Mining Qualifications Authority Bursary Scheme for 2027

The Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA) is the Sector Education and Training Authority for the mining and minerals sector. Its bursary scheme supports students pursuing qualifications that develop skills needed in the sector at universities, universities of technology and TVET colleges.

For the 2027 academic year, the MQA has published an application window for people currently employed in the mining and minerals sector. It has also invited public universities, universities of technology and TVET colleges to apply for bursary funding on behalf of financially needy and academically deserving unemployed students. Unemployed applicants should therefore contact their institution to confirm whether it will submit an application on their behalf; they should not assume that the institutional funding window is a direct individual application.

The funding is aligned with the MQA Sector Skills Plan. A current MQA project notice identifies Mining Engineering at university level and artisan programmes such as Boilermaker, Motor Mechanic and Electrician at TVET colleges among the funded priorities. Applicants and institutions should check the live MQA notices for programme-specific rules and the current document requirements.

The MQA's 2027 application windows close on 19 November 2026. Late applications are not considered. The official bursary page provides separate application routes for employed bursars and institutional applications for unemployed bursars.