Funding Your Studies At NMU

Before registering as a student, you need to determine whether you will have sufficient funds to finance your studies. Make sure that you know how you are going to pay for your studies at NMU. There are many options available to you, here are some of them.

Figuring out how you’re going to pay for your studies and further lay the foundation of your future is very important. Don’t let the stress get to you and rather have the energy to find a solution be fueled. Here are some options for funding if you are wanting to study at Nelson Mandela University (NMU).

Nelson Mandela University offers financial assistance to full-time students in the form of bursaries, merit awards, Vice-Chancellor’s scholarships and study loans. Then you get external bursaries and loans and financial support as well. 

Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship Programme: Recognises and rewards high achievers among Grade 12 learners in the South African schooling system. Reward those who have excelled with a scholarship to pursue their initial undergraduate diploma or degree qualification at NMU.

Sport Bursaries: The Nelson Mandela University Sport Bureau offers sport bursaries of varying amounts to those who have demonstrated the ability to play sport at a high level of competition. Application forms are available from their office. E-mail: Charmaine.button@mandela.ac.za or phone (041) 504 2496. The closing date for applications is before the end of October each year.

Scholar Merit and Student Merit awards: Awarded to top academic achievers annually, and no application is required.

MQA Bursary: The Mining Qualifications Authority offers a bursary to financially needy and deserving South African Citizens, who are not older than thirty-five (35) years of age. Only applications to study MQA approved disciplines (qualifications) will be considered. For more information, click here.

DHET Bursary Scheme: This is a financial aid programme that provides fully-subsidised funding for poor and working class students at public universities. Applicants must have a combined gross family income of up to R350,000 per annum.

ISFAP Funding: The Ikusasa Student Financial Aid Programme (ISFAP) is government initiative to provide financial assistance to very poor, poor and “missing middle" students. Read our article on ISFAP here.

ISFAP only funds the following qualifications:

• Bachelor of Engineering Technology in Civil Engineering
• Bachelor of Engineering Technology in Electrical Engineering
• Bachelor of Engineering Technology in Industrial Engineering
• Bachelor of Engineering Technology in Marine Engineering
• Bachelor of Engineering Technology in Mechanical Engineering
• Bachelor of Engineering Technology in Mechatronics

Department of Labour Bursaries: Students with disabilities qualify for (apart from any other bursaries) for bursaries from the Department of Labour and are required to apply directly at the Department for these bursaries.

Funza Lushaka Bursary Scheme: Bursaries are available to enable eligible students to complete a teaching qualification in an area of national priority. Read our article on the Funza Lushaka Bursary Scheme here.

NSFAS: NSFAS offers fully subsidized free higher education and training for poor and working class South Africans where there is up to R350,000 household income per year. This bursary includes tuition fees, learning materials allowances, transport allowances and living allowances. More information can be found here.

Fundi: Fundi offers students loans to fund their studies. Visit their website here for more information. 

Feenix: This is a student programme that uses the process of fundraising in order to help students fund their studies. Read our article on Feenix here.

Banks: Many South African banks offer loans for students looking to fund their studies. Read our article to find out which banks offer student loans.

For further financial assistance, go visit the Financial Aid office at your campus. 

For funding separate from your university and their Financial Aid office, you can visit the Bursaries Portal to see which bursaries are available to you as a student.