The SATI Bursaries 2027 are open right now, and the deadline of 16 November 2026 will arrive faster than most students expect. If you are studying towards a qualification connected to table grape production, this funding could cover your tuition, accommodation and living expenses. Many students wait too long and miss out. You do not have to be one of them.
Quick facts: The South African Table Grape Industry (SATI) accepts applications from undergraduate and postgraduate students, studying full-time or part-time. You need at least D academic results, and your qualification must connect to the table grape industry. The reported closing time is 23:59, but this has not been independently confirmed by SATI, so submit early.
Scam warning: Legitimate bursaries never ask for registration, application or placement fees. Use only SATI’s official application platform.
What Is the SATI Bursary About?
The South African Table Grape Industry (SATI) runs a bursary programme to grow skills in the table grape industry. It supports students whose studies connect directly to grape production, agricultural science and plant research.
The programme is open for the 2027 academic year. SATI has historically focused on transformation and development, so students from farming communities and previously disadvantaged backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
Last updated: 2 November 2026.
Can First-Year Students Apply?
Yes. Many first-year students assume they cannot apply because preference goes to students in their second year or later. That assumption costs them a chance they actually have.
SATI’s official criteria clearly state that first-year students are not excluded from consideration. You can be assessed, but an applicant who has already completed part of a relevant qualification may receive preference during selection.
You must also show a genuine interest in a career in the table grape industry or its supporting sectors. SATI accepts full-time and part-time students at registered South African tertiary institutions, and South African students receive preference.
Which Courses Qualify for the SATI Bursaries 2027?
Your course and your subjects must connect to the table grape industry. SATI’s 2027 recruitment announcement lists six undergraduate pathways:
- BSc Agric (Viticulture and Oenology): Table Grapes.
- BSc Agric (Plant and Soil Sciences): Crop Production Systems with Grapevine Sciences, combined with Entomology, Genetics, Plant Pathology or Agricultural Economics.
- BSc Agric (Plant and Soil Sciences): Soil and Water Management, with Soil Science and Grapevine Sciences as a second major.
- BSc Agric (Plant and Soil Sciences): Crop Protection and Breeding, combined with Plant Pathology and Entomology or Genetics.
- B Agric (Plant Production): Viticulture.
- Diploma (Crop Production): Viticulture.
The specialisation matters as much as the degree title. If you study Plant and Soil Sciences, check whether your subject combinations include grapevine sciences or crop protection components. An agriculture qualification with no link to the table grape industry should not be treated as automatically eligible.
Postgraduate Research Areas
SATI also funds postgraduate research tied to the industry’s scientific and production priorities. Relevant fields include:
- Viticulture.
- Entomology.
- Plant Pathology.
- Genetics.
- Soil Science.
- Other table grape-related research.
A postgraduate qualification alone is not enough. Your research must show a meaningful connection to the table grape industry. You must provide details of your research project and supervisor. SATI’s Research Manager evaluates each proposal on its scientific relevance and importance to the industry.
Who Meets the Minimum Requirements?
Work through this list before you start your application. It saves time and disappointment later.
- You study or intend to study at a registered South African tertiary institution.
- You have an interest in the table grape industry or its value chain.
- You hold an appropriate qualification or are pursuing an eligible study programme.
- You have achieved at least the minimum D academic results.
- You have proof of acceptance or preliminary acceptance at a registered institution.
- You meet the applicable undergraduate or postgraduate requirements.
SATI gives preference to South African students, but the public criteria describe this as a preference rather than an absolute citizenship exclusion. If your citizenship status is unclear, check the online form or confirm your eligibility directly with SATI.
Preference Groups
SATI’s bursary information identifies these preference groups:
- Previously disadvantaged students.
- Land reform beneficiaries and their children.
- Farmworkers and their children.
- Students already involved in the industry.
- Applicants participating in industry-related research.
