182, PUBLIC BENEFIT ORGANISATION (PBO): 930066984. EDUPSTAIRS DOES NOT, IN ANY WAY OR FORM, SOLICIT MONEY OR CV’S FROM PEOPLE FOR JOBS. PLEASE BE AWARE OF PHONY JOB POSTINGS AND RECRUITMENT FRAUD. USE THE EDUPSTAIRS SCAM DETECTOR TOOL TO SPOT A SCAM BEFORE YOU APPLY
