MQA Bursary Scheme 2026: Funding, Courses, Allowances, Requirements and How to Qualify

For a student who has the marks to study engineering, geology or another mining-related qualification but cannot afford university or college fees, the cost of registration can make the dream feel impossible before the first lecture even begins.

This is where the Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA) Bursary Scheme comes in.

The MQA bursary is designed to help develop the skills South Africa’s mining and minerals sector needs. It supports students at public universities, universities of technology and TVET colleges, with funding aimed particularly at financially needy and academically deserving applicants. The scheme is therefore different from a general bursary that allows students to choose almost any qualification.

For 2026, the MQA advertised 430 bursary opportunities for unemployed learners, while its broader bursary programme also provides support to eligible employed people working in the mining and minerals sector.

What is the MQA Bursary Scheme?

The MQA is the Sector Education and Training Authority responsible for skills development in South Africa’s mining and minerals sector.

Its bursary programme exists to increase the number of people entering careers needed by the industry. The scheme can support students studying at public universities, universities of technology and TVET colleges.

The important word here is sector.

An applicant cannot simply choose any degree and expect MQA funding. The qualification normally needs to fall within the disciplines identified as important to the mining and minerals sector.

The MQA also does not fund every student who applies. Funding is limited, and selection considers factors such as academic performance, financial need, the applicant’s background and the relevance of the qualification to sector priorities.

How much money does the MQA have for bursaries?

This is one area where applicants should be careful about information circulating online.

The latest audited MQA financial information shows that R306.574 million was spent on the MQA’s A002 Bursaries project during the 2024/2025 financial year, compared with R232.306 million in 2023/2024. This is actual expenditure, not a promise that every applicant will receive the same amount.

The MQA’s 2026/2027 Funding Policy identifies bursaries as project A002, but the public policy refers the actual grant levels to the separate bursary policy rather than publishing a single amount per student.

This matters because the cost of supporting one student can differ considerably depending on the institution, tuition fees, residence arrangements and other approved expenses.

In 2024/2025, the MQA supported 1,309 unemployed bursars, exceeding its target of 1,300, while 1,523 continuing unemployed bursars were supported.

So the scheme is substantial, but it is not unlimited.

Which courses does the MQA fund?

The 2026 bursary programme focuses strongly on mining, engineering, science and technical careers.

At universities and universities of technology, the listed fields include:

• Metallurgical Engineering
• Analytical Chemistry
• Jewellery Design and Manufacturing
• Electro-Mechanical Engineering
• Geology
• Industrial Engineering
• Mining Engineering
• Occupational Health and Safety
• Mechanical Engineering
• Occupational Hygiene
• Mine Surveying
• Occupational Medicine
• Electrical Engineering
• Operations Management
• Chemical Engineering
• Quality Management
• Environmental Health and Management
• Environmental Science

The MQA may also allocate a portion of bursary opportunities to other qualifications it considers necessary for the mining and minerals sector.

For TVET colleges, the 2026 list includes trades such as Boilermaker, Fitting, Diesel Motor Mechanic, Instrumentation Mechanic, Electrician, Millwright, Fitter and Turner, Rigger Ropesman, Plumber, Carpenter and Joiner, Welder, Pipe Fitter, Mechatronics, Mechanical Fitter and Bricklayer.

This makes the bursary particularly interesting for students who prefer practical technical training rather than a traditional university degree.

What does the MQA bursary actually pay for?

For unemployed learners, the 2026 programme states that the bursary covers tuition fees and allowances for accommodation, books and meals.

The MQA’s bursary information also describes support that can include full tuition and registration fees, residence fees or a private accommodation allowance, books and meals, together with an allowance per bursar per semester where applicable.

Does MQA pay a monthly allowance?

This is where many bursary articles become misleading.

There is no universally published 2026 MQA monthly cash allowance that every bursar receives.

The official information refers to allowances for approved expenses and, where applicable, an allowance per semester. Therefore, applicants should not assume that MQA will deposit a fixed amount such as R2,000, R3,000 or R5,000 into every student’s bank account every month.

How money is administered can depend on the student’s institution and the particular approved funding arrangement.

Does it cover transport?

Transport should not be treated as an automatically guaranteed separate MQA allowance.

The current 2026 information specifically identifies tuition, accommodation, books and meals for unemployed bursars. It does not publish a universal transport allowance for every student.

Students should therefore check their award or funding arrangement rather than budgeting on the assumption that transport will automatically be paid.

Does MQA pay accommodation?

Yes, accommodation support is part of the unemployed bursary package.

