Settling how you’re going to pay for studies can be a major weight off of your shoulders and will help you be more motivated as a student. Sometimes, finances can get in the way of your goals but you shouldn’t give up.

Here are some funding options for you to explore.

Awards for academic excellence: MUT offers Matric Aggregate Awards to first year students who achieved level 7 on any of their grade 12 subjects with the exception of Life Orientation. The award may be used to finance your first year studies at MUT.

Deans Commendation Award: The awards are offered to MUT students who achieve an aggregate of 75% or more in their exams. The incentive is a 100% remission of tuition fees.

Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA) Bursary: They are looking for unfunded undergraduate students under the following qualifications: Analytical Chemistry,Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering (Heavy Current), Environmental Health, Mechanical Engineering. B-Tech candidates will also be considered. Applicants should be South African citizens. These students should not be funded by NSFAS or any other bursary.

INSETA Bursary: This is for unfunded undergraduate and Advanced & Post Graduate Diploma students who are unemployed and is 35 years old or less. Students must be registered for the following courses: Marketing, Information & Communication Technology, Accounting (Excluding Public Finance). Students should not be funded by NSFAS or any other Bursary.

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.

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.