The UK-based Gérard Basset Foundation is delighted to announce a bursary scheme for historically-disadvantaged students for the prestigious WSET Level 3 in Wines qualification as well as the WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines. Working with Africa’s largest provider of WSET courses, the International Wine Education Centre (IWEC), the Foundation will sponsor 13 students for a WSET Level 3 course as well as one student for the WSET Level 4 Diploma. Applications are now open for students who meet the entrance criteria and who are interested in these life-changing opportunities.
The Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) is the world’s leading provider of drinks qualifications and both the WSET Level 3 in Wines and the WSET Level 4 Diploma are aimed at senior management level, suitable for people in a wide range of wine and hospitality industry roles. The Gérard Basset Foundation sponsored 12 students on Level 3 and 2 students on Level 4 in 2024 and it is hoped that the next generation of scholars will achieve equal success to the previous cohort.
Romané Basset from the Gérard Basset Foundation says: "We are thrilled to be supporting these DipWSET and WSET L3 bursaries with the International Wine Education Centre again for another year. They provide tangible avenues for the winners to progress their careers with internationally-recognised certifications which would otherwise remain out of their reach. We are excited to see all that the bursary recipients go on to achieve and wish them all the best with their studies."
"From the IWEC’s side, we are over the moon to facilitate such an incredible opportunity for these students," says Cathy Marston DipWSET, owner of the IWEC.
"Although South African wine has made great strides in improving diversity and inclusion in recent years, we still feel more needs to be done, particularly at a senior level. We hope that by helping students gain this advanced wine qualification, we will contribute to creating a pool of highly-skilled individuals who can effect real change in their workplace, both for themselves and all those around them."
Apply for the Gérard Basset Foundation bursaries
The WSET Level 3 in Wine bursaries will each be worth R10 000 and students can study either in Stellenbosch or Johannesburg. Students who meet the criteria, including having passed WSET Level 2 in Wines with either a Distinction or a Merit, are encouraged to apply: thewinecentre.co.za/news/gerard-basset-foundation-bursary-2025
The WSET Level 4 Diploma bursary is worth R100,000 and will be taught in Stellenbosch. Students who have achieved Merit or Distinction in Level 3 are eligible. Apply here: thewinecentre.co.za/news/gerard-basset-foundation-bursary-wset-diploma-2025
Applications will close on 30 April 2025. Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed with successful students notified by 16 May 2025.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to the IWEC at courses@thewinecentre.co.za.
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