KPMG Bursary 2027: CA(SA) Students Can Apply for Funding Before 30 October
South African students pursuing a career as a Chartered Accountant [CA(SA)] can apply for the KPMG Bursary Programme for the 2027 academic year, with applications currently open for qualifying students studying towards a SAICA-recognised qualification.
The KPMG bursary programme is designed for academically strong students studying full-time and offers two funding routes: a Pure Merit Bursary, based primarily on academic performance, and a Merit Bursary with Financial Need, aimed at students who also require financial assistance.
Current South African bursary listings give 30 October 2026 as the closing date for the 2027 programme. However, KPMG’s live bursary page currently confirms that applications are open without displaying that specific deadline, so applicants should verify the deadline on the official application platform before submitting.
For students committed to the CA(SA) route, the opportunity is particularly significant because KPMG’s bursary arrangements are linked to a potential training-contract pathway after completion of the required studies.
KPMG Bursary 2027 at a Glance
| Bursary detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Provider | KPMG South Africa |
| Programme | KPMG Bursary Programme 2027 |
| Study area | SAICA-recognised Chartered Accountancy pathway |
| Study level | Undergraduate and CTA-related study, subject to requirements |
| Study mode | Full-time |
| Bursary options | Pure Merit; Merit with Financial Need |
| Minimum matric achievement | 4 A symbols excluding Life Orientation |
| First year | 65% average; 70% Accounting |
| Second year | 65% average; 65% Accounting |
| Third year | 60% average; 60% Accounting |
| Honours/CTA | 50% average; 55% Accounting |
| Closing date reported by current listings | 30 October 2026 |
| Official bursary page | KPMG South Africa |
The academic requirements are based on KPMG’s current bursary information and requirements document.
What Is the KPMG Bursary Programme?
The KPMG Bursary Programme supports students pursuing a SAICA-recognised qualification with the intention of becoming Chartered Accountants.
KPMG currently offers two bursary categories:
1. Pure Merit Bursary
This bursary is awarded based on academic performance.
Students must be studying a SAICA-recognised degree full-time and must progress through their qualification within the minimum prescribed period.
Useful Links:
2. Merit Bursary With Financial Need
This option is aimed at academically strong students who also require financial assistance.
KPMG assesses the supporting financial documentation to determine whether the applicant qualifies for the financial-need category.
The existence of two routes is important because students should not assume that the programme is based solely on household income. Strong academic performance remains a core part of the eligibility criteria.
Who Can Apply for the KPMG Bursary?
The key requirement is that applicants must be studying full-time towards a SAICA-recognised qualification and must complete the qualification within the minimum number of years.
KPMG’s published requirements specify different academic thresholds depending on the student’s stage of study.
Applicants should therefore assess themselves according to their current academic level rather than applying based only on their matric results.
KPMG Bursary Academic Requirements
KPMG sets different minimum academic requirements for students at different stages of their studies.
Matric Applicants
Applicants at matric level must have achieved:
Four A symbols excluding Life Orientation, according to KPMG’s bursary policy.
This is a highly competitive academic threshold and means the programme is aimed at students who have demonstrated strong performance at school.
First-Year Students
First-year students must achieve:
- 65% overall average
- 70% Accounting
These requirements apply to the relevant academic year.
Second-Year Students
Second-year applicants must achieve:
- 65% overall average
- 65% Accounting
Third-Year Students
Third-year applicants must achieve:
- 60% overall average
- 60% Accounting
Honours or CTA Students
For Honours/CTA-level study, KPMG lists:
- 50% overall average
- 55% Accounting
These thresholds show that KPMG considers both overall academic performance and Accounting performance when assessing applicants.
What Qualification Must You Study?
The bursary is intended for students studying towards a SAICA-recognised qualification leading to the Chartered Accountant pathway.
This is not a general bursary for any university course.
Before applying, students should confirm that their degree and institution meet the relevant SAICA recognition requirements.
The safest approach is to verify the qualification before completing the application rather than assuming that any BCom or finance-related programme qualifies.
