People are often left with no choice but to not study when they can't finance it. In the past, people gave up opportunities due to financial struggles but now the aim is to promote youth and education. There are now multiple options available for students looking to finance their studies.
Let us help you figure this part of your higher education studies out.
Internally administered bursaries:
- The Emma Smith Educational Trust
- The Cecil Renaud Educational Trust
- The Victor Daitz Foundation
- The Terry & Gladys Champain Educational Trust
- The United Kingdom Trust
Pius Langa Scholarship: R50,000 to matriculants from schools writing the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations and ranked in the top ten in each of the nine provinces, and to learners from Independent Examination Board (IEB) schools in KZN who are ranked in the top 50 nationally in the IEB final matriculation examinations.
Frene Ginwala Scholarship: The top 10 African female entrants who register at the University of KwaZulu-Natal are awarded R20,000.
Merit Scholarships for Exceptional Achievement:
- Merit Scholarships of R25, 000 are available to top achievers with Level 7 or greater NSC results in at least six academic subjects excluding Life Orientation & Mathematics Literacy.
- Merit Scholarships of R20, 000 are available to top achievers with Level 7 or greater NSC results in at least five academic subjects excluding Life Orientation & Mathematics Literacy.
Prestige Sports Scholarships: Learners must have played sport at National or Provincial level in the year immediately before registration with the institution; the scholarship is intended to cover tuition costs in the first instance. There will be an limited no of full scholarships which will cover tuition and accommodation. A number of scholarships are awarded and the renewals are based on satisfactory academic performance. Closing date for the Sports scholarship application is 31 October.
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 will only fund the following qualifications:
- Bachelor of Occupation Therapy
- Bachelor of Pharmacy
- Bachelor of Physiotherapy
- MBChB
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. Visit their website here for more information.
Fundi: Fundi offers students loans to fund your studies. Visit their website here for more information.
Feenix: This is a student programme that uses the process of fundraising in order to helped students fund their studies. Read our article on Feenix here.
Banks: Many South African banks offer loans for students looking to fund their studies.
Staff in the Colleges attached to Student Funding are also available for student queries regarding funding opportunities on all campuses - ask for the Financial Aid Advisor in the College administrative office.
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.