These considerations can strengthen your application, but they do not replace the academic and qualification requirements. If you come from a farming community, explain your genuine connection to agriculture and the table grape value chain where the application allows.
What Does the Bursary Pay For?
SATI offers financial support that may cover part or all of selected study costs. The three main funding categories are:
- Tuition or study fees.
- Accommodation.
- Living expenses.
There is no publicly confirmed fixed amount for every recipient. Funding depends on SATI’s available budget and approval by its Chief Executive Officer. Do not assume full-cost funding. The amount and conditions are confirmed through the bursary award process.
Additional costs, such as study materials, should be confirmed with SATI rather than assumed to be covered.
What Documents Must You Prepare?
Many strong applications fail because of missing paperwork. Gather everything before you begin:
- Certified copy of your ID document.
- Proof of your highest qualification.
- Latest academic results or transcript.
- Proof of acceptance or preliminary acceptance at a registered tertiary institution.
Extra Documents for Postgraduate Applicants
- Your research proposal.
- Confirmation that the proposal has been accepted by the relevant researchers.
- Details of the proposed research project and supervisor.
A strong proposal clearly identifies the table grape production problem you want to investigate. This helps reviewers see the relevance immediately.
How Do You Apply for the SATI Bursaries 2027?
Applications are completed online through SATI’s official platform, Submittable.
Official application link: Apply for SATI Bursary Funding 2027
Official requirements page: Read SATI’s Official Bursary Requirements
Then follow these steps:
- Visit SATI’s official bursary webpage.
- Open the Application Form link.
- Select Applications for Bursary Funding for the 2027 Academic Year.
- Create a Submittable account or sign in to your existing one.
- Complete your personal and academic information.
- Upload the required supporting documents.
- Review everything before you submit.
- Keep your submission confirmation for future reference.
Important: Incomplete applications may be disqualified. Check every required field and attachment before you press submit.
Tips to Improve Your Chances
Competition for bursaries is real, and no one can promise you funding. But you can avoid the mistakes that sink most applications:
- Match your subjects to the advertised pathways. Check your specialisation, not just your degree name.
- Apply even as a first-year student. Preference is not exclusion.
- Explain your connection to the industry. A farming background, community ties or clear career goals all help.
- Make your research relevant. Postgraduate proposals must address a real table grape production problem.
- Submit early. The 23:59 closing time is reported but not confirmed by SATI, so do not leave it to the final hours.
Does the Bursary Continue Every Year?
No. SATI reviews every bursary annually. You must make satisfactory academic progress and follow the conditions in your bursary agreement. SATI may suspend or end support if the required standards are not met.
Funded students must also submit academic progress reports every quarter. Read your agreement carefully so you understand the funding period, renewal process and reporting obligations.
When Will You Know the Results?
SATI advises that applicants who have not received feedback by mid-January should regard their applications as unsuccessful. For the 2027 intake, that points to approximately mid-January 2027.
Watch the email address you used on Submittable, including your spam and junk folders. SATI does not guarantee individual feedback to every applicant.
Other Bursaries Worth Exploring
If your qualification does not fit SATI’s list, do not give up on funding. Consider these options:
- The SIOC-CDT Bursary Programme 2027 includes selected agricultural fields such as Agricultural Economics, Engineering and related disciplines. It has its own residence, academic and financial requirements.
- The Silulumanzi Bursary 2027 supports environmental sciences and technical qualifications.
Always check the eligibility conditions and current application status of each programme before applying.
Your Next Steps Before 16 November 2026
Start today, not next week. Compare your qualification and subject combination with SATI’s advertised fields. Prepare your academic documents and secure proof of university acceptance.
If you are a first-year student, do not disqualify yourself because of the second-year preference. Postgraduate applicants should polish their research proposals until the link to table grape production is obvious.
SATI confirms 16 November 2026 as the closing date. Check the live application platform for the final submission time and submit well before the deadline. One complete, honest application could ease the financial pressure of your entire 2027 academic year.