Looking to study wool design or fashion and also get money to cover your school costs? Cape Wools SA is offering a bursary program for the 2026 academic year. The bursary is like a scholarship that can help you pay for registration, tuition, books and even your room and board if you are a student who wants to learn about the wool industry. If you are a South African citizen who loves wool or sheep, you should read on.
When to apply
You must send in your application by 31 October 2025. Any forms or files you send after that date will not be accepted.
What the Cape Wools SA Bursary is all about
The program is run by the Wool Industry Bursary Trust. It gives money to students who want to study textile, fashion or anything that involves wool and sheep. The goal is to grow the wool sector in South Africa, help it become more creative, and keep it environmentally friendly.
Subjects that qualify
You can get a bursary if you are studying one of the following:
- Textile design – how to turn fabric into clothes
- Fashion design – design clothes that look good and feel good
- Other wool‑related programmes – courses that focus on how wool is made, used or sold
- Sheep or wool‑focused studies – including programmes taught at agricultural colleges
If you are working on a project that helps the wool industry, that is a big plus.
What the bursary pays for
Cape Wools SA may cover:
- Registration fees
- Tuition fees
- Accommodation (room and board)
- Books and study materials
If you attend Grootfontein Agricultural College, you might receive up to R20 000 for on‑farm training. That money would go to the farmer to help with costs that your school might need.
How you keep the bursary after you get it
Bursaries are given for good grades and are checked every six months. You will have to:
- Keep up good academic standards or the bursary could be taken back
- Work for up to four weeks each year on a real wool farm – a small job that shows you are learning on the ground
- After you finish your course, you must find a job in the wool or a related industry for one year for every year you received funding
Who can apply
You will be considered if you meet these basic points:
- You are a South African citizen
- Your study plan is in textile, fashion or a wool‑related subject
- You meet your school’s admission rules
- In your final year you will produce clothes that contain at least 50 % wool
- If you are a master’s student, your research must be about wool and its uses
- If you study at an agricultural college or a university with a wool focus, you have a good chance
- If you are in your third year or higher (honours, master’s or PhD), you are also in priority
- If you belong to a previously disadvantaged group, you will be given preference
- You must agree to all terms on the application form
Special rules for Grootfontein Agricultural College students
- If you get a bursary in your first or second year, you must be set to specialise in wool production (Merino) when you reach the third year
- You must keep good academic standing and follow the college’s rules for bursary renewal
Documents you need to send
Send certified copies of these items with your application:
- South African ID
- Latest grade results (matric paper or university grades)
- Proof that you are registered at a tertiary institution (letter on the college’s letterhead)
- Proof of your permanent address in South Africa
- Any other bursaries you already have or are requesting
- A short letter saying why you are the right student for this bursary
How to apply
Download the application form from the Cape Wools website.
Link: https://www.capewools.co.za/assets/bursary/bursarypoliciesapplicationform2026.pdfFill it out carefully and attach all required documents.
Send it in one of two ways:
Email: bursaries@capewools.co.za with the subject line “Cape Wools Bursary 2026”
Mail:
Cape Wools SA CEO
P.O. Box 2191
North End, Port Elizabeth 6056
Why you should apply
This bursary is more than just money. It connects you with people who run the wool business in South Africa, gives you hands‑on experience on farms, and opens doors to jobs after you finish. If you love fashion, textile design, or the science of wool and sheep, this is a chance to learn, work, and grow your future.
Apply before 31 October 2025 and give you the tools you need to start a career in one of the country’s most traditional and evolving industries.