EY South Africa Bursary for Chartered Accountancy Students

The EY South Africa Bursary supports students pursuing Chartered Accountancy (CA) studies, offering financial aid in exchange for a commitment to work at EY upon graduation. This programme targets matriculants and university students with demonstrated academic merit and financial need, aiming to develop future Chartered Accountants. The bursary covers tuition, accommodation, books, meals, or a combination thereof, with a minimum three-year obligation to work at EY after completing training. Two types of bursaries are available: Academic Merit with Financial Need and Academic Merit (partial tuition coverage).

What it offers

• Financial support for tuition, accommodation, books, meals, or a mix of these, depending on the bursary type.
• Training contract with EY, requiring a minimum three-year commitment post-graduation to work as a Chartered Accountant.
• Structured career progression through roles as assistant, senior, and supervisor during the training contract.
• Exposure to financial analysis, risk evaluation, and client advisory as part of professional development.

Who can apply

• Matriculants: Must have completed Grade 11 and submitted Grade 11 full report + Grade 12 Term 1/2 results, along with proof of financial need (parents’ payslip or affidavit).
• University applicants: Must provide a certified matric certificate, full academic record (including 2026 mid-year results), certified ID, parents’ payslip/affidavit, and a 3-month bank statement.
• Academic merit required: Demonstrated ability to qualify as a Chartered Accountant.
• Financial need: Must prove inability to cover tuition/accommodation independently.

What you'll do

• Attend university while receiving bursary support.
• Complete a three-year training contract at EY, progressing through roles: assistant (Year 1), senior (Year 2), supervisor (Year 3).
• Pass Qualifying Exams 1 and 2 (Initial Assessment of Competence and Assessment of Professional Competence) during training.
• Register with SAICA (South African Institute of Chartered Accountants) upon completion.
• Contribute to client teams, analyze financial data, and advise on business risks.

How to apply

1. Submit a merged PDF combining your CV, transcript, matric certificate (if matriculant), and photo ID via the EY application portal.
2. Upload additional documents under the ‘Additional Optional Attachment’ tab:
   • For matriculants: Grade 11/12 results, parents’ payslip/affidavit, certified ID.
   • For university applicants: Full academic record, 3-month bank statement, certified ID.
3. Submit proof of financial need (parents’ payslip or affidavit).
4. Applications open from July 1, 2026, to September 30, 2026 (exact deadline not explicitly stated in source but implied by timeline).

Good to know

• Bursaries are awarded based on academic merit and financial need.
• No explicit stipend or salary is mentioned—benefits are tuition/accommodation support only.
• Language: English proficiency is assumed (required for CA studies).
• Location: Entirely South Africa-based (no international relocation).
• No prior work experience is required for matriculant applicants.
• SAICA registration is mandatory upon graduation.
• EY’s commitment: Guarantees a three-year training contract if the student qualifies as a CA.