The Ikusasa Student Financial Aid Programme (ISFAP) is giving away bursaries to anyone wanting to study towards their postgraduate qualification. Here's everything you need to know about this amazing offering.
Careers Portal sat down with Shaun Perrier, the Head of Fundraising at ISFAP, to chat about the postgrad bursaries on offer.
Who are ISFAP?
ISFAP is a bursary provider which provides bursaries to students coming from poor and Missing middle inome households. They assist students coming from poor and working class backgrounds to get financial aid and go even further by providing wraparound support, which they believe is critical for a student's success.
They are a nonprofit setup as a public benefit organization in 2017. They raise money from the private sector, government, institutions, etc.
How many bursaries are available?
ISFAP has partnered with the National Research Fund (NRF) to provide these postgrad bursaries. The NRF has offered around 120 bursaries with ISFAP then matching that.
Perrier has revealed that there are 250 bursaries up for grabs.
What are the requirements to qualify for the bursary?
- Must be a South African citizen
- Have an undergraduate degree
- Good academic record
- Students studying a postgrad qualification which is categorised as a critical skill
- Studying towards a relevant postgrad qualification at one of ISFAP's partner universities
- Household income between R0 and R600 000 per annum
What does the bursary cover?
An ISFAP bursary covers tuition, accommodation, meals, transport, books, laptops and data. They also provide wraparound support which they believe is a critical element to a student's success and performance at University.
Which courses are covered by the postgrad bursary?
The bursary will fund all critical skills across various industries and sectors in South Africa. These courses are:
- Entrepreneurship
- Humanities
- Engineering
- Chartered Accountancy
- Vocational Training
- Actuarial Sciences
Which universities are covered?
- University of the Witwatersrand
- University of Pretoria
- University of Johannesburg
- Stellenbosch
- University of Cape Town
- University of Kwazulu-Natal
- Walter Sisulu University
- Nelson Mandela University
How can I apply for the bursary?
Applications can be submitted on the ISFAP applications page. Applicants will also need to submit the following:
- CV
- Motivational letter speaking on why you think you deserve the bursary and what you want to achieve with the bursary
- Signed consent form
- Certified copy of your ID
- Certified copies of parents/guardians ID
- Certified copy of latest academic results
- Certified proof of income for each household contributor
- Proof of registration
What is the wraparound support ISFAP offers?
The wrap-around support involves mentorship, coaching, extra tutorials, academic support, additional financial support, accommodation support and peer-to-peer learning.
ISFAP also offers life skills training such as knowing how to be work ready, write your CV and also covering financial literacy.
ISFAP has programme managers available at their campuses who are ready to assist students with anything they need, whether that be academic or personal support. They will support students with any challenges they face on a day-to-day basis.
85% of students who were funded by an ISFAP bursary have reached employment.
