Absa Fellowship Programme Application for 2026/2027

Detailed guide on Absa Fellowship Programme Application for 2026/2027. Are you a motivated South African student with a strong academic track record and a vision to become a future leader in Africa? The Absa Fellowship Programme 2026/2027 offers an exceptional opportunity for high-achieving students to pursue their studies while receiving comprehensive financial support and personal development training. Created by Absa Group, this programme is part of the bank’s commitment to shaping the next generation of African leaders who will drive social and economic progress.

The Absa Fellowship provides full funding for tuition fees, study materials, accommodation, and living expenses. In addition to financial assistance, recipients benefit from mentorship, leadership development, career readiness training, and networking opportunities with industry professionals. This holistic support ensures that students are not only academically successful but also equipped with the skills and confidence needed to thrive in competitive industries.

This article offers a detailed guide to the Absa Fellowship Programme Application for 2026/2027, covering eligibility requirements, supported study fields, the application process, and official closing dates. Whether you’re aiming for a career in finance, business, or broader sectors, this programme provides the platform to unlock your leadership potential.

In addition, satrends.co.za offers a wide range of other bursary categories to suit your preference. Click on the links below to access other kinds of bursaries.

Universities in South Africa Bursaries Available for 2026

Government Departments Bursaries Available for 2026

Field of Studies Specified Bursaries Available for 2026

Keep reading to learn more about the eligibility criteria, supported fields of study, application process, and closing dates for the Absa Fellowship Programme 2026/2027.

About Absa Group Limited

Absa Group Limited is one of Africa’s largest and most diversified financial services groups. Headquartered in South Africa and listed on the JSE, Absa has a strong presence across the continent, with banks in South Africa, Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. The Group also operates in Namibia, Nigeria, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

Absa provides a wide range of services, including personal, business, corporate, and investment banking, as well as credit cards, insurance, wealth management, and investment services.

About Absa Fellowship Programme 2026/2027

Fields Covered

The Absa Fellowship Programme is more than just a scholarship. It is a leadership development opportunity. The programme not only provides financial support for your studies but also includes a specialised leadership development curriculum designed to empower the next generation of African leaders.

The programme is open to students from 10 African countries: South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Mozambique, Tanzania, Mauritius, and Seychelles.

For the 2026 academic year, the fellowship supports undergraduate studies in the following Arts fields:

Creative Arts
Digital Arts
Drama
Drama and Film Studies
Drama and Performance
Drama and Theatre Studies
Fine Arts
Film and Media Production
Film and Television
Media Studies
Theatre and Performance
Visual Arts
Visual Studies

DESIGN:

Architecture
City and Regional
Digital Media
Game design
Graphic Design
Industrial Design
Information Design
Integrated Art and Design
Interior Architecture
Media and Writing
Multi Media
Multimedia (Digital) Design
Urban Design
Urban, Regional and Development Planning
Visual Communication

ENGINEERING:

Aeronautical Engineering
Agricultural Engineering
Bioresources Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Civil Engineering (Construction, Engineering and Civil Engineering Informatics, Engineering and Management, Structural Engineering, Water and Environmental Engineering)
Construction Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Electrical and Electronic Engineering (Electronic, Energy, Informatics, Robotics, Telecommunication)
Energy
Extraction Metallurgy
Industrial Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Mechatronic Engineering
Metallurgy and Materials Engineering
Mining Engineering
Nuclear Science and Engineering
Physical Metallurgy
Robotics
Sound Engineering
Water and Environmental Engineering

SCIENCE (any BSc degree, including but not limited to):

Agriculture
Applied Bioinformatics
Applied Chemistry
Applied Physics and Engineering Mathematics
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Biochemistry
Biochemistry and Cell Biology
Biology
Biotechnology
Chemical Biology
Chemistry
Chemistry and Chemical Technology
Chemistry and Polymer Science
Chemistry with Chemical Engineering
Developmental Biology
Earth Sciences
Food Science
Genetics
Geoinformatics
Hydrology
Marine Biology
Meteorology
Molecular Biology
Ocean and Atmosphere Science
Oceanography
Physics

SOCIAL SCIENCE: HUMANITIES (any BA degree, including but not limited to):

Arts and Visual Arts
Audiology
Drama
Education
Languages
Law
Music
Performing Arts
Philosophy
Political Sciences
Politics
Social Dynamics
Social Work
Speech Language
Theatre and Performance

MATHEMATICS:

Actuarial and Financial Mathematics
Actuarial Science
Applied Mathematics
Applied Statistics
Computational and Applied Mathematics
Econometrics
Mathematical Sciences
Mathematical Statistics
Mathematics
Mathematics of Finance
Pure Mathematics
Statistics
Statistics and Data Science

TECHNOLOGY:

Business Computing
Computer Engineering
Computer Science
Computer Science and Informatics
Computer Science and Statistics
Informatics
Information and Knowledge Systems
Information Engineering
Information Systems
Information Systems and Computer Science
Information Systems Management
Information Technology

Benefits – What The Fellowship Covers

The Absa Fellowship provides comprehensive financial and developmental support, including:

Full tuition fees
Textbooks and educational equipment
Laptop
Accommodation (residence or private)
Meal allowance
Monthly stipend
Monthly data allowance
Student medical aid

Fellows will also receive access to:

A leadership development programme
Travel support (if required)
Learner modules and guides
Online lectures and assessments
Emotional wellness sessions
Academic tutoring and mentoring

Eligibility Requirements for Absa Fellowship Programme Application 2026/2027

Applicants must meet the following minimum criteria:

Be a citizen of one of the following countries: South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Mozambique, Tanzania, Mauritius, Seychelles
Be between 18 and 25 years old
Have completed Matric (or equivalent) with at least 65% overall average
Be entering 1st year of undergraduate study in 2026
Intend to study within one of the listed Arts fields
Be provisionally accepted/accepted at one of South Africa’s 26 public universities (including UCT, Wits, Stellenbosch, UKZN, UJ, and others)
Show qualities of a leader, change-maker, humble yet passionate individual, brave innovator, and socially conscious thinker

How To Apply For The Absa Fellowship Programme 2026/2027

Applications must be completed online at: Click here to see more about Absa Fellowship Programme Application 2026
Download and review the Absa Fellowship FAQs (.pdf) before applying.

Required supporting documents (certified copies where applicable):

ID document (South African citizens) / Passport (non-SA citizens)
Matric certificate
Proof of provisional/ final university acceptance
Disability certificate (if applicable)
Confirmation of tuition and accommodation fees
Proof of parents’/guardians’ household income (recent payslips, affidavit if unemployed, SASSA/pension slips if applicable, maintenance proof if divorced, or death certificates if deceased)

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Closing Date for Absa Fellowship Programme Application 2026/2027

The Absa Fellowship Programme applications open on the 10 January and close on the 19th of January.

Applications received after this date will not be accepted.

Contact The Fellowship Provider

For more information, contact Absa directly:

Head Office Tel: 011 350 4000