MQA Bursary 2025: Mining Qualifications Authority Funding

Bursary Name	MQA Mining Qualification Authority
Bursary Closing Date	November 30, 2024
Bursary Sponsor	Government (South African mining and mineral sector)
Funded Items	Tuition fee, Registration fee, Accommodation Fees, Books, Stationery, and a Toolkit Allowance.

Application Link

The MQA or Mining Qualification Authority is a South African branch of the mining and mineral sector that offers the MGA bursary to unemployed students. It is an excellent alternative for anyone who is studying towards a skill-based undergraduate degree and needs financial assistance to cover it.

Planning to apply for the MGA bursary 2025? Don’t know how to start? Here is a complete guide on the MGA bursary, its eligibility criteria, benefits, and complete application process; so keep on reading.

About the MGA Bursary 2025

Each year, the Mining Qualification Authority organizes vocational training through colleges and higher education institutions. The MQA bursary is one of them and is applied to all unemployed students currently enrolled in a Matric or Undergraduate degree program. This bursary offers an allowance for meals, books, accommodation, tuition fees, registration fees, and toolkits.

MGA Bursary Eligibility Criteria

To apply for the MGA bursary, the candidate must fulfill the following conditions.

The candidate must be a South African national.
The candidate must have completed their matric education or should be currently enrolled in matriculation.
The candidate must be studying towards or in an Undergraduate degree. Do note that the scholarship would not fund the postgraduate education.
The candidate must be studying in a public sector university, a TVET college, or the University of Technology in South Africa.
The candidate must be unemployed at the time of application. They are also not allowed to work through their studies.

Do consider that meeting these conditions does not necessarily mean that you will get a position on the merit list. Hence, preference will be given to the following candidates.

If there are any female candidates.
If the candidate belongs to a rural community.
If the candidate studies at the local tertiary institution.
If the candidate has a strong academic record.
If the candidate has some sort of physical disability.
If the candidate has financial needs (a yearly household income of R600,000 or less)

Fields Covered Under MQA Bursary

The MQA or Mining Qualifications Authority bursary opens for applications for each academic year. Each year, the bursary is provided to 1000 unemployed learners. Here are the following fields covered by the MQA bursary.

Electrical engineering, electromechanical engineering, analytical chemistry, chemical engineering, industrial engineering, environmental health, manufacturing, mining engineering, mine survey, mining engineering, occupational safety, occupational hygiene, operation management, and quality management.

If you are applying for vocational training or a TVET college, here are some fields you can apply to.

Millwright, motor mechanic, boilermaker, electrician, machinery fitting, fitter and turner, instrumentation mechanic, and rigger ropesman.

Is MGA Bursary Applicable for Employed Individuals?

If you are already employed in the mining and mineral sector and would like to pursue further qualifications in a relevant mining field, you are eligible for the MGA bursary. In this case, the bursary will cover your tuition fee and book allowance per semester. Do note that the fields covered under the MGA bursary are the same for both employed and unemployed individuals.

MGA Bursary 2025 Online Application Process

Applying to the MGA bursary 2025 is straightforward and requires only a few steps. All you need to do is prepare all the documents beforehand and sit at a place that is free from distractions. Here is a complete, step-by-step application process for MGA bursary 2025.

First, go to the official MQA bursary website and download the application form.
Fill out the form and double-check the information. Once you are satisfied, gather the documents.
Send the email to [email protected] and attach the application and documents to it. The subject of the email should be the candidates’ full name, surname, and ID number.
After careful evaluation, the committee will get back to you in two months.

Documents Required for the MGA Bursary 2025

You are required to submit the following documents with the MGA bursary application form.

South African national ID document (certified copy).
Certificate of your Grade 12 result (certified copy).
An acceptance letter from the university.
The full academic record of the previous degrees (from the TVET and University of Technology).
An ID document of the parent or document (certified copy).
Proof of household income (certified copy).
Payslips of the guardian/ parent (certified copy) and proof of SASSA payment for parent/ guardian.
Affidavit for candidates whose parents and guardians are unemployed.
Death certificate of a parent or guardian, if applicable (certified copy).
The affidavit if the other parent has passed away or is absent.

Instructions

Be mindful of the following while applying.

Do not send your CV or resume.
All applications should be sent through the email. Do not send links through OneDrive, Google Drive, or Adobe Cloud.
Students should carefully enter the subject of the email.
Do not send the documents in a zip folder.

MGA Bursary Contact Details

For application queries, here are the following contact details.

Tel: 27 11 547 2600
Email: [email protected]

Contact Details for Regional Offices

Gauteng: 011 547 2600
Eastern Cape: 047 505 1063
Free State: 087 095 0266
Mpumalanga: 013 696 8120/ 2121
Limpopo: 087 095 0267
North West: 014 555 8860
Northern Cape: 053 723 0100

A Few Notes about the MQA Bursary

The application form should be filled out and submitted in a pdf format. It is better that you fill it out electronically and not by hand.
The application form should be renamed with your maiden name and surname.
The supporting documents should be scanned and named properly. Please do not upload the document images taken by your phone or tablet.
The documents should not be in a zip folder.
Make sure all the necessary details are in one email.
Double-check that the information you have provided is factual. False or manipulated information can result in your disqualification from the bursary application.
If you do not hear after two months from MQA, send them a message inquiring about the status of your application.

About the MQA Bursary Requirements

The Mining Qualification Authority, also known as MQA is a branch of the mining and mineral sector of South Africa that encourages students to receive vocational training. It is a registered training authority developed under the Skill Development Act 97 of 1998. It is aimed to support the objectives of the National Skills Development Plan) and the Mining Charter Development Act 29, which are designed to promote the mining training of unemployed students in South Africa.

Why should you get the MQA bursary?

The MQA bursary provides financial assistance to unemployed students who are studying toward an undergraduate degree or vocational training.

How do you get the MQA bursary?

To apply for the MQA bursary, download the MQA application form from the official website. Then, gather the documents listed in the application form. Finally, submit the application form and documents in an email ([email protected]), with a subject to your name, surname, and ID number.

What is the purpose of the MQA bursary?

The purpose of the MQA bursary is to train unemployed students who are studying toward an undergraduate degree or vocational training.

How many years is an MQA bursary?

The MQA bursary duration depends on the duration of your undergraduate degree or vocational training.

What is the closing date of the MQA bursary?

The closing date of the MQA bursary is November 30, 2023.

Wrapping up, the Mining Qualification Authority opens the applications each year to provide vocational mining training to unemployed students. It covers everything from tuition fees to registration fees, monthly allowance, toolkits, and meals. What’s even better is that the application is easy when you know the right steps.

Finally, I hope this guide has been helpful for anyone planning to apply for the MQA bursary in 2025.