FirstRand Foundation Scholarships provides scholarships for international studies of South Africans towards their Masters or PhD in the field of their choice.
The FirstRand Foundation scholarship is available to previously disadvantaged South African citizens for postgraduate studies outside South Africa, in any discipline, at an international university of their choice. The successful candidates will have excelled academically in their chosen field and will have been able to demontrate: leadership qualities, strength of character, community involvement and potential to be a destiny changer in his or her chosen field.
The FirstRand Foundation's mandate is to empower communities to be active participants in the broader South African economy by enabling financial inclusion, building resilient communities, investing in lifelong learning and facilitating enabling environments.
Scholarship value
The value of the FirstRand Foundation scholarship is R 1,5 million for a Master programme and R 2 million for a PhD programme.
Expand your understanding of mathematics to tackle challenging issues in a variety of sectors. This Master’s teaches you to discover new patterns and predict them through mathematical models.
Deepen your understanding of the laws of physics to find technical solutions in a wide range of areas such as IT, sustainability, healthcare, chip design, digitalisation, finance, space and more.
Do you want to improve healthcare with technological innovations? In this Master’s, you’ll design smart solutions – from artificial hearts to advanced diagnostics.
In today’s evolving world it makes no sense to do business as usual. This Master’s turns you into an innovative, entrepreneurial business leader who prepares businesses for the challenges of tomorrow.
Become an expert in IT-based business innovation, able to devise new services and radically improve the way businesses work.
Spatial context is relevant to challenges in all kinds of fields. In this joint degree, you will deepen your knowledge of cartography and geovisualisation at four different universities.
Develop new chemical processes, materials and molecules and contribute to innovations that benefit our society in areas such as health, water, food and sustainability.
Do you want to work on future-proof solutions in the construction, water and/or transport sector? Learn to manage civil engineering projects with an eye for both technical and non-technical aspects.
Are you interested in human behaviour, social change and communication? In this Master's, you will learn to develop communication strategies for brands, governments and other organisations.
Become an expert computer scientist and learn to solve the biggest challenges of our digital society by designing and developing more secure and efficient ICT systems.
Become an expert in managing large-scale, complex construction projects in an increasingly digitised industry, using an innovative, integral approach.
Are you fascinated by learning, but not necessarily dreaming of becoming a teacher? Engage in educational breakthroughs in schools and/or organisations as a researcher, designer or consultant.
Design smart and sustainable electronic systems for robotics, telecommunications, biomedical applications, nano and energy technologies. Shape the future of electronics!
Become an expert in designing the software and hardware of complex embedded systems in vehicles, pacemakers and chipsets, amongst others.
The one-year, English-taught Master's in Environmental & Energy Management will equip you to lead, manage and govern socio-technological change processes related to energy, water and the environment.
Managing Europe is a complex challenge. This Master’s gives you the expertise to operate in this fascinating environment where various levels of government come together.
Contribute to solving some of the world's most pressing challenges by mastering the acquisition, analysis, and processing of geo-information data.
Learn how to use advanced geospatial data and modern technology to find solutions to challenges in urban planning, agriculture, and natural ecosystems.
Want to study geo-information management in a flexible programme? In this joint degree by four top Dutch universities, you will use spatial data and analysis to solve real-world challenges.
Want to study geo-information management in a flexible programme? In this joint degree by four top Dutch universities, you will use spatial data and analysis to solve real-world challenges.
Want to improve the quality of healthcare and public health? This Master’s focuses on healthcare policy and organisation, with specific attention to the role of technology.
Do you want to tackle complex humanitarian challenges and crises worldwide? In this Master's, you will develop sustainable, technical solutions, combining technical and socio-cultural knowledge.
Do you want to design innovative products that can enrich everyday life? In this Master’s, you combine design and engineering to optimise not only products, but also product development.
Combine technical expertise with management skills to analyse, improve, and future-proof complex business processes in (international) organisations.
Delve into the field of human-computer interaction and design and develop interactive technologies that are meaningful to people and society.
Become an expert mechanical engineer who focuses on the futureproof design, analysis and maintenance of machinery, structures, products and production processes.
Tackle big challenges on the tiniest scale: become an expert in nanotechnology and develop smart, innovative solutions for major societal issues in healthcare, ICT and sustainability.
How does technology shape our lives and the world we live in? Learn to understand the role of modern technology in our society from a philosophical perspective.
Understanding our world starts with understanding people. Learn how to influence human behaviour—from building trust in new technology and promoting mental health to preventing criminal behaviour.
Do you want to understand the role of governments in themes like climate, healthcare, security, and sustainability? Learn to address today’s key political, societal, and technological challenges.
Become an expert in robotics: design smart, human-centred robots and combine AI, mechatronics, systems integration and ethics to make a real impact in industry and society.
Share your knowledge of science subjects in school! This Dutch-taught teacher education programme will equip you to become a teacher in secondary (Dutch) education.
Natural disasters, poverty, food shortages, epidemics, and climate change: learn to tackle society’s greatest and complex challenges using spatial data and technical and socio-economic knowledge.
Work towards the energy transition! In this Master's, you will learn to conceive, develop and apply sustainable energy solutions for a future without fossil fuels.
This Dutch-taught Master's equips you to use AI, medical imaging and smart sensors to improve diagnoses, personalise treatments and safely apply technology in clinical practice.
Water scarcity, pollution and waste are pressing global challenges. In this Master’s, you will learn to develop sustainable solutions using microbiology, chemistry and engineering.
Countries eligible for this scholarship
- South Africa
Application requirements
Candidates are required to:
- preference will be given to candidates under the age of 35
- candidates should provide a unconditional academic admission letter of the University of Twente.
- candidates who are currently, or have been, studying overseas for degree purposes will not be considered for this scholarship
- successful candidates are required to return to South Africa for at least five years after completing their overseas studies