Applications for the Astron Energy Bursary 2027 close at 12:00 midday on Monday, 26 October 2026. This bursary covers your full study costs, but there is one thing you must plan for right now: you pay your own initial registration fees first. The award only follows after registration, so provisionally accepted students need that money ready before they rely on the funding.
Many applicants lose bursary chances over small mistakes. Old certified documents, the wrong qualification type, or an upload that fails at the last minute. This guide takes you through everything step by step so you can submit correctly and on time.
What Is the Astron Energy Bursary?
Astron Energy funds full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students in South Africa. The programme is run by Excel@Uni through the Aura AMS online portal.
It is a full-cost bursary, and it also includes personal development support to help you finish your studies and get ready for work.
Who Can Apply?
You must meet all of these conditions:
- You are a South African citizen.
- You are under 35 years old.
- You study full-time in a supported field.
- This is your first qualification at that level.
- You achieved at least 70% overall in your last full academic year.
Supported Fields of Study
- Mechanical, Chemical or Electrical Engineering
- Information Technology or Computer Science
- Accounting, General Finance or Commerce
- Internal Audit
- Risk Management
- Marketing
- Financial Information Systems
- Data Analytics
The Engineering Rule
Engineering must be a BSc or BEng degree. BTech qualifications are excluded. The portal lists other qualification levels — diplomas, advanced diplomas, degrees, honours and master’s — but that general list does not remove the engineering restriction. Check the exact title of your course with your institution before you apply.
Where Can You Study?
Your institution must be registered with DHET and SAQA. Registered private institutions, community colleges and TVET colleges all count, as long as they meet the programme’s requirements.
What About Paid Work?
Ask the administrator about this before you apply. The portal warns that paid employment can lead to your bursary being cancelled and the money repaid. The wording is broader than just full-time jobs, so check part-time work too before assuming you qualify.
What You Get
The full-cost package covers:
- Tuition fees
- Textbooks
- Accommodation
- Meals
- Monthly allowances
You also receive development support: psychosocial assistance, mentorship, work readiness training and academic tutoring.
There is a work-back condition. You must work back one year for each year you are sponsored. If you do not, you may have to repay the bursary benefits plus interest. Read the sponsor’s agreement carefully before you accept an offer, and ask for clarity on the service arrangement and allowance amounts before you make any financial commitments.
Which Documents Do You Need?
Every applicant must prepare:
- A certified South African ID
- A comprehensive CV
- A motivation of one to two pages
- Certified IDs of parents or guardians, or death certificates where relevant
Certified copies must be less than three months old. Check the stamp date on every document before you upload it. Old documents are one of the most common reasons applications fail.
Documents for Your Study Stage
- Current Matric learner or gap year after Matric: certified Grade 11 final report and Grade 12 Term 2 report, both with official school stamps.
- Studying at a tertiary institution in 2026: certified records for every tertiary year, your latest or June 2026 transcript, Matric certificate, 2026 registration proof and an official fee statement.
- Taking a break from tertiary studies: Matric certificate and your latest relevant tertiary transcripts. Check the gap-year instructions to see if you need an affidavit.
- Master’s candidate: a recommendation letter from your supervisor, in addition to the documents for your study stage.
Extra Documents That May Apply
- Your lease agreement, if you live off-campus — include it with your fee information
- Records from every institution you attended, not only your current one
- Other bursary or NSFAS agreements, letters or offers, where relevant
- Your 2027 acceptance letter
- For students with disabilities: a doctor’s letter and an EEA1 form
- For applicants under 18: signed parent or legal guardian consent and their certified ID. The portal provides a guardian consent form.
How to Apply Step by Step
- Open the official Astron Energy bursary portal and read the 2027 instructions.
- Start a new application or continue your existing one. Enter your contact, study and qualification details accurately.
- Upload the documents for your study stage. If several documents belong in one upload field, combine them into one readable file.
- Check your motivation, certification dates and all compulsory fields. Reopen each uploaded file to confirm it is complete and legible.
- Submit before 12:00 midday on 26 October 2026 and keep any confirmation or reference number provided.
The deadline is at lunchtime, not midnight. Set your own target a day or two earlier so a slow connection or upload problem does not become a last-minute obstacle. For help, use the portal’s support function or email [email protected].
Tips to Improve Your Chances
- Sort out your registration money now. Ask your institution for the exact registration amount and due date. If you cannot cover the initial payment, contact Excel@Uni about your options before you count on a provisional outcome.
- Certify your documents early. Certification takes time, and old copies will not be accepted.
- Check your qualification title. Make sure your course matches the supported fields and level rules, especially for engineering.
- Write an honest motivation. Explain why you chose your field and what you plan to do with it. Keep it to one or two pages.
- Keep your contact details working. Monitor your messages, because feedback depends on the details you provide.
Quick Answers
Can school learners apply? Yes. The portal has a dedicated route for school learners. Prepare your Grade 11 and Grade 12 reports, then check the remaining conditions.
Do you need 70% in every subject? No. The 70% is an overall average for your last full academic year. Your latest report or transcript is still an additional document you must upload.
Can BTech engineering students apply? No. Engineering is specifically restricted to BSc and BEng qualifications. A general qualification-level list does not override that rule.
Do you already have another bursary or NSFAS? Disclose it and upload the agreement, letter or offer where requested. Then ask how it affects your position. Disclosure alone is not confirmation that funding can be combined.
When will you hear back? Feedback is sent by 31 January 2027. If you have heard nothing by then, the programme’s guidance is to regard the outcome as unsuccessful.
Final Steps Before You Apply
Competition for bursaries like this one is strong, but a complete and correct application already puts you ahead. Confirm your registration plan, check your qualification type, collect the right records, and finish the portal process well before midday on 26 October 2026.
Keep copies of everything you submit and any funding agreement you later sign. While you wait, compare other bursary opportunities so you have more than one option for your studies.