The Ikusasa Student Financial Aid Programme (ISFAP) is an angel in disguise as they provide funding to those who find it difficult to get funding, the missing middle. ISFAP does wonders in bridging the funding gap.
Careers Portal spoke to ISFAP about their bursary and what they offer. Speaking to Sifanele Biyela, the Regional Programme Manager, we uncovered what ISFAP means when they say they offer wrap-around support.
We pride ourselves in not only looking after the academic needs of our students but also ensuring that they're supported psychosocially.
This means students are looked after by providing the following services:
- Mental health support
- A dedicated programme manager at their university that's there for students to speak to if they have an issue
- Tutor support
- Life skills, in terms of time management, financial literacy programmes
"We try by all means to cover all the basics so that all they have to do is to study and pass," says Biyela.
It is ISFAP's mission to produce as many graduates as possible and to achieve this, they ensure that the environment that students are placed them in only requires them to focus on their studies and not have the weight of other things on them.
We can try and walk this path with you.
Should students be struggling with issues outside of their studies, ISFAP provides counsellors and psychologists with Sifanele saying that they try to cushion the fall and provide support.
So what does ISFAP cover?
- Full tuition fees
- Accommodation
- If students are at a university residence, it's fully paid
- If students are at private accommodation, it is subject to a cap that is revised annually.
- Meal allowances
- Cash allowances
- Laptops
What are the ISFAP requirements?
In order to qualify for an ISFAP bursary, you need to:
- Have a household income which falls between R0 and R600 000
- Meet academic criteria and registration, which vary per institution but will include:
- A National Benchmarking Test for some institutions (academic and behavioral strength)
- Matric results
- Funder constraints (that meet individual funder objectives) which will be applied to students applying
- Registered for courses at universities which fall under ISFAP's areas of study that they fund
How to submit your ISFAP bursary application
- Go to the ISFAP application website
- Complete the online application form
- Upload supporting documents
- Certified ID Copy of the Applicant
- Certified Copy of Latest Academic Results (Grade 11 or Matric)
- Certified Proof of Income
- Download and complete the Consent Form (Applicant and Household Contributors) and certify by Commissioner of Oaths
ISFAP provides a very balanced programme in terms of the support that is on offer to students and is unique in their offering. This shows that they don't just offer funding and then leave the student to do the rest.
To find out more about the ISFAP bursary, head to our ISFAP page.
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