Allan Gray Orbis Foundation: High School Scholarships 2026

Allan Gray Orbis Foundation is pleased to invite South African students to apply for its High School Scholarship Programme for the 2025 academic year.

Application Closing: 16 September 2024

The scholarship is open to students who are currently in Grade 6 and are entering Grade 8 in 2026, who demonstrate significant entrepreneurial potential, strong academics and are in financial need.

The scholarship will provide cover for the following expenses: tuition fees, boarding, stationery, textbooks, uniforms, casual clothing, toiletries, support for extra murals and a monthly allowance.

Scholars will also have access to the following: workshops, speakers and seminars, annual entrepreneurial conference, online learning campus, mentorship by a programme officer and a like-minded community.

Requirements

Applicants must satisfy the following minimum entry criteria before applying (please note that failure to satisfy all the requirements will lead to your application not being considered):

• You must be a South African citizen (and at least one parent must be a South African citizen)
• You must be between the ages of 11 and 12 years old (born in 2012 or 2013)
• You must be in Grade 6 in the 2024 academic year
• You must be entering high school (Grade 8) in the 2026 academic year
• You must have proven financial need, with a total household income of NOT more than R20 000 per month
• You must have achieved a minimum result of 70% for English and Mathematics in Grade 5 and Grade 6
• You must have achieved a minimum overall average of 70% in Grade 5 and Grade 6
• You must show interest in becoming an entrepreneur / business owner
• You must possess the following entrepreneurial characteristics: growth mindset (belief that your intelligence can be developed); self-efficacy (belief in yourself to achieve goals); leadership (positively lead and influence others); opportunity identification (able to spot valuable opportunities); curiosity (able to explore and discover new information); and problem solving (able to find ways to creatively solve problems)

How to apply

Applications can be submitted in either of the following ways:
Online Application:
Step 1: Register on the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation Scholarship website
Step 2: Login to the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation Scholarship website
Step 3: Complete the online application form
Step 4: Upload your supporting documents as listed below

Manual Application:
Step 1: Download and complete the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation Scholarship Application Form (.pdf)
Step 2: Collect copies of your supporting documents as listed below
Step 3: Submit your completed application form and supporting documents in any of the following ways:

• Hand delivery in Cape Town: 46 Hof Street, Oranjezicht, Cape Town, 8001
• Hand delivery in Johannesburg: 1st Floor, Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, 1 Protea Place, Cnr of Fredman Drive and Protea Place, Sandton, Johannesburg
• Post: Allan Gray Orbis Foundation, Freepost no: CB 11349, Kloof Street, 8008

Submit clear copies of the following supporting documentation along with your application (the submission of these documents is compulsory – if any items are missing, your application may be disqualified):

• Unabridged birth certificate (certified copy)
• Parents or legal guardians ID documents (certified copies)
• Grade 5 term 4 report (certified copy)
• Grade 6 term 2 report (certified copy)
• Parents or guardians proof of income (certified copy of latest payslips and 3 months bank statements if employed / certified copy of income tax statement and 6 months business account bank statements if self employed / original affidavit if unemployed / certified copy of pension income if applicable)
• If parents are deceased: death certificate
• If parents are divorced: divorce decree
• If living with a legal guardian: proof of legal guardianship

SELECTION PROCESS FOR THE ALLAN GRAY ORBIS HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMME

• Apply and submit your required supporting documentation.
• Successful applicants will be required to write the Foundation exam in Mathematics and English for Grade 6, in December 2024.
• Successful applicants will be invited to attend interviews, in February to March 2025.
• Applicants will be invited to placement schools for interviews.
• Applicants who receive recommendations from placement schools will be awarded the scholarship.
• After the scholarship is awarded, the Memorandum of Agreement will be signed by the Foundation, placement school and the Scholar’s custodian.

All applicants will receive feedback on their scholarship application via SMS, whether they are successful or not.