St Benedict's offers a limited number of academic scholarships each year to boys entering the College at Grade 8. No Scholarships are offered to boys entering any other grade or to boys who are currently enrolled in another grade at the school. Whilst boys are usually "invited" to write the scholarship exam, the selection process is open to all boys who wish to participate - including Grade 7 boys from our own Preparatory School.

St Benedict's distinguishes between "scholarships” which are awarded entirely on merit and “bursaries" which are awarded to pupils as a result of financial need. Scholarships are awarded for the duration of a boy's stay at the College, but may be withdrawn, after notice, if the recipient no longer performs or behaves to the standard appropriate for a scholarship holder. Performance Review meetings are held with all scholarship candidates on an annual basis. 

The examination which consists of two papers is usually written in March each year.

Academic, sporting, cultural and leadership achievements are all taken into account. 

The awarding of scholarships is based on the results of the examination; completion of the appropriate Scholarship Application Form, and on an interview with the Executive Headmaster or one of the College Deputies. Because of the essentially academic nature of St Benedict's, specific scholarships for sporting achievement alone were discontinued in 2005 and have now been phased out completely. Nevertheless, sporting achievement and/or sporting participation at primary school level is taken into account in the awarding of academic scholarships.

Announcements of offers of scholarships are made in May on a date set by the Independent Schools Association of South Africa.

Candidates who are interested in writing the scholarship examination should contact the College between 1 - 28 February each year.