If you are studying at the University of Johannesburg and you need funding for next year, the Reatile Foundation Trust Bursary 2027 deserves your attention right now. Applications close on 23 October 2026. Many strong students miss out simply because their documents arrive late or incomplete. Do not let that happen to you. Start preparing today.
What Is the Reatile Foundation Trust Bursary?
This bursary helps current UJ students move into their second, third or fourth year of study. The Reatile Foundation Trust supports education and community development in South Africa. The funding covers major study costs so you can focus on your marks instead of your money worries.
Key details at a glance
- Provider: Reatile Foundation Trust
- Institution: University of Johannesburg (UJ), Gauteng
- Study mode: Full-time undergraduate studies
- Year of study: Entering second, third or fourth year in 2027
- Academic requirement: At least 65% overall average in 2026
- Household income limit: R45 000 gross per month, combined
- Other funding: No other bursary or third-party support allowed
- Closing date: 23 October 2026
- How to apply: Email the completed form and supporting documents
Who Can Apply?
This is funding for continuing UJ students. Check the year you will enter in 2027, not the year you are in now. First-year students who have not finished 2026 cannot yet prove a final 65% average.
You must meet all of these requirements:
- South African citizenship
- Black, as defined in the BEE Act
- Matric completed
- Currently studying full-time at UJ
- Entering year two, three or four in 2027
- At least a 65% overall average in 2026
- Financial need and a willingness to make a positive difference
Your qualification must also fall in one of these five supported fields:
- BCom Accounting
- Chemical Engineering
- Environmental Sciences
- Industrial Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
Do You Fit the R45 000 Income Limit?
This rule trips up many applicants. The limit looks at combined monthly household income before deductions. Comparing only one parent’s salary, or the amount that lands in the bank, gives you the wrong answer.
Here is an example. One parent earns R26 000 gross per month and the other earns R21 000. Together that is R47 000. The household is over the limit, even though each salary is below R45 000 on its own.
You must also have no funding from another bursary or third party. If your funding situation is unclear, contact Reatile before you assume you qualify.
What Does the Bursary Pay For?
The listed study expenses are:
- Registration fees
- Tuition fees
- Prescribed books
- Accommodation
- Meal allowance
Funding is given only once per study level. If you fail a subject, you pay to rewrite that subject or course yourself. Build this rule into your study and financial planning.
Confirm the exact allowance amounts and award conditions before you budget around a specific figure.
A possible Egoli Gas pathway
Graduates with qualifications aligned to scarce and critical skills may get the chance to apply for an Egoli Gas internship. The bursary does not guarantee an internship placement. Treat this as a possible door, not a promise.
The Trust supports education and community development, including university studies in engineering, accounting and environmental fields. Your motivation letter should explain the contribution you want to make through your own discipline.
Which Documents Do You Need?
Many applicants lose their chance right here. Send a full academic record that shows your actual marks. A certificate alone does not provide the academic evidence they ask for.
- Certified copy of your South African ID
- Full academic record with marks
- Motivational letter
- Invoice or quotation for your estimated study costs
- Parent or guardian household income proof
- Three months of parent or guardian bank statements
- Your current CV
How Do You Apply Step by Step?
- Download the 2027 Reatile Foundation Trust bursary application form.
- Complete the required sections and follow the form’s instructions, including any signatures.
- Attach your supporting documents. Open every file first and check that the text, marks and amounts are readable.
- Email the form and documents to [email protected].
- Use the subject line Reatile Foundation Trust Bursary 2027 and send everything by 23 October 2026. Keep a copy of your sent email and attachments as proof.
For questions about the programme or your documents, call Ms Emily Faro on 010 593 2415 or use the bursary email address above. Sort out any missing-document questions before the deadline, not after.
Tips to Improve Your Chances
Write a motivation that proves impact. Connect one real leadership example to the difference you want to make after graduating. Describe what you did, who benefited, and how your qualification supports that future contribution. A genuine peer-tutoring role, for example, shows responsibility and service. Use your own experience and make sure every detail matches your CV.
A strong motivation cannot replace the required academic or financial evidence, so build your document pack around what you write on the form.
Clear answers to common questions:
Matric completion alone does not qualify you. The 2027 criteria require entry into second, third or fourth year.
Yes, the limit is a maximum of R45 000 gross per month for the household. You must still meet the financial-need requirement and all other criteria.
What if you have NSFAS? The criteria exclude other bursary or third-party funding. Disclose your NSFAS position and ask Reatile to confirm your eligibility before you proceed.
Waiting for 2026 results? Ask Reatile which academic record it will accept before the closing date. Do not assume you can send missing results after the deadline.
When will you hear back? Shortlisted students are usually contacted within one month after closing. If you receive no feedback in that period, treat your application as unsuccessful and keep searching for other funding.
Final Steps Before You Send
Competition for bursaries like this is real, but a complete and honest application always stands out. Confirm your 2027 study year. Add up your household gross income. Check that you have no other funding. Then gather your evidence, complete the form, and send the full pack before 23 October 2026.
You can compare other bursaries on SETA Careers while you plan your next year of study. Start today. Every day you wait makes the deadline feel closer than it should.