South African Reserve Bank (SARB) Learning Scholarship 2026 – Fully Funded Master’s Opportunity
South African Reserve Bank (SARB) Learning Scholarship 2026 – Fully Funded Master’s Opportunity
The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) is inviting eligible South African citizens to apply for the SARB Learning Scholarship 2026. This prestigious, fully funded scholarship is aimed at students pursuing Master’s degrees in Data Science, Machine Learning, or Artificial Intelligence, with a specific focus on financial analytics.
Application Deadline: 31 October 2025
Who Can Apply: South African citizens under the age of 35
About the Scholarship
The SARB Learning Scholarship is part of the Reserve Bank’s initiative to close the skills gap in high-demand, tech-focused fields that influence South Africa’s financial system. This scholarship is offered in partnership with the Data Science Academic Committee of the National Graduate Academy for Mathematical and Statistical Sciences (NGA(MaSS)).
Fields of Study
Applicants must enroll in an approved full-time Master’s programme that includes financial analytics modules. Participating universities and programmes include:
- University of Cape Town – Analytics, Data Science
- University of Pretoria – MCom in Advanced Data Analytics, MIT in Big Data Science
- Stellenbosch University – MSc in Machine Learning & AI, MCom in Financial Risk Management
- University of KwaZulu-Natal – MSc in Data Science
- North-West University – MSc in Business Mathematics & Informatics
- University of the Western Cape – MSc in Statistical Science (Data Science specialization)
- Other universities – MSc in eScience (e.g., Wits, Limpopo, Venda, Sol Plaatje)
Scholarship Benefits
The SARB Learning Scholarship 2026 offers comprehensive financial and developmental support, including:
- Full tuition coverage
- Accommodation expenses
- Study materials and equipment
- Monthly meal and transport allowance
- Mentorship and coaching
- Psychosocial support services
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must:
- Be a South African citizen under the age of 35
- Hold a relevant Honours degree with at least 65% average
- Have provisional acceptance into one of the approved Master’s programmes
- Commit to full-time study and select modules in financial analytics
Application Requirements
To apply, candidates must:
- Visit the SARB Bursary Portal
- Use Promotional Code:
SARBDSM26 - Upload the following documents:
- Certified copy of South African ID
- Honours degree certificate or statement of results
- Most recent academic transcripts
- Proof of provisional university acceptance (with student number)
📌 Note: Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.
Final Thoughts
The SARB Learning Scholarship 2026 is a rare opportunity for aspiring data professionals to contribute to South Africa’s financial innovation while receiving world-class academic training. If you’re passionate about using data and technology to solve financial problems, this scholarship could be your next big step.
