Exness Reaffirms Support for South African STEM Talent with Third Year of Fintech Scholarships
Discover how the Exness Fintech Scholarship empowers students studying in South Africa to pursue advanced STEM degrees through full academic support.
South Africa stands at the intersection of opportunity and innovation. With a rapidly evolving digital economy, the country's future growth increasingly depends on its ability to cultivate and retain skilled professionals in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). However, access to world-class education in these fields remains limited, particularly for students from underserved communities.
To help address this gap, in 2023, global multi-asset broker Exness launched the Exness Fintech Scholarship Program in South Africa. Designed to support academic excellence and increase access to critical STEM education, the initiative reflects the company's commitment to promoting technological advancement through inclusion.
Strengthening South Africa's STEM potential
In recent years, the demand for talent in areas such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, and financial technology has grown significantly across the African continent. South Africa, in particular, has emerged as a regional leader in fintech innovation and digital entrepreneurship.
Yet, despite this growing opportunity and demand, many capable students face systemic barriers to accessing advanced STEM education. Financial limitations, unequal access to quality resources, and disparities within the education system continue to prevent deserving learners, especially those from underprivileged communities, from reaching their full academic and professional potential.
By investing in scholarships and educational partnerships, Exness aims to help bridge this divide. The Fintech Scholarship Program is tailored to support students who demonstrate academic excellence but lack the financial means to pursue postgraduate studies in high-demand technical fields.
Inside the Exness Fintech Scholarship
Launched in 2023 and continuing into 2025, the Exness Fintech Scholarship provides full academic support to South African students enrolled in postgraduate programs at the University of Cape Town (UCT). The scholarship focuses on disciplines that align with the evolving needs of the regional and global digital economy, including artificial intelligence, data science, financial engineering, and other technology-centered fields.
Exness developed the scholarship to reflect its core values: empowering individuals, fostering innovation, and advancing education through technology. The selection process is thoughtfully designed to be both inclusive and excellence-driven. Initial screening takes into account academic potential alongside socio-economic background, helping to identify bright minds who may face structural barriers to opportunity. Final shortlisting is based on merit and proven achievement, ensuring that the most capable and driven candidates receive the support to excel and contribute meaningfully to the future of STEM.
Through its partnership with the University of Cape Town, Exness ensures that scholarship recipients benefit from a world-class education at one of Africa's leading academic institutions. Consistently ranked among the continent's top universities and internationally recognized for its excellence in science and technology, UCT offers scholars access to distinguished faculty, cutting-edge research facilities, and a vibrant academic community committed to their growth and professional development.
The scholarship covers full tuition fees and accommodation, along with a monthly stipend to assist with living expenses. By removing financial obstacles, Exness enables students to focus on their studies and make the most of their academic opportunities.
Long-term impact and alignment with Exness values
This scholarship is not just an educational grant; it represents a long-term investment in the development of South Africa's technology ecosystem. By enabling talented individuals to build careers in data science, artificial intelligence, and related fields, Exness is helping to create a pipeline of future innovators and problem-solvers.
As of 2025, the Exness Fintech Scholarship remains one of the few scholarship initiatives in South Africa offering comprehensive academic support to postgraduate students in fintech-aligned STEM fields. It fills a vital gap by ensuring that capable students are not excluded from transformative opportunities due to financial limitations.
A broader commitment to education and innovation
At its heart, the Exness Fintech Scholarship is about opening doors. It's a way to support students with the talent and drive to succeed in technology, but who may not have the means to get there on their own.
As a company built on technology and innovation, Exness understands how important it is to invest in people, not just systems. By supporting access to education in fields like data science, AI, and fintech, we hope to play a small part in helping young people build futures they can be proud of—futures that can also strengthen their communities.
Looking ahead
South Africa has no shortage of bright, ambitious minds. What's often missing is the access and support to help them thrive. Through the partnership with the University of Cape Town, Exness is working to change that, step by step, student by student.
Through its partnership with UCT and its support of ambitious postgraduate students, Exness is contributing to a more inclusive and capable technology workforce. In doing so, the broker reinforces its commitment to building not just better markets, but stronger communities—one scholar at a time.
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