How to Check Whether a Bursary Is Still Open
Written by the SA Bursary Hub Editorial Team · Published on · 4 min read
Closing dates move, pages go stale and old adverts circulate on social media. Here is how to confirm for yourself whether a South African bursary is still accepting applications.
Start at the funder's own website
The only reliable answer comes from the organisation offering the money. Open their bursaries or careers page directly rather than trusting a screenshot, a WhatsApp forward or a repost. If their page still shows an open form and a future date, that is your confirmation.
Signals that an advert is out of date
Recycled adverts are common near the start of each cycle. Check these before you invest time:
- The academic year mentioned is not the one you are applying for
- The application portal loads but rejects new registrations
- The page carries no date at all and the contact address bounces
- The link redirects to a general homepage instead of a bursary page
When there is no published closing date
Some funders never publish a date, either because they recruit continuously or because they announce dates internally. In that case we show that no closing date is confirmed rather than guessing one. Email the funder, ask when the next intake opens, and diarise a check-back date.
How we keep listings current
Application links on this site are checked automatically and listings whose links stop working are pulled from the public pages until they are re-checked. Our closing-soon page shows what is nearest its deadline. If you find a listing that has closed or a link that is broken, please report it on the contact page so we can correct it.
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.