The Valterra Platinum Bursary 2026 is a financial support opportunity aimed at helping students and young South Africans access skills development in mining and related fields.
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Valterra Platinum is a major South African platinum group metals (PGM) producer and community partner that offers bursaries for youths from its host communities.
This bursary supports undergraduate study at recognised institutions and reflects the company’s commitment to upskilling local students who want to contribute to the mining sector.
A major date to know is the 25 February 2026 closing date for certain engineering learnerships linked to Valterra Platinum.
Other bursary opportunities under the Valterra Platinum Community Bursary Programme close on 1 February 2026.
Getting funding through this programme can help students focus on study costs such as tuition fees, accommodation, and allowances.
What Is the Valterra Platinum Bursary?
The Valterra Platinum Bursary refers to a group of educational support opportunities tied to Valterra Platinum’s investment in community development. These include:
- Valterra Platinum Community Bursary Programme, which supports students from host communities pursuing undergraduate qualifications.
- Engineering Learnership Programme (18.2 – Unemployed), offering structured technical training in mining and engineering trades.
The Community Bursary Programme provides full financial support for tuition, accommodation, and student allowances for qualifying learners from selected host communities.
The Engineering Learnership Programme, while not a traditional bursary, functions as funded training with practical experience opportunities in mining trades and has a 25 February 2026 closing date.
Who Can Apply for the Valterra Platinum Bursary?
Eligibility requirements differ between programmes:
For the Community Bursary Programme, applicants must:
- Be South African citizens.
- Be between 18 and 25 years old as of the closing date.
- Have Matric from 2024 or 2025.
- Be accepted or enrolled for a first undergraduate qualification at an accredited South African higher education institution (public or private).
- Live in or have spent most of their schooling within a Valterra Platinum host community in Limpopo or North West provinces.
- Students cannot be children of Valterra Platinum employees. Priority is given to orphans, vulnerable learners, and learners from unemployed or child-headed households.
For the Engineering Learnership Programme, applicants must:
- Be South Africans who meet the educational and entry requirements for the specific trade.
- Hold Matric with relevant subjects or equivalent technical qualification (N2/NCV Level 4 where specified).
- Be unemployed when applying for the learnership.
What Fields of Study and Training Are Covered?
The Valterra Platinum Community Bursary supports any undergraduate qualification at NQF Level 6 or 7, allowing students to pursue fields of study that match their career goals.
This includes engineering, commerce, science, IT, and other academic disciplines as long as the qualification is full-time and completed within three years.
The Valterra Platinum Engineering Learnership Programme is focused on practical engineering trades essential to mining operations.
These training trades include:
- Electrician
- Boilermaker
- Mechanical Fitter
- Diesel Mechanic
- Measurement Control & Instrumentation
- Auto Electrical
- Millwright
Learnerships combine classroom instruction and hands-on experience, preparing candidates for artisan careers in the mining sector.
What Costs Does the Bursary Cover?
For the Community Bursary Programme, the bursary typically covers:
- Tuition fees at the registered institution.
- Accommodation costs were needed.
- A student allowance for living expenses throughout the study period.
The support is awarded for the full duration of the qualifying programme, subject to satisfactory academic performance.
For the Engineering Learnership Programme, participants receive paid training and workplace exposure, which may include an allowance or stipend while they learn on the job.
What Documents Are Required With the Application?
When applying for the Valterra Platinum Community Bursary Programme, applicants must prepare and upload clear, certified copies of:
- A South African ID document.
- Matric certificate or latest academic results.
- Acceptance or conditional acceptance letter from the institution.
- Proof of residence not older than three months (signed and stamped by a municipality or traditional authority).
- Proof of tertiary registration, if available.
- Proof of vulnerability or household status, such as a SASSA grant confirmation or an affidavit confirming orphaned, unemployed, or child-headed household status (if applicable).
Engineering learnership applications usually require a CV, certified ID copy, Matric certificate, and any relevant technical transcripts.
How Do You Apply?
- For the Community Bursary Programme:
Applications are submitted online via the official bursary portal designated by Valterra Platinum. Applicants should complete the online form, upload the required documents, and carefully check all information before submitting. Late or incomplete applications may be disqualified. - For the Engineering Learnership Programme:
Applications are also made through the official Valterra Platinum careers or learnership portal. Ensure all supporting documents meet the requirements and that the application is submitted before the deadline.
What Is the Closing Date?
The Valterra Platinum Community Bursary Programme 2026 closes on 1 February 2026 at 23:59 South African Standard Time. Late applications will not be accepted.
For the Valterra Platinum Engineering Learnership Programme, the application deadline is 25 February 2026.
Applicants should submit their materials well before this date to avoid rushed or incomplete submissions.