SARF Bursaries 2026: Funding for Road Engineering Students
Are you a student passionate about building South Africa’s roads and transport systems? The SARF Bursaries 2026 offer a great chance to get funding for your studies. Offered by the South African Road Federation, this program supports students in key areas like road engineering and transport management. Applications close on 31 August 2026, so start preparing now.
About the SARF Bursary Programme
The SARF Bursary Programme helps build skills in South Africa’s road transport and infrastructure sector. It targets students who want careers in road engineering, transport management, transport economics, or road safety. This bursary stands out because it pushes for postgraduate studies like MSc or MTech, perfect for those aiming to specialize in transport systems.
Fields Covered
The bursary funds studies in several focused areas.
Road Engineering (Civil)
This includes traffic engineering, transportation planning, pavement and bridge engineering, construction materials and management, and environmental and stormwater engineering. These skills help design and maintain safe roads.
Road Transport Management
Topics cover logistics coordination, fleet operations, transport systems optimisation, and freight planning. Students learn to keep goods moving efficiently across the country.
Transport Economics
Studies focus on infrastructure investment analysis, transport policy development, cost-benefit modelling, and freight corridor planning. This prepares you to make smart financial decisions for transport projects.
Road Safety Engineering
Key areas are accident prevention systems, traffic flow design, smart road technologies, and highway safety assessments. These tools reduce crashes and improve road safety.
Who Should Apply?
Apply if you study civil engineering with a transport focus, logistics or transport management, transport economics, or road safety engineering. Postgraduate students planning advanced research in infrastructure also qualify. South African residents get priority, but students from SADC countries can apply too.
Minimum Requirements
Requirements depend on your study level.
Diploma Students
You must have passed Semester 1.
Degree Students
You need to have passed your first year.
Postgraduate Students
Preference goes to those in MSc, MTech, or advanced research programs.
Institution Requirements
You must attend a recognized South African university or University of Technology. Your school needs to endorse you with proof of enrolment, your academic record, and confirmation that your program fits. This ensures the bursary supports the right studies.
Funding Coverage
This is a supplementary bursary, so the amount varies and is set by the SARF Council. Funds go straight to your institution to cover part of your study costs. Pair it with NSFAS, university bursaries, SETA funding, or employer support for full coverage.
Selection Preference
SARF favors applicants with strong grades, plans for transport sector careers, ties to SARF member organizations, and dedication to infrastructure growth. Show your passion for South Africa’s roads.
Important Requirement
You must commit to working in the South African road transport sector after graduation. This helps ensure the bursary builds long-term talent.
Required Documents
Gather these items:
- Certified copy of your ID
- Academic transcripts
- Proof of registration
- CV
- Motivation letter
- Letter of endorsement from your institution
How to Apply
Request the application form and send it to:
South African Road Federation
48 Gladiator Street
Rhodesfield
Kempton Park, 1619
Postal: PO Box 8379, Birchleigh, 1621
Contact: Tel 011 394 9025 or 011 394 1459, Email [email protected]
Important Notes
The deadline is 31 August 2026. Late applications will not be considered. Check that all documents are complete before you submit.
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