NSFAS, Bursaries & Funding Your Internship Abroad

6 min read·March 2026

One of the first questions SA students ask is: "Can I use my NSFAS bursary for an internship abroad?" The honest answer is no — NSFAS does not cover international placements or living costs outside South Africa. But before you close this tab, there are real, working funding options that many SA students successfully use every year.

What NSFAS Covers (and Doesn't)

NSFAS covers tuition, accommodation, transport, and living allowances for eligible students studying at South African public universities. It is explicitly limited to South African study destinations. An international internship — even one required for your degree — falls outside NSFAS funding scope.

What this means: If you're NSFAS-funded, you'll need a separate funding strategy for an international placement. The options below are specifically relevant to you.

1. Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility (ICM)

This is the most underused funding option for SA students. Erasmus+ ICM is an EU-funded exchange program that provides grants to students from partner countries (including South Africa) to study or do internships at European universities or companies.

Monthly grant: EUR 700–850 (approximately R14,000–R17,000/month) — which covers significant living costs in Barcelona, Lisbon, or other EU destinations

Who's eligible: Students at SA universities that have signed Erasmus+ ICM agreements with EU institutions. Currently includes UCT, Wits, Stellenbosch, UP, UJ, UKZN, and others

How to access it: Contact your university's International Office. Ask specifically about Erasmus+ ICM grants for internships (not just study exchanges)

Key deadline: Applications typically open 9–12 months before the intended departure semester

2. University Mobility Bursaries

Many SA universities have their own international mobility funds — separate from NSFAS — that support students going abroad. These are surprisingly underpublicised and undersubscribed.

• UCT: Global Citizenship Programme and various faculty bursaries
• Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University International (SUI) mobility grants
• Wits: Wits International Office bursaries for outgoing students
• UP: UP International Mobility awards

Typical grant amounts: R10,000–R30,000 one-off, depending on destination and duration

How to access: Contact your faculty's international office. Ask about "outgoing mobility grants" and "WIL abroad funding"

3. Working Holiday Visas — Work While You Intern

This is the funding strategy most SA students don't know about. Several countries offer Working Holiday Visas to South African citizens, allowing you to legally work part-time while doing your internship. You supplement your living costs with a weekend or evening job.

• Australia: Working Holiday Visa (WHV), age 18–30. 12 months, renewable. Popular for hospitality, tourism, conservation
• New Zealand: Working Holiday Visa, 12 months
• UK: Youth Mobility Scheme, age 18–30. 2 years. Allows full work rights alongside an internship
• Germany: Working Holiday Programme, 12 months
• Ireland: Working Holiday Authorisation, 12 months

Realistic supplement income: R5,000–R12,000/month depending on country and hours. Enough to cover most living costs in the right destination.

4. Employer Stipends and Contributions

Many internship host companies offer some form of compensation — particularly in higher-cost destinations where unpaid internships are either illegal or culturally unusual.

• Dubai: Many companies provide transport allowances (AED 500–1,500/month) or accommodation. Finance and hospitality companies often offer the most
• Singapore: SGD 800–1,500/month stipend is common for business internships
• London: UK internships under 4 weeks technically must pay minimum wage for "workers" — many companies offer London Living Wage (~GBP 12.15/hour)
• Bali/Bangkok: Stipends rare, but accommodation sometimes provided

When we negotiate placements for Full Service clients, we specifically flag companies that offer stipends or accommodation contributions.

5. Personal Savings and Family Support

For most SA students, personal savings and family support remains the primary funding source. If this is your plan, start early:

• Set a monthly savings target 12 months before departure
• Consider a FNB, Standard Bank, or Capitec forex/travel card — better rates than exchanging cash
• Book flights 3–4 months in advance for best rates
• Budget conservatively: use the higher end of our destination cost ranges

6. Corporate Bursary Schemes

Several large SA companies offer bursaries that include funding for international exposure. If you're sponsored by a company (Deloitte, KPMG, Old Mutual, Standard Bank, etc.), ask your bursary coordinator explicitly whether international internship funding is available. Answers vary significantly by company and faculty.

Combining Funding Sources

The students who successfully fund international internships usually combine two or three sources. A common winning combination:

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