DSAC Heritage Bursary 2026: Application, Details & Requirements

DSAC Heritage Bursary 2026 Applications — Everything You Need to Know

If you’re planning to study a heritage-related course in 2026, the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) is officially accepting bursary applications. This bursary is open to undergraduate and postgraduate students studying at institutions registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training.

The bursary helps students who want to study fields linked to heritage, culture, archives, museums, indigenous knowledge, archaeology, and similar areas. If this is your area of interest, then this is one opportunity worth looking at.

Who Can Apply for  DSAC Heritage Bursary?

Let’s keep it simple — here’s what DSAC is looking for:

• You must be a South African citizen

• You must be 40 years old or younger

• You need at least 65% average in your studies

• Your course must be heritage related

• You must be a full-time student in 2026

• You can apply even if you’re working, as long as your yearly income is below R130 000

• You cannot be funded by another bursary

• You must study at a DHET-accredited institution

Fields of Study You Can Apply For

Here are the study areas DSAC will consider for 2026:

• Physical and Biological Anthropology

• Archaeology (including Maritime and Underwater Archaeology)

• Geography and Geomatics (including Cartography and GIS)

• Archives and Records Management

• Library and Information Sciences

• Conservation of the Built Environment

• Preventive Conservation (Postgrad level)

• Heritage and Museum Studies

• Curatorship and Preservation

• Palaeontology

• Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS)

• Courses that support and protect Indigenous Knowledge

• History

• Digitisation of Heritage Resources

• International Studies

• Maritime Archaeology

• Digital Archaeology

• Heritage Conservation and Preservation
  
  

Documents You Must Attach for DSAC Heritage Bursary Application

Make sure every certified document is not older than 3 months.

You must include:

• Certified South African ID

• Letter of provisional acceptance OR proof of registration (official letterhead only)

• Certified Matric certificate

• Certified latest academic results (for current tertiary students)

• Certified proof of household income

• Certified payslips (if employed)

• Proof of disability (if applicable)

• Affidavit confirming the authenticity of submitted income documents

Also look:

• Tomorrow Trust Bursary 2026: Application

• ISFAP Bursary 2026: Undergraduates & Postgraduates

Before You Apply, Ask Yourself:

• Have you been accepted (or provisionally accepted) for 2026?
  Is your course on the approved list above?

DSAC clearly states that applications outside these fields will be rejected. Also, if you received this bursary in 2025, you must apply again for 2026.

Only 45–50 students will be funded, so applying does not guarantee approval.

How to Apply for DSAC Heritage Bursary

You must apply online. Applications sent through email or any other method will not be accepted.

Apply here: DSAC Heritage Bursary 2026 Application

Closing date: 31 January 2026 Late applications will not be considered.

If you don’t hear back by 31 March 2026, your application was not successful.