Allan Gray Fellowship Programme

The Allan Gray Fellowship Programme looks for young achievers transitioning into university – people who want to make a big impact: not only in their own lives but also in the lives of their community, city and country. The Fellowship recipients receive needs-based funding for university and access to support and development aimed at cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset.

Applications Open Until 30 April 2026

Days

Hours

Minutes

Seconds

Allan Gray Fellowship Application for gr.12 learners Requirements and Process

Requirements

A minimum of 60% in Pure Mathematics OR a minimum of 80% in Mathematical Literacy for final grade 11 results
A minimum average of 70% for final Grade 11 results (excluding Life Orientation)
Currently in Grade 12 in the year of application
The Applicant must be under the age of 21 in the year of their application
The Applicant must be a South African citizen
An Intention to study towards a Commerce, Science, Engineering, Law, Humanities, Arts & Health Science (Excluding Medicine, Veterinary Science and Dentistry) degree at WITS, UJ, UCT, NMU, RU, UWC, SU, UP, UFS, UKZN or TSiBA

Process

Submit your application form and supporting documentation online or via post before 30 April 2026, 17:00 SAST
Successful applicant candidates will be invited for an interview in July 2026
Successful interview candidates will be invited to a selection camp in September 2026
To ensure that we offer you the best possible support and customer service, please ensure that you give yourself enough time to complete the application form before the closing date. We recommend dedicating at least 2 days to complete your application form

What The Allan Gray Fellowship Programme Covers

Academic & Financial Support

Entrepreneurial Support

Mentorship from an individually assigned foundation staff member as well as a business mentor
Access to the Foundation’s online entrepreneurial curriculum
Annual entrepreneurship conference, seminars and workshops
Access to a community of like minded individuals
Access to business incubation
Access to business/venture funding via e squared, an Allan Gray Orbis Foundation sister entity (available to students on ivc programme and graduates depending on business idea viability)

Ways to apply

Hand deliver to:

Cape Town

Cape Town, 46 Hof Street, Oranjezicht

Johannesburg

1st Floor, Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr,
1 Protea Place, Cnr of Fredman Drive
and Protea Place, Sandton

Post to:

Allan Gray Orbis Foundation
Freepost no: CB 11349
Kloof Street, 8008

Please try your best to use the online application or hand delivery option to avoid any delay by post. The Foundation will not accept any late application forms.

Our offer to you

The Aim of Our Allan Gray Fellowship Programme

Choosing Entrepreneurship As A Viable Career Path

Our Allan Gray Fellowship Programme focuses on cultivating entrepreneurship in Candidate Allan Gray Fellows by ensuring that by the end of the Allan Gray Fellowship Programme, they desire to create value through responsible entrepreneurship, see entrepreneurship as a viable career path, are able to take an idea and develop it into a viable opportunity, understand the value proposition of the Foundation and E Squared (our business venture funding partner), and value the culture of community and collaboration. Furthermore, their entrepreneurial mindset development curriculum is disseminated via the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation’s Online Campus.

Deepening The Understanding of Entrepreneurship

In addition to financial and academic support, each candidate is allocated a Personal Development Officer to help them get to grips with the transition into a new environment; an Entrepreneurial Leadership Officer, who probes them to flex their entrepreneurial muscles; as well as an industry mentor, who deepens their understanding of entrepreneurial traits and concepts in the working world.

First-Year University Campaign

The 2026 first-year university campaign is a closed nomination-based campaign. Each of our 11 partner universities has an opportunity to nominate up to 20 entrepreneurially engaged first-year students who meet the Foundation’s first-year requirements listed below to be considered: