The application process for the SABSA Founders Bursary is as follows:
- Review this page for relevant information and instructions on completing your application
- Complete the application form and submit along with your resume
- Recipients are selected
- Award recipients are notified
- Unsuccessful applicants are notified
- Award recipients are provided with award details
Selection is completed on a name-blind basis, meaning the selection committee do not know who’s application they are reading. This ensures bursaries are given on merit of application only.
About the Bursary
The SABSA Founders Bursary (the Bursary) has been established to encourage and support new, enthusiastic, industry participants, at the early stages of their careers, through attending and actively engaging in COSAC or SABSA Training.
The Bursary is funded by the generous donations of individuals and industry partners.
The Bursary aims to improve gender diversity within the cybersecurity industry, which means that the selection criteria for applicants is weighted towards women, and non-binary applicants. It will also prioritise applicants who would most benefit from the financial support available.
The primary objective of the Bursary is to create and maintain an industry-supported program that is both sustainable, and cost-effective and would provide opportunities for people, at the early stages of their career, to learn from a broad cross-section of experienced industry practitioners in an environment that supports them to develop their skills and knowledge as well as the ability to actively participate in industry events in the future.
The Bursary will aim to award annually:
- Two fully funded places at COSAC (Ireland) or COSAC APAC (Australia);
- Two fully funded places on SABSA Training (SABSA Foundation SABSA Advanced).
Details on COSAC and COSAC APAC can be found at cosac.net.
SABSA Training is provided by David Lynas Consulting or ALC Training.
Applicants must complete the online application form by Friday 13th March 2026 (Midnight GMT). Individuals and industry organisations interested in donating to the Founders Bursary may do so here.
Please note that awards made by The SABSA Founders Bursary are non-transferable and cannot, in any way, be redeemed for cash.
Selection Process for Recipients of the SABSA Founders Bursary
Each bursary applicant must complete the short application form and submit this with a one-page* resume / CV .
The application form collects the following information which will be used to select award recipients:
- Gender
- Employment and general salary information
- Organisational Information
- Work Experience
- Education and Qualifications
- Diversity information
- Aspirational goals
- Willingness to give back
- Preferred award from those available
The review of applications is conducted on a name-blind basis. All identifying information, such as names, addresses, email addresses etc, is removed from applications before being passed on to the selection committee. Once the selection committee has finalised the selection process and chosen those to receive awards, the selection committee are then provided with the names of the original applicants, so we are able to send out notifications.
* one-page resume / CV: Please note that the selection committee is only provided one page of the resume you upload any additional pages will not be considered or scored. This can impact your overall scoring so ensure all relevant information is on the one page. Additionally, please remove any pictures of yourself from you resume / CV.
Key Dates for Applicants
| Action | Date |
| Applications open | Friday 20 February 2026 |
| Applications to be submitted by | Friday 13 March 2026 (Midnight GMT) |
| Selection process completed by | Monday 30 March 2026 |
| Successful applicants notified by | Monday 6 April 2026 |
| Unsuccessful applicants notified by | Monday 6 April 2026 |
| Award certificates issued by | Monday 13 April 2026 |
Application Form
Applications are currently closed for 2026.
Donating to the SABSA Founders Bursary
The SABSA Founders Bursary is fully funded by the generous donations of individuals and industry partners.
If you would like to join our generous donors, you can do so here.
Additionally, for information on corporate sponsorship please email us directly.