Key Facts
- Status
- Check Provider for Dates
- Provider
- Field of Study
- Study Level
- Academic Year
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2027
Eligibility Requirements
- Studying full-time toward a Diploma, Bachelor's degree, Honours, Master's or Doctoral qualification
- Enrolled, or applying to enrol, in one of the Department's listed priority fields
- At a recognised, accredited South African tertiary institution
- Not employed by the Department of Tourism
Documents Needed
- Certified copies of qualifications already obtained
- Recent academic records
- Confirmation of registration, if already registered at a tertiary institution
- Proof of family income, or a sworn affidavit if parents/guardians are unemployed
- Admission or acceptance letter
- A short research proposal (Honours and Master's applicants only)
About Department of Tourism Bursary
The Department of Tourism runs an External Bursary Scheme for South African students studying priority fields relevant to the tourism sector and the wider public service, from Diploma through to Doctoral level. The Department is a national government department responsible for tourism policy, marketing and development under the Tourism Act 3 of 2014.
This bursary's provider record on this site was previously linked to a node titled 'Department of Transtport' (sic), which is in fact the Department of Transport - a separate national department responsible for transport infrastructure and regulation, unrelated to tourism. This page has been corrected to link to a dedicated Department of Tourism provider record instead.
Funding Details
The bursary is designed to cover the cost of the recipient's studies for the remainder of their qualification, renewed annually subject to satisfactory academic performance each year.
Where You Can Study
The bursary is open to students at any recognised, accredited South African public tertiary institution offering the Department's listed priority fields.
About Department of Tourism
The Department of Tourism is a national government department of the Republic of South Africa, mandated under the Tourism Act 3 of 2014 to promote responsible tourism, market South Africa as a destination, and support gr…
View full provider profile →Fields of Study & Who Can Apply
Applicants must be studying full-time toward a Diploma, Bachelor's degree, Honours, Master's or Doctoral qualification in one of the Department's listed priority fields, at a recognised, accredited South African tertiary institution. Employees of the Department of Tourism are not eligible.
The Department has previously listed priority fields including Tourism Management, Accounting, Financial or Management Accounting, Law, Business Analytics, Communications, Computer Science, Information Technology, Software Development, Construction Management, Data Science, Data Analytics, Development Studies, Digital Transformation and Economics, among others - the exact list is confirmed on each year's bursary advertisement.
Application Procedure
Apply directly with the provider using the official application link below, before the closing date.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is this the same as the Department of Transport's bursary?
No. This bursary is run by the Department of Tourism, the national department responsible for tourism policy and development - a separate entity from the Department of Transport, which deals with transport infrastructure and regulation. The two are easy to confuse because of the similar names, and a previous version of this page linked to the wrong department; that has now been corrected.
Which fields of study qualify?
The Department has previously listed fields including Tourism Management, Accounting, Law, Business Analytics, Communications, Computer Science/IT, Construction Management, Data Science, Development Studies, Digital Transformation and Economics - check the current year's bursary advertisement for the confirmed list.
Can postgraduate students apply?
Yes - unlike many bursaries, this one is open from Diploma level right through to Honours, Master's and Doctoral study, provided you're studying one of the Department's listed priority fields.
How do I submit my application?
Applications are submitted by post or hand-delivered to the Department's Pretoria office, addressed to the Director-General, Department of Tourism, Private Bag X424, Pretoria, 0001, for the attention of the Department's Skills Development unit. Check the Department's website for the current application form and closing date.
When do applications close?
The most recently published closing date was 13 March 2026, which has already passed. The Department normally reopens its External Bursary Scheme annually - check tourism.gov.za for the next call.
