Toyota South Africa Motors has opened its bursary programme for studies in 2027, funding full-time degrees across Commerce, Engineering and Science fields. Applicants need 65% in Mathematics and English in Matric (or a 65% tertiary average), and applications run through StudyTrust until 30 September 2026.
Most bursaries stop at paying your fees. Toyota’s goes further: the programme is deliberately built to bridge the gap between lecture halls and the world of work, offering vacation work and potential exposure to Toyota’s flagship graduate programme. In other words — fund the degree, then open the door.
What Is the Toyota SA Motors Bursary?
Toyota South Africa Motors established its bursary fund to support emerging talent from its communities — students who excel academically and show real commitment. The company’s stated vision is bold: it wants that talent inside Toyota, shaping the future of mobility in Africa and beyond.
The bursary is administered by StudyTrust, a registered educational trust with more than 50 years of experience and over 30,000 bursaries and scholarships awarded — so the process behind this programme is professionally managed from application to allocation.
Which Fields of Study Are Funded?
Bursaries are awarded for full-time study in three streams:
Commerce:
- Accounting (Non-CA) — the degree must include Accounting, Taxation, Auditing and Management Accounting
- Analytics, Economics and Financial Management
- Environmental Science
- Human Resource Management
- Law (LLB) and Marketing Management
Engineering:
- Chemical, Electrical, Civil, Industrial and Mechanical Engineering
- Mechatronics Engineering
Science:
- Business Science Analytics
- Computer Science and Information Technology
That’s an unusually wide net for a corporate bursary — from future engineers on the production line to lawyers, marketers and data scientists in head office.
Do You Meet the Entry Criteria?
The minimum requirements before applying:
- South African citizens only
- Strong academic and leadership potential
- A minimum of 65% for Mathematics AND English in Matric
- For current university students: an overall tertiary average of 65% or above
Note the “and” in that Matric requirement — you need 65% in both subjects, not just one.
Which Documents Must You Prepare?
Before starting your online application, have these ready to upload:
- Certified copy of your ID
- Proof of all academic results to date — your Grade 12 certificate and full tertiary academic record where applicable
- Proof of combined household income
Here’s a bonus most applicants miss: your application will automatically be considered for all other StudyTrust-managed bursaries you qualify for — one application, multiple funding possibilities.
Itumeleng’s Insider Tip: Toyota’s advert mentions “leadership potential” — and almost every applicant ignores it, submitting marks and nothing else. Don’t. If you were a prefect, class rep, sports captain, choir leader, SRC member or even organised a community clean-up, capture it in your application. Bursary selectors at StudyTrust read thousands of academically identical applications; the line that says “led a team of 15 learners” is what separates a shortlist from a rejection. And current Grade 12s: your June exam results are what you have right now — if your Maths or English is hovering near 65%, those final months of effort directly decide this bursary.
How Do You Submit Your Application?
The application season runs from 1 June to 30 September 2026 for funding in the 2027 academic year. Late submissions won’t be considered.
Applications must be completed on StudyTrust’s official online application platform.
Before you begin, read the step-by-step instructions on StudyTrust’s bursary applications page — incomplete or incorrectly submitted applications are the most common reason strong candidates fall out of contention.
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Final Thoughts
A bursary that pays for your studies, considers you for multiple funds at once, gives you vacation work experience, and dangles a graduate programme at one of the world’s most recognised companies — that’s about as complete as student funding gets in South Africa.
The window is open until 30 September 2026, but waiting until September is how technical glitches and missing documents end dreams. Gather your documents, polish your results, and apply early.
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