APPLICATIONS FOR BURSARY LOANS TO STUDY AT UNIVERSITIES IN THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR BEGINNING JANUARY 2027
Applications are invited from suitable Basotho candidates for Government of Lesotho bursary loans to pursue Bachelor’s Degrees, Honours, Master’s and PhD studies, based on the published 2025 Priority Areas of Study, on a full-time basis at selected sponsored public universities in the Republic of South Africa for January 2027.
REQUIREMENTS
- Completed NMDS Loan Bursary Application Form (available on the links provided below).
- Proof of application for all programmes applied for, which must only be programmes that are on the 2025 Priority Areas list and are for full-time study within the minimum duration at selected sponsored public universities.
- Original and certified copies of academic certificates and transcripts. Qualifications from international institutions (excluding institutions sponsored by NMDS) and private institutions should be evaluated.
- Original and certified copies of a valid National ID and a valid passport.
- Employer’s nomination letter for employed applicants. The letter must state the duration of employment.
- Previously sponsored applicants must have paid at least 50% of their Loan Bursary and cleared existing arrears, if any, and must submit proof of payment.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMMES
- Advanced Subsidiary (AS), Lesotho Advanced Secondary Certificate (LASC) and National Senior Certificate (NSC)/Matric (admissible into Bachelor’s Degree) with a minimum pass of C per subject and competitively meet the minimum entry requirements of the applied-for sponsored Priority Programme of Study.
- All students applying for MBChB Medicine must have attained a minimum of a B symbol in all their school-leaving subjects.
- A Level or IB Diploma that competitively meets the minimum entry requirements for the applied-for sponsored Priority Programme of Study.
- Completed competitive 1st year BSc from NUL for Science and Technology programmes. Applicants are invited to note that anyone who has completed beyond 1st year will be required to repay at full cost all expenses disbursed at the time of contracting.
- All 1st-year students with 1st Semester or full 1st-year academic results, and 2nd- to 3rd-year university-registered students with complete and passed results on priority programmes of study are eligible to apply.
- Complete passed results from recognised N5/N6/Certificate/Diploma/recognised bridging courses relevant and competitive to the Priority Programme of Study being applied for.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMMES
- 1st degree for Honours or Master’s from a recognised institution, relevant and competitive to the Priority Programme of Study applied for.
- Master’s degree for a PhD from a recognised institution, relevant and competitive to the Priority Programme of Study applied for.
APPLICANTS ARE ADVISED TO NOTE
- Applications are for programmes listed in the Priority Areas list and are for full-time study within the minimum duration stipulated in the institution’s rulebook. All applicants are advised to compare durations for programmes they wish to apply for across all sponsored institutions and apply for programmes where the minimum duration is most favourable. Please note that only mainstream full-time programmes are sponsored; therefore, bridging, extended or part-time programmes are not sponsored.
- The Fund bursary loan is competitive and merit-based; therefore, the best performance stands the best chance of being considered for the Loan Bursary.
APPLICATION FORMS AND RELEVANT LINKS
SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS
All application documents should be hand-delivered to the NMDS Scholarship Office from 1 September to 2 October 2026.
Applications are only attended to at 10:00 am.
DISCLAIMER
- All critical information pertaining to application conditions and requirements is printed and publicised. All questions regarding the application process should be forwarded to the Bursary Loan Application Office (Scholarship Office) ONLY. Any errors that will impact the applicant’s eligibility for sponsorship will be the liability of the applicant.
- Consideration of each bursary application is subject to the condition that the applicant has complied with and met all the requirements of this bursary.
- Acceptance of a bursary application does not oblige the award of a bursary to a student.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
PLEASE SUBMIT AT THE EARLIEST CONVENIENCE SO THAT YOU CAN ATTEND TO QUERIES BEFORE THE CLOSING DATE. IF YOU SUBMIT ON THE LAST DATE AND ARE QUERIED, YOU WILL MISS THE SUBMISSION DEADLINE AND MISS OUT ON THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY FOR SPONSORSHIP FOR 2027.