FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• Does FirstRand offer scholarships for undergraduate or honours degrees?
  No, the FirstRand scholarships are for international postgraduate (Masters and PhD) study only.

• Does FirstRand offer scholarships for postgraduate degrees at South African universities?
  No, the FirstRand Scholarships are for international postgraduate study only.

• Do I have to apply to my international university of choice before I apply for this scholarship?
  Yes, the closing date for international universities is usually before the FirstRand scholarship closing date.
• What happens if I have not yet received my acceptance letter from my international university of choice before the FirstRand Scholarship closing date?
  We realise that many international universities only send out acceptance letters after the FirstRand scholarship application closing date. Please send your acceptance letter to firstrandpgscholarship@firstrand.co.za as soon as you receive it, before 11 April 2025.

• How many reference letters do I need to submit?
  You need to submit at least two reference letters and at least one needs to be a reference from an academic if you were at university less than six years ago. If you have been working for the past six or more years, you still need to submit two reference letters, but one does not have to be a reference from an academic.
• Will you contact my referees on my behalf?
  No, it is your responsibility to attach at least two reference letters to your application form. If your referee would like to submit a confidential reference, he/she can send it to firstrandpgscholarship@firstrand.co.za clearly marked as your reference. It is your responsibility to ensure that your referee sends the letter to us. We need to receive all reference letters before the closing date for applications.

• Which scholarship do I need to apply for?
  • If you wish to apply for the FirstRand Laurie Dippenaar or FirstRand Empowerment Foundation scholarships , please complete either of the application forms.
  • If you wish to apply for the FirstRand Oxford African Studies scholarship, the FirstRand Oxford Blavatnik School of Government scholarship or the FirstRand Oxford Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment scholarship, please complete the FirstRand University of Oxford partnerships application form.
  • If you wish to apply for the FirstRand IHE Delft Water Education scholarship, please complete the FirstRand IHE Delft partnership application form.

• Can I apply for these scholarships if I have studied overseas before for degree purposes?
  No, this scholarship is for first time overseas study only.
• Can I apply for this scholarship if I have participated in short courses overseas?
  Yes, if you were given the opportunity to study short courses overseas, but your overall degree was obtained from a South African university, you can apply for these scholarships.
• Can I apply for these scholarships if I have to start studying early in 2025?
  Yes, we realise that some international universities/courses start in January or February every year. If you make it onto our long list, we will interview you electronically on Microsoft Teams. But if you make it through to the final round of judging, you will have to come through to Sandton in person in May 2025.

• Can I apply for these scholarships if I wish to do a joint degree between a South African and International university?
  No, these scholarships are for full time international study only.

• Can I apply for these scholarships for part time or correspondence international study?
  No, these scholarships are for full-time international study only.

• Can I apply for these scholarships if I am not a South African citizen?
  No, these scholarships are for South African citizens only.

• If you are experiencing any technical issues, please send a screenshot of the error and a description of your error to: firstrandpgscholarship@firstrand.co.za

• What are the timelines for the 2025 FirstRand Scholarships?
  • Closing date of all applications is Thursday 20 February 2025.
  • Initial evaluations will be completed in March 2025.
  • Long list interviews will be held in Cape Town and Johannesburg or electronically on Microsoft Teams, in April 2025.
  • Up to eight shortlisted candidates will be selected for the
    • FirstRand Oxford African Studies scholarship,
    • FirstRand Oxford Blavatnik School of Government scholarship,
    • FirstRand Oxford Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment scholarship and
    • FirstRand IHE Delft Water Education scholarship and should be available for final interviews held in Sandton in May 2025.
  • Up to ten shortlisted candidates will be selected for the
    • FirstRand Laurie Dippenaar and
    • FirstRand Empowerment Foundation international postgraduate scholarships and should be available for final interviews held in Sandton in May 2025.
  • A final announcement will be made before the end of May 2025.