Study guide · 6 min read
IT & Computing: study guide, tips and eligibility checklist
IT and computing is one of the few fields where a learnership, an internship and a degree bursary can all lead to the same job. Knowing which opportunity type you are looking at is the first step.
What this study field covers
Computer science, information technology, information systems, software engineering, data science, cybersecurity, networking, cloud and development qualifications, plus computer engineering where the advert names it.
Three different routes into the same field
University bursaries fund a degree or diploma. Learnerships combine structured training with a workplace placement and usually pay a stipend. Internships place graduates or near-graduates into paid experience for a fixed term.
Employers in this field frequently recruit through the second and third routes, including from TVET colleges, so do not filter yourself out because you are not at a traditional university.
Evidence counts as much as marks
Where a form allows it, link to work you have actually built or contributed to. Keep it honest and specific about your own role. A small, finished, clearly explained project generally reads better than a long list of technologies.
Application tips for it & computing students
- 1Filter by subfield. "Cybersecurity" and "data science" programmes often have different eligibility to general IT programmes.
- 2Include a link to a portfolio or repository only if it works, is public, and is yours.
- 3Some technical adverts name a vendor or platform. If you have no exposure to it, say what you have done that is comparable rather than leaving it blank.
- 4Check the location and whether the role is on-site. Many South African IT training programmes are workplace-based.
- 5Read whether the stipend is a training allowance or a salary - the tax and the commitment are not the same.
Eligibility checklist
Run through this before you submit. It is a general checklist — the funder’s official requirements are the ones that decide your application.
You meet the qualification the funder names
Funders usually name the exact qualifications they fund. If your qualification is not named, contact the funder before spending time on the application.
Your academic record matches what the advert asks for
Some adverts state a minimum average or specific subject results. Where no minimum is published, submit your most recent full academic record anyway.
You have the citizenship or residency status required
Many South African programmes are limited to South African citizens or permanent residents. International scholarships often have the opposite requirement.
You can meet any financial-need or household-income test
Need-based programmes ask for proof of household income. Read what counts as proof and who has to sign it before the closing date.
You can commit to the conditions attached
Work-back service, vacation work, relocation, minimum pass requirements and annual re-application are all common. Check what the funder attaches to the award.
You applied through the official channel, before the deadline
Apply on the funder's own portal or email address, keep your reference number, and save a copy of everything you submitted.
Common questions
- Can I apply from a TVET college?
- Often yes. Many IT learnerships and internships list TVET qualifications explicitly. Check the qualification named in the official advert.
- Do I need programming experience before applying?
- Entry-level programmes vary; some are designed for beginners and others assume prior study. The official notice is the only reliable source.
SA Bursary Hub editorial team
This guide is written from the South African application process and reviewed before publication. It is general guidance, not funder policy. How we verify information.