The National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) has opened applications for their 2027 External Bursary Programme, offering eligible South African students financial support towards their studies, including covering a student’s full tuition and registration fees.
The bursary provides support to qualifying undergraduate and postgraduate students, with Master’s students being eligible for a research allowance of up to R11,000.
Applications are open until 30 September 2026.
Coverage of the NDMC bursary
100% of a student’s tuition fees, including registration, will be covered according to the supplied information for the 2027 NDMC bursary.
Eligibility applies to qualifying students at undergraduate and postgraduate level, with specific requirements applying.
Master’s students who qualify for the NDMC bursary may also be entitled to a research allowance of up to R11,000.
Students should carefully review the supplied bursary advertisement to confirm which study costs are covered and whether any additional funding conditions apply.
Who should apply?
The NDMC bursary is available to eligible South African students who are studying at qualifying undergraduate or postgraduate level.
Students who meet the requirements of the NDMC bursary should ensure that they have supporting documents ready prior to completing the online application.
The NDMC has explicitly encouraged students with disabilities to apply.
Meeting baseline requirements does not guarantee that a student will receive funding. Applications are subject to the NDMC selection and verification criteria.
Why the NDMC bursary could be valuable
University costs can often be a large financial burden to students and their families.
Having tuition and registration fees covered can alleviate some of this pressure prior to a student enrolling for a qualification.
In the case of qualifying Master’s students, the additional research allowance could also be used to cover approved research-related costs.
The NDMC bursary should therefore be seen as an opportunity to significantly reduce the costs of studying towards a qualification.
Application deadline
The closing date for the NDMC 2027 External Bursary Programme is 30 September 2026.
Applicants should not leave their applications until the final day.
An online application may require supporting documents and incomplete information, or technical difficulties at the deadline, could prevent a student from applying successfully.
The NDMC has confirmed that applications received late or with missing information will not be considered.
How to apply
Applications for the NDMC bursary are made through an online application portal:
NDMC Online Bursary Application Portal
Applicants should review the official advertisement carefully ahead of completing the application.
They should also ensure that they provide all required documents in the requested format.
Key application checks
Prior to submitting an application, students should:
- Review the complete bursary advertisement
- Confirm that they meet the eligibility requirements
- Check that they are applying for a covered qualification
- Prepare all required supporting documents
- Ensure personal information is correct
- Check that uploaded documents are clear and legible
- Review the application prior to submission
- Retain proof of submission for their records
Applicants should only use the official application portal and should not submit personal documents to individuals who claim they can secure bursary funding.
Students with disabilities encouraged to apply
The NDMC has encouraged students with disabilities to apply.
Eligible students should therefore not assume that they are ineligible due to a disability.
Applicants should follow the instructions regarding supporting documents to confirm their circumstances.
What students should know about the R11,000 research allowance
The R11,000 research allowance applies to qualifying Master’s students.
The wording “up to” is critical to the research allowance. Not all Master’s students will automatically receive R11,000.
Students should consult the official advertisement for the conditions attached to the allowance and which research-related expenses may be covered.
Apply early and keep your confirmation
With the deadline set for 30 September 2026, applicants should have sufficient time to prepare their application rather than rushing the process.
Students should retain any confirmation, reference number or other evidence provided upon submitting an application.
This can be used if applicants need to follow up on their application.
Frequently asked questions
What is the NDMC External Bursary Programme?
It is a bursary programme offered by the National Disaster Management Centre to eligible South African students who are studying at qualifying undergraduate or postgraduate level.
Does the bursary cover tuition?
Yes. According to the supplied information, 100% of a student’s tuition fees, including registration, will be covered.
Can postgraduate students apply?
Yes. The NDMC bursary covers qualifying students at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.
How much is the Master’s research allowance?
Eligible Master’s students may receive a research allowance of up to R11,000.
When does the application close?
Applications will close on 30 September 2026.
How do students apply?
Applications are made via an online application portal.
Apply through the official NDMC bursary portal
Are students with disabilities encouraged to apply?
Yes. The NDMC has specifically encouraged students with disabilities to apply.
Source
Source: National Disaster Management Centre 2027 External Bursary Programme information supplied for this article.
Editorial policy
This article was independently written for South African students using the supplied NDMC bursary information as its factual basis.
The report differentiates between benefits confirmed by the sponsor and those that are conditional. In particular, the Master’s research allowance is described as up to R11,000, rather than a guaranteed payment to all postgraduate students.
No additional eligibility requirements or benefits have been invented.
Disclaimer
Bursary eligibility, qualification requirements, supporting documents and funding conditions are subject to the official NDMC bursary advertisement.
Applicants should review the complete official advert prior to applying and confirm that they meet the stated requirements for their qualification and circumstances.
Student awareness
Do not pay anyone to apply for or secure an NDMC bursary. Use the official online application portal and protect your ID, banking information and other personal documents from unverified individuals or websites
