Looking for a way to pay for college while you study subjects that build the world around you? The Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent (MISA) is offering a Technical Bursary Scheme for the 2026 academic year. This scholarship is open to South African students who want to study engineering, construction, planning, or environmental science. If you finish high‑school in March 2026 and want a scholarship that covers tuition, you should read on.
Application deadline: 07 March 2026, 23:59.
Where it’s available: South Africa (approved universities and TVET colleges).
Who is MISA?
MISA works for the South African government under the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs. It helps city councils and local authorities plan, build and keep roads, water systems, bridges and other public works. The main goal of MISA is to give people the skills they need to manage these projects better. By supporting students with a bursary, MISA hopes to grow a group of skilled professionals who can improve how cities run.
What can you study?
MISA will pay for students in the following areas:
1. Civil Engineering
- 10 bursaries at universities
- 10 bursaries at universities of technology
- 20 in total
2. Electrical Engineering
- 10 bursaries at universities
- 10 bursaries at universities of technology
- 5 bursaries at TVET colleges
- 25 in total
3. Project and Construction Management
- 3 bursaries at universities
- 2 bursaries at universities of technology
- 5 in total
4. Urban and Regional Planning / Town and Regional Planning
- 10 bursaries at universities
- 5 bursaries at universities of technology
- 15 in total
5. Environmental Management
Applicants who are from rural areas, who live in families that earn less than R600 000 a year, or who belong to historically disadvantaged groups, or who have disabilities, will receive special consideration. These groups get priority when MISA decides who gets the scholarship.
You need to show you meet the rules
To be eligible, you must send copies of the items below. Use certified or official copies to avoid problems.
- South African ID
- Matric or Grade 12 certificate
- Most recent school grades (if you’re still a student)
- Last year’s university results (if you already finished a degree)
- Proof of registration at your university – a letter on the university’s stationery
- Proof that you live in the city or town where you study (if you’re already a student)
- Proof that your household income is below R600 000 – this can be an affidavit from your parents or guardians, or a copy of a payslip. If a parent is unemployed, you can supply an affidavit showing that fact.
- The financial statement that your institution provides for students applying for a bursary
Missing any of these documents will automatically remove you from the selection. Make sure you keep everything neat and ready before the deadline.
How to get it
First, download the application form from the MISA website. Then:
- Complete all questions in one single PDF file.
- Write the field of study you want – for example “Civil Engineering” or “Environmental Management.”
- Address the form to Ms Nobuhle Latha or Ms Thulisile Mosoeu.
Send your PDF to the email address below. Don’t send it by fax, hand‑deliver, or post a copy. Only email will be accepted.
Email: CB.bursaries2026@misa.gov.za
Questions? Call us
If you’re unsure about anything, you can call:
Ms Nobuhle Latha – 012 848 5529
Ms Thulisile Mosoeu – 012 848 5515
Because many students apply, we can only call people who win the bursary. If you don’t hear from us, you were not selected. Don’t worry – there are other opportunities out there.
Remember the date
The final date to send in your application is 07 March 2026 at 23:59. Any application after that or one that is missing a piece of paperwork will not be looked at.
Want to help build roads, bridges, and parks in South Africa? Want to learn how to keep those things working for years? The MISA Technical Bursary Scheme could be the key to your future. Check out more about the program on the MISA home page here. Good luck!
