Applications Open for the National Arts Council (NAC) Local Individual Postgraduate Bursary Funding 2026

Applications Open for the National Arts Council (NAC) Local Individual Postgraduate Bursary Funding 2026. The National Arts Council (NAC) is excited to announce that applications are officially open for the 2026 Local Individual Postgraduate Bursary Funding.

Requirements:

• Only South African postgraduate students are eligible to apply for funding.
• Students must be registered at a tertiary institution in South Africa for a full-time or part–time post graduate arts related degree.
• Post-graduate qualifications will be funded on academic merit. Students achieving less than a 65% average will not be considered.
• An average of 63% may be considered in exceptional cases. Each case will be reviewed on its own merit and no precedence shall be set.
• Recognition of prior learning qualification may also be considered upon acceptance of the student at a specific institution. The acceptance by a tertiary institution shall be deemed sufficient.
• Preference will be given to students from previously disadvantaged backgrounds.
• Students must be registered or be accepted to study at a tertiary institution.
• Should the student be successful in his/her bursary application, the beneficiary
• will be required to sign an agreement with the NAC.
• Beneficiary will be required to provide the NAC with a signed letter from the institution/supervisor and on completion of the course; the student shall submit a report together with final results to the NAC.
• Should the student be successful in his/her bursary application, the beneficiary will be required to sign an agreement with the NAC.
• The NAC shall be entitled to terminate the agreement for the second semester/year if the progress of the beneficiary is deemed unsatisfactory on the basis of the progress report written by the student’s supervisor.
• Upon completion of studies, the beneficiary will be expected to plough back the expertise gained through imparting and sharing skills with a less privileged organization, groups of individuals or an individual within their community.
• Services rendered may include workshops, outreach, mentoring, capacity building, and administration support.
• Proof of such services shall be supplied to the NAC in the submission of a report by the beneficiary and the respective community leader/s accompanied by photographs of the services rendered at the end of study period indicated in the contract.

Note Well:

Post-graduate students whose degree requires two to three years of study (MA and PhD) should not reapply for funding but would be given the grant for the duration of studies, subject to successful completion of each year of study. MA studies will receive funding for a duration of two years, and PhD studies will receive funding for a period of three years only.

How to Apply

• Only individual postgraduate students are eligible to apply for funding.
• Invitations to students to apply are made during the second funding session.
• Applicants are required to complete the online NAC Individual Postgraduate Local Bursary application form on the Grant Management System.
• Applicants are required to check the online application form for any additional supporting documents required.
• Incomplete documents, requirements, and information will automatically be disqualified.

Applications for local postgraduate studies should be accompanied by the
following documentation:

• Curriculum vitae.
• Certified copy of South African identity document (must not be older than 12 months).
• Course structure/content.Study fees structure from tertiary institution.
• Proof of acceptance/registration to study at an accredited institution
• Transcript of results/recognition of prior learning qualification by academic
• institution.
• Certified copies of degrees/certificates/diplomas.
• Proof of any other bursary funding.
• Two reference letters from industry professionals (signed, dated with a full address). Reference letters must not be older than 3 months.
• Motivation why the applicant must be awarded a bursary and outlining future career aspirations.
• Proof of household/own income.
• Bank statement/proof of bank account with a bank stamp not older than 6 months.

Closing Date: 19 December 2025. The outcome
will be released on the 30th of January 2026. Late applications will not be considered.