Zimbabwean's Guide to NWU Postgrad Engineering Bursaries

If you’re a Zimbabwean engineering graduate eyeing postgrad studies, your biggest blocker likely isn’t academic readiness—it’s funding. Tuition, research costs, accommodation, visas, and day-to-day living expenses add up fast, and that can make applying feel risky before you even start. If you want to study in South Africa as an international student, knowing your funding options early is your power move. 

Eyeing out some of the top universities for engineering in South Africa? North-West University (NWU) is right up there. And our available internal and external postgrad bursaries help turn “I’d love to” into “I’ve applied.”

NWU’s Faculty of Engineering combines strong academic credibility with applied, industry-relevant research. For students focused on impact, employability, and future-proof skills, this matters.

 

Why NWU for Postgraduate Engineering? 

NWU’s Faculty of Engineering is respected for applied research, innovation, and real-world impact. 

Our postgraduate programmes span areas like electrical, mechanical, chemical, civil, and computer engineering, with research that speaks directly to infrastructure, energy, manufacturing, and digital transformation challenges on the African continent.

 

NWU is:

  • Recognised among the top universities for engineering in South Africa for research output and applied innovation
     
  • Offers a team of experienced supervisors, access to well-equipped laboratories, 17 NRF-rated researchers, 99 academic staff, and 117 support staff (as of April 2025)
     
  • An affordable option in comparison to alternatives, proving more manageable for those planning to study in South Africa as international students.

 

NWU’s postgraduate engineering programmes are designed for students who want their research to matter—not just academically, but economically and socially too.

 

 

Funding Reality Check: What Options Actually Exist? 

If you’re like most postgraduate students, you don’t rely on a single funding source. Combining internal and external postgrad bursaries, and sometimes loans, is not uncommon as a coping method to make the numbers work. 

 

Here are the most relevant options for Zimbabwean students considering NWU:

 

#1 NWU Postgraduate Bursary Scheme

NWU has an internal Postgraduate Bursary Scheme designed to support high-performing master’s and PhD students. These postgrad bursaries are awarded based on academic merit and can help cover tuition fees, with some support for living expenses.

If you’re accepted into a postgraduate programme at NWU, you’re automatically considered for Honours, Master’s, and Doctoral bursaries—no extra application needed. The only exception is the recently introduced Full-Cost Master’s and PhD Bursary, which does require a separate application.

 

Find NWU internal bursary guidelines and application details.

 

#2 NWU Full Cost Masters & PhD Bursary

NWU’s full-cost bursary for master’s and doctoral students is aimed at candidates who meet specific financial and academic criteria.

Eligibility criteria include: 

  • Household income of less than R600 000 per year
  • Minimum 70% average for your most recent qualification (or a written motivation if below 70%)
  • Must be registered as a full-time Master’s or PhD student
  • May not hold another full-cost bursary (any other NWU bursaries will be deducted)
  • Open to students from SADC countries and permanent South African residents

 

To understand other bursary conditions, click here. 

To apply, email your most recent academic transcript together with proof of household income to finance@nwu.ac.za 

 

#3 Probe Integrated Mining Technologies (IMT) External Bursary

The Probe IMT Bursary is offered to students pursuing careers within the Probe Integrated Mining Technologies sector under the following engineering-related fields:

  • Electrical engineering (light current)
  • Software engineering
  • Mechatronic engineering

 

Explore the Probe IMT bursary guidelines and requirements here.

 

#4 Other External Postgraduate Funding

  • The National Research Foundation (NRF) offers partial postgraduate funding in STEM fields, including engineering, at honours, master’s, and PhD levels. Some funding calls are open to international students, particularly from SADC countries, depending on the specific programme and research focus. Students must have a strong academic performance and a clear research proposal aligned with national research priorities. 
  • The Mandela Rhodes Scholarship is open to African citizens (including Zimbabweans) pursuing postgraduate studies at South African universities. Selection is highly competitive and based on academic excellence, leadership potential, and personal impact.  
  • The South African National Space Agency (SANSA) offers bursaries in science, engineering, and technology-adjacent fields. Eligibility depends on alignment with SANSA’s research and skills priorities. Some opportunities may be open to non-South African students, particularly at postgraduate level.

 

Complete your Master’s or Doctoral Pre-Application form now.

 

How This Makes Studying at NWU More Achievable

 

Let’s face facts —postgraduate engineering is an investment, and you feel it in your bank balance first. But when you combine internal postgrad bursaries with external funding, you can seriously cut down upfront costs and ease the financial pressure.

If you’re a Zimbabwean graduate weighing up the top universities for engineering in South Africa, this layered funding approach makes NWU a smart, strategic choice—not just a dream school you bookmark for later.

 

Practical Tips Before You Apply 

 

Ready to Slay Your Postgrad Degree?

If engineering is in your lane and postgrad is the goal, NWU gives you both academic credibility and real funding pathways. With respected programmes and multiple postgrad bursaries, there’s no need to hit pause on your plans.

Move forward with intention. Apply for one of NWU’s postgraduate engineering programmes now.