The scheme can cover residence fees or provide support for private accommodation, subject to the applicable funding arrangement.

This is particularly important for a student who receives admission to a university far from home. Instead of the family having to find tuition money, residence money, textbook money and food money separately, the MQA bursary is structured to address several of those study-related costs.

However, students should always check what their individual award covers because approved costs and institutional fees can differ.

Does MQA pay for books and meals?

Yes.

Books are specifically included in the bursary package, while meals are also included for unemployed bursars under the 2026 programme.

The practical lesson is simple: do not confuse the MQA bursary with a tuition-only scholarship. Its unemployed bursary package is intended to support several of the major costs associated with attending college or university.

How many marks do you need?

This is perhaps the biggest misunderstanding surrounding the MQA bursary.

The MQA’s current public information does not state one universal rule saying that every applicant must obtain exactly 60%, 65% or 70% in every subject.

Instead, the scheme looks for applicants with a strong academic record, while Grade 12 applicants are specifically encouraged to pursue mining-related careers and are expected to perform strongly in subjects such as pure Mathematics and Physical Science.

Your marks still matter enormously.

A student with strong Mathematics and Physical Science results applying for an engineering qualification will generally present a stronger academic profile than someone barely meeting the minimum university entrance requirements.

There is also another important distinction: the university or TVET college’s admission requirements still apply. Meeting MQA’s bursary criteria does not automatically give you admission to a qualification.

Who gets preference?

For unemployed applicants, the 2026 selection information gives preference to:

• Historically Disadvantaged Individuals
• Financially needy applicants
• Female applicants
• Applicants living in rural communities
• People with disabilities
• Applicants applying to study at local tertiary institutions
• Candidates with strong academic records
• Applicants studying occupations aligned with MQA sector priorities

The published 2026 criteria also specify a combined household income of not more than R600,000 per year, with household income subject to verification. Providing false information can result in disqualification.

How does MQA funding work once you receive it?

Receiving the bursary is not the end of the process.

A student must continue making academic progress.

The MQA’s funding rules state that academic progression is assessed, and the bursary does not cover the cost of repeat subjects. The current policy also states that bursars apply for funding each academic year, where applicable.

This means the bursary should be viewed as support for successfully completing your qualification, not as money that continues regardless of your results.

In practical terms, failing subjects can put future funding at risk.

How to improve your chances of getting the MQA bursary

Start with the obvious: protect your Mathematics and Physical Science marks if you are still at school.

Next, choose a qualification that clearly connects with the mining and minerals sector. Applying for a programme that appears on the MQA’s supported list gives your application a much clearer connection to the purpose of the scheme.

Your financial documents also matter. If the MQA asks for proof of household income, make sure the information is accurate and consistent. The scheme verifies financial circumstances.

Keep your academic documents ready, including your latest results or full academic record where applicable, your acceptance letter if required, and the other supporting documents requested for your application.

Finally, do not wait until the final day.

For the 2026 cycle, the application window for first-time unemployed applicants closed on 31 July 2025, while continuing MQA bursars had a separate continuation process that closed on 22 January 2026. The MQA currently states that first-time applications for 2026 are closed.

MQA bursary vs NSFAS: are they the same?

No.

The MQA bursary is administered by the Mining Qualifications Authority and is specifically connected to skills development in the mining and minerals sector.

NSFAS is a separate national student financial aid system. In fact, South Africa’s higher education budget documents treat NSFAS and the MQA as separate entities with different mandates.

A student should therefore not assume that MQA funding works exactly like NSFAS funding.

The MQA is targeting particular skills and a particular sector. That is why your qualification, academic record and personal circumstances all matter.

Final answer: is the MQA bursary worth applying for?

For a student who wants to build a career in mining, engineering, geology, metallurgy, environmental management or one of the supported technical trades, the MQA Bursary Scheme can be a significant opportunity.

It can go well beyond tuition by supporting accommodation, books and meals, while tuition and registration costs can also be covered under the applicable arrangement.

But it is not an automatic award for everyone who applies. The number of places is limited, financial need is considered, academic performance matters and the qualification must align with the programme’s priorities.

Most importantly, applicants should avoid relying on social-media claims about a guaranteed monthly allowance or a fixed minimum mark unless those figures appear in the current MQA documentation.

The strongest application is one that tells a consistent story: good academic performance, genuine financial need, a supported qualification and a clear connection to the mining and minerals sector.

For official announcements and future application windows, applicants should monitor the MQA bursary page rather than relying solely on third-party bursary websites.