Does KPMG Fund Accounting Students?
Yes, the programme is specifically designed around students pursuing the Chartered Accountancy/CA(SA) pathway through a SAICA-recognised qualification.
Students interested in becoming CAs(SA) should therefore consider whether their current academic route is aligned with the professional requirements for the designation.
The CA(SA) route is academically demanding, so students should view the bursary as support for a long-term professional pathway rather than simply a source of university funding.
What Does the Bursary Cover?
KPMG describes its programme as providing bursary support and states that the amount awarded is determined by KPMG.
The company reserves the right to determine whether a student receives the Pure Merit Bursary or the Merit Bursary with Financial Need, as well as the amount awarded. Continued awards can also depend on satisfactory academic progress and the availability of funds.
For this reason, applicants should not publish or rely on an unverified fixed rand amount.
The actual support should be confirmed through KPMG’s bursary process and the bursary agreement offered to successful candidates.
What Documents Are Required?
KPMG requires applicants to submit supporting documentation with their applications.
For the Pure Merit Bursary, the published requirements include documents such as:
- Student identity document
- Matric certificate
- Latest academic record
- Proof of registration
- Updated university fee statement
Applicants applying under the financial-need category may additionally need financial documentation, including:
- Parents’ or guardians’ payslips
- Recent bank statements
- Affidavits where applicable
- Proof relating to absent or deceased parents/guardians where relevant
- Utility documentation
- Other supporting financial information requested by KPMG
Applicants should follow the exact document checklist displayed during the current application process.
KPMG Bursary and Financial Need
The financial-need option is particularly relevant for students who have strong academic results but face difficulty meeting university costs.
KPMG’s documentation requirements show that financial circumstances can be assessed using supporting evidence such as household income and bank statements.
Students applying for this category should prepare their financial documents early.
A common mistake is waiting until the application deadline before requesting documents from parents or guardians. This can create unnecessary delays.
Does the KPMG Bursary Lead to Employment?
There is an important career component to the programme.
KPMG states that the bursary contract is subject to the student entering into a learnership/training contract with KPMG after completing their studies at a SAICA-accredited university and obtaining the relevant CTA/GDA qualification.
This means the bursary can form part of a broader pathway towards professional training with KPMG.
However, applicants should read the bursary and training-contract conditions carefully rather than interpreting the bursary as an unconditional guarantee of permanent employment.
Why the KPMG Bursary Matters for CA(SA) Students
Becoming a Chartered Accountant requires sustained academic performance and professional training.
University costs can create a significant financial barrier, particularly for students who need additional support beyond tuition.
KPMG’s two bursary categories recognise both academic merit and financial need, potentially allowing strong students from different financial circumstances to access support.
The programme also has a professional-development dimension because of the relationship between the bursary and KPMG’s training-contract pathway.
For a student already committed to becoming a CA(SA), that connection can be more valuable than simply receiving financial assistance for one academic year.
How to Strengthen Your KPMG Bursary Application
Meeting the minimum requirements should be viewed as the starting point.
Applicants can improve the quality of their application by ensuring that:
Your academic information is accurate
Do not estimate marks or enter information that does not correspond with official academic records.
Your documents are clear
Poor-quality scans can make documents difficult to verify.
Your academic record is current
University students should use their latest available academic results and proof of registration.
Your qualification is correctly identified
Confirm that your degree is SAICA-recognised and that you are following the appropriate CA(SA) pathway.
Financial-need applicants prepare early
If applying for the financial-need option, collect household financial documents before starting the application.
How to Apply for the KPMG Bursary 2027
Applicants should use KPMG South Africa’s official bursary platform.
Step-by-step application process
- Visit the official KPMG South Africa bursaries page.
- Read the eligibility requirements carefully.
- Confirm that your qualification is SAICA-recognised.
- Check the academic requirement applicable to your current study year.
- Prepare your identity, academic and registration documents.
- Prepare financial documents if applying for the financial-need bursary.
- Complete the online application.
