ABSA Fellowship Program

Are you between the ages of 18 and 25? Applications for the 2026 ABSA Fellowship Programme are now open! This transformative initiative is designed to foster entrepreneurship, leadership, and empower young talent to become changemakers in their communities and industries.

📖 About ABSA Fellowship

The ABSA Fellowship Programme is more than just an academic scholarship. It is a comprehensive initiative aimed at:

• Fostering entrepreneurship and leadership.
• Empowering young talent to drive growth and innovation in Africa.
• Supporting financial inclusion and sustainability.

Each year, 50 applicants who demonstrate potential, passion, and purpose are selected. These fellows are prepared to make a positive impact in their communities, advance sustainability, and become leaders in the private or public sectors or as entrepreneurs.

🎁 Benefits of ABSA Fellowship

Selected fellows will receive the following benefits:

• Full funding to study at public universities in South Africa.
• Coverage of academic costs, including:
  • Full tuition.
  • Meals.
  • University/university-approved accommodation.
  • Laptop, books, and educational equipment.
  • Monthly data and stipend.
  • Student medical aid cover (if required).
• Coverage of leadership programme costs, including:
  • Online masterclasses.
  • Assessments, learner modules, and guides.
  • Access to emotional wellness check-in sessions.
  • Academic tutoring and mentoring by ABSA leadership and industry experts.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

We are seeking young, emerging leaders who meet the following criteria:

• Age: Between 18 and 25 years old.
• Academic Record: A pass mark of 65% or higher is required.
  (Applicants may submit either their June 2025 preliminary results or final matric results.)
• Field of Study: Applicants must be enrolling as first-year undergraduate students at a public university in South Africa in 2026, pursuing a degree in:
  1. Commerce.
  2. Humanities and Social Sciences.
  3. Science (including health science, but excluding medical or veterinary studies), Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
  4. Creative Arts.
  5. Digital/Data Design.
• Important: Applications must be submitted in the name of the prospective student attending the tertiary institution, not in the name of a parent or guardian.

📝 Application Process

The application process consists of four phases:

Phase 1: Pre-Screening

Prospective students are pre-screened to determine if they meet the minimum requirements before progressing to the next phase.

Phase 2: Psychometric Assessment

Applicants who pass the pre-screening will receive a voucher code via email from Absafellowship@fundi.co.za to access the psychometric assessment.

Phase 3: Shortlisting

Applicants are shortlisted based on their psychometric assessment scores.

Phase 4: Interviews

Shortlisted applicants are invited for an interview.

Important Note

Applicants are urged to check their email frequently for updates, including their spam or junk folder, to avoid missing important information.

📅 Key Dates

• Date Published: September 4, 2025
• Application Deadline: September 10, 2025

🌍 Opportunity Details

• Category: Undergraduate, Fellowship, Training, Fully Funded.
• Location: South Africa.
• Sponsor Organisation: ABSA Group.

🔗 Application Portal

• View details of the ABSA Fellowship.
• Apply for the ABSA Fellowship.

Take this opportunity to become a leader and changemaker in your community. Apply now and turn possibilities into reality!

• The programme provides funding to students to study on a full-time basis at the public universities in South Africa.
• The Absa Fellowship covers the academic and leadership programme cost. The academic cost will include full tuition, meals, university/university-approved accommodation, laptop, books, education equipment, monthly data and stipend as well as student medical aid cover where required.
• The leadership programme cost will include online masterclasses, assessments, learner modules and guides, access to emotional-wellness check-in sessions, academic tutoring and mentoring by Absa’s leadership and other industry experts.