Rising college tuition costs pose a significant challenge for future students and their families. Financial trends, the lengthy graduation process, operating expenses, and other fees all contribute to the growing financial burden on students.
Are you one of these students? No worries. You are on the right page.
Many Bursary programmes have been launched to provide financial assistance to students from low-income families and help them achieve their goals. Gibela Bursary is one of the bursary programmes available for South African students. It is designed to provide aspiring students with valuable options to continue their higher studies and reach their academic goals.
In this article, we will explore more about the Gibela Bursary 2026, its application process, eligibility requirements, allowances provided by this bursary, and more.
Table of Contents
What is the Gibela Bursary?
Gibela, a joint venture between South African and French railway rolling stock manufacturers, was established as an association among Alstom, New Africa Rail, and Ubumbano Rail.
Gibela Bursary provides financial assistance to students who enrol in, or intend to pursue, higher education at the University of Technology and TVET colleges. This bursary was established in 2015 to provide financial support to more than 2,800 students by 2026. According to records, Gibela has provided around 1,181 bursaries to date.
This bursary is dedicated to providing resources to upskill professionals in the construction of trains at the South African Passenger Rail Agency, ensuring they continue to develop their careers and achieve success
Fields Covered by Gibela Bursary
The different types of disciplines this bursary provides funds for vary for both TVET college and University of Technology students:
The types of disciplines this bursary provides funding for TVET students are:
| Welders | Boiler-makers |
| Plumbers | Pattern-makers |
| Millwright | Vehicle Builders |
| Mechanics | Fitters and Turners |
| Electricians | Control and Instrumentation Technicians |
Types of disciplines this bursary provides funding for University of Technology students are:
- Accounting
- Computer Science
- Information Technology
- Supply Chain and Logistics Management
- Engineering in Electrical, Electronic, Industrial and Metallurgical streams.
Based on academic performance, bursaries are provided and renewed annually.
What are the Key Allowances Provided by the Gibela Bursary?
This bursary is granted for one year and renewed annually for the duration of the programme. It is usually awarded to students based on their academic performance.
The Gibela Bursary will provide full financial assistance to students who are enroled or intend to continue their higher education at TVET College or the University of Technology Studies.
- Students pursuing studies at TVET College are covered for all education expenses, including tuition and study materials.
- Students pursuing their studies at the University of Technology Studies are provided with all education expenses, including tuition fees, study materials, accommodation, and food allowances.
Gibela Bursary Requirements: Eligibility
Eligibility criteria differ for students pursuing higher education at TVET Colleges or the University of Technology Studies.
Here are the general requirements for getting a bursary in South Africa.
The eligibility criteria for the TVET College:
- Applicant must be a South African citizen
- Applicant must have excellent academic records
- Applicant must have completed Matric or class 12
- Applicant must be from a poor financial background
- Applicant must be able to show potential for academic success
- Applicant must have scored a minimum result of level 4 for English, Mathematics, and Science subjects in the Matric exam.
- Applicant must be enroled or intend on enroling towards a qualification in one of the fields listed above
- Applicant must be studying or have been accepted to study at a recognised and accredited Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institution in South Africa.
The eligibility criteria for the University of Technology Studies:
- Applicant must be a South African citizen
- Applicant must have excellent academic records
- Applicant must have completed Matric or class 12
- Applicant must have an excellent academic record
- Applicant must be from a poor or low-income family
- Applicant must be able to show a prospect for academic success
- Applicant must be enroled or intend to study towards a qualification in one of the fields listed above
- Applicant must have achieved a minimum result of level 6 for Accounting, Mathematics and Physical Science and level 5 for English in Matric.
- Applicant must be studying or have been accepted to study at a recognised and accredited University or University of Technology in South Africa.
Gibela Bursary Online Application Process
Applicants applying for this bursary in 2026 must submit the completed application and required documentation by mail or fax.
Some of these supporting documents are:
- Applicant’s ID proof
- A proof of residence
- A certified copy of all academic records
- Proof of income-latest payslips or employment letter.
- For TVET in South Africa, the applicant needs to provide proof of admission from the college on letterhead.
- For the University of Technology Studies, the applicant must provide proof of admission from the university, on letterhead.
*Note: All the documents mentioned above should be certified.
As mentioned earlier, applicants are required to send the appropriate document to either of the following:
Fax it to 086 246 2666 Or Email: gibelabursaries@communityrail.co.za.
Note: In the subject line, the applicant should clearly mention whether to apply for the Gibela Bursary 2026 University or the TVET.
Gibela Bursary Closing Date
This bursary invites all unemployed applicants to apply for the upcoming academic year. The Gibela bursary closed on 2nd February 2026.
Applicants can contact the bursary’s official website directly for more information about the application closing date.
Gibela Bursary Contact Detail
For any inquiries regarding this bursary program, please reach out to Gibela directly:
Email: gibelabursaries@communityrail.co.za
Contact Person: Thenjiwe-Molly Mahlangu (Human Resources)
Phone: 010 600 0651
Email: recruitment1@gibela-rail.com
Note: Please refrain from contacting Gibela if the bursary application period has already closed.
Conclusion
The Gibela Bursary 2026 is primarily awarded to South African citizens with a South African bar-coded identity document who are enrolled in, or intend to enrol at, a University of Technology or a South African University. Students applying for this bursary must demonstrate potential for academic success and be financially challenged.
For more information on bursaries and education opportunities, visit Regenesys Education‘s Reginsights page now!
FAQs
What is Gibela?
Gibela is a Rail transport consortium organisation developed to provide financial assistance to students enrolled at the University of Technology and TVET College.
Who can apply for a bursary to enrol in TVET College?
N3 and N4 students are encouraged to apply for a bursary to enrol in the TVET College.
Who can apply for a bursary to enrol at the University and the University of Technology?
Applicants pursuing their first and second years of studies at the University and the University of Technology are encouraged to apply for the Gibela Bursary in 2026.
Is the Bursary provided annually?
Yes. The bursary is granted annually, and the applicant must renew it for the duration of the programme.
What are the Gibela Bursary allowances?
This Bursary provides allowances for full tuition, study materials, and food and accommodation.