- Upload the requested supporting documents.
- Review your information carefully.
- Submit the application through the official KPMG platform.
Official application page: KPMG South Africa Bursaries
KPMG’s live page currently states that bursary applications are open.
KPMG Bursary Closing Date
The 30 October 2026 closing date is currently reported by South African bursary directories and the published KPMG bursary listing used for the 2027 intake.
However, KPMG’s current official bursary page does not display the date in the information currently visible on the page.
Publishing recommendation: applicants should verify the deadline on KPMG’s live application system before submitting.
Do not wait until the final day.
Is the KPMG Bursary Only for Students in Gauteng?
The bursary is not presented by KPMG’s official page as a Gauteng-only programme. The programme is associated with SAICA-recognised study and the current South African bursary listings describe it as available to qualifying students studying at SAICA-accredited universities in South Africa.
Students should focus on the academic and programme requirements rather than assuming that they need to live in Johannesburg or another specific province.
Important Scam Warning
Bursary applicants should be cautious when dealing with unofficial recruiters or individuals who claim they can guarantee funding.
Use KPMG’s official website and application platform when submitting your personal information.
Do not pay someone simply because they promise to secure a KPMG bursary.
Applicants should also avoid sharing sensitive banking credentials, passwords or one-time PINs with third parties.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the KPMG Bursary 2027?
It is a bursary programme for students studying full-time towards a SAICA-recognised qualification and pursuing the Chartered Accountant pathway.
What are the KPMG bursary options?
KPMG offers a Pure Merit Bursary and a Merit Bursary with Financial Need.
What marks are required?
Matric applicants need four A symbols excluding Life Orientation. University requirements vary by year, from 65% overall/70% Accounting in first year to 50% overall/55% Accounting at Honours/CTA level.
Can first-year students apply?
Yes, provided they meet KPMG’s qualification and academic requirements.
Does KPMG require full-time study?
Yes. KPMG states that applicants must be studying a SAICA-recognised degree full-time.
Does the bursary guarantee a job?
No unconditional permanent-employment guarantee should be assumed. KPMG states that the bursary contract is subject to entering into a learnership/training contract after completion of the required studies and CTA/GDA qualification.
When does the bursary close?
Current South African listings give 30 October 2026 as the closing date, but applicants should confirm this on KPMG’s official application platform because the live KPMG bursary page currently shows applications as open without displaying that date.
Where can I apply?
Applications are handled through KPMG South Africa’s official bursary page.
Editorial Transparency
This article was prepared using KPMG South Africa’s current bursary page and KPMG’s published bursary requirements documents as the primary sources.
The 30 October 2026 deadline is included because it is currently reported by South African bursary listings for the 2027 intake. Because KPMG’s live page does not currently display that date, readers are advised to verify the deadline directly on KPMG’s application platform before applying.
The article does not state a fixed bursary rand value because KPMG says it determines the amount awarded and reserves the right to determine the award based on the relevant bursary category, academic progress and available funds.
Publication date: 1 September 2026
Academic year: 2027
Provider: KPMG South Africa
Programme: KPMG Bursary Programme
Closing date currently reported: 30 October 2026
Primary source: KPMG South Africa
Final Takeaway
The KPMG Bursary 2027 is a strong opportunity for academically high-performing South African students who are committed to the CA(SA) career path.
Unlike a general bursary that accepts multiple fields of study, KPMG’s programme is specifically built around SAICA-recognised qualifications, with demanding academic thresholds in Accounting and overall performance.
The two bursary options—Pure Merit and Merit with Financial Need—give qualifying students different routes to financial support.
Students should prepare their academic records, registration documents and, where applicable, household financial documents well before the deadline.
Current listings report 30 October 2026 as the closing date, but applicants should confirm the date on KPMG’s official application platform before submitting.
Sources and References
- KPMG South Africa — Bursaries.
- KPMG South Africa — Bursary Requirements.
- KPMG South Africa — Types of Bursaries.
- Current South African bursary listing reporting the 30 October 2026 deadline.
