The Western Cape Government’s Department of Infrastructure is inviting applications for the Masakh’iSizwe Bursary Programme, a full-time tertiary bursary initiative established in 2006 to build a pipeline of skilled professionals in engineering and the built environment. The name Masakh’iSizwe comes from the Nguni languages and means “Let’s Build the Nation” — and that’s exactly the mission behind this programme: developing young South African talent to help build and maintain the infrastructure our province depends on.

About the Programme

The Masakh’iSizwe (MiS) Bursary Programme offers external bursaries for full-time studies at Higher Education Institutions in the Western Cape. Bursaries are awarded for a degree or diploma in transport, engineering, the built environment, or other disciplines the Department deems scarce and critical. The programme partners with universities, NGOs, and professional bodies to give students not just funding, but a genuine pathway into professional practice.

Disciplines Covered

Bursaries are available for studies in the following fields:

• Property Studies
• Geomatics
• Electrical and/or Electronic Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Construction Management
• Mechanical Engineering
• Quantity Surveying
• Town/City and Regional Planning
• Architecture

Eligible Institutions

Applicants may only apply to study at one of the following:

• Cape Peninsula University of Technology
• University of Cape Town
• Stellenbosch University

Who Should Apply

The programme prioritises disadvantaged learners, with particular focus on women, students with disabilities, and learners from rural communities. Successful bursars receive comprehensive support services throughout their studies, and the programme actively secures both internship placements and employment opportunities for graduates once they complete their qualifications.

What You’ll Gain

• Full financial support for a degree or diploma in a scarce and critical skills field
• Access to structured student support programmes
• Guaranteed learning and internship opportunities as a Masakh’iSizwe bursar
• A clear pathway to employment upon graduation
• Professional development support in your chosen discipline

How to Apply

Applicants must complete the online application in full and submit all required supporting documents. Applications close on 31 August.

Required reading before applying:

• Masakh’iSizwe Advert 2027
• Supporting Documents Requirements
• Bursary Policy
• Placement Policy

Why This Matters

South Africa faces a well-documented shortage of skilled engineers, planners, and built-environment professionals. The Masakh’iSizwe Bursary Programme exists to close that gap — not just by funding a degree, but by walking with students from first year through to their first job. If you’re a Western Cape learner with your sights set on engineering, planning, architecture, or the built environment, this is a fully-backed route into a scarce-skills career with real employment prospects at the end of it.

Don’t miss the deadline — applications close 31 August.

APPLY NOW

For full programme details, visit:
https://www.westerncape.gov.za/infrastructure/service/masakhisizwe-bursary-programme