South Africa is facing a growing crisis in postgraduate funding, leaving many students struggling to complete their degrees. A significant funding gap is limiting options for students pursuing advanced studies. To address this issue, a new bursary toolkit has been launched. This toolkit is designed to assist funders in creating more impactful support systems for postgraduate students. The initiative focuses on improving the effectiveness of bursaries and ultimately, enhancing student success rates. By providing guidance on best practices, the toolkit aims to mitigate the effects of the funding shortfall and ensure continued access to higher education. It represents a proactive step towards bolstering the country’s postgraduate pipeline.