The are several undergraduate bursaries are available to support Unisa students in reaching their academic goals.
Unisa Merit Bursary
The Unisa Merit Bursary is awarded to academically outstanding students who have achieved an average of 75% or above in their previous year of study. This bursary is exclusively available to South African citizens registered for formal qualifications at Unisa.
The bursary covers tuition fees and prescribed textbooks. However, it is only awarded if sufficient funding is available. Students who received the bursary in 2023 do not need to reapply but must maintain the 75% average to qualify again.
Required documents include a copy of the applicant’s ID, proof of household income, parents’ IDs (for dependents), and an academic record. Suitable candidates will be invited by the Division of Student Funding, and no open applications are accepted.
NSFAS Bursary
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) provides comprehensive bursaries to eligible South African students from low-income households. The funding covers tuition, registration, learning materials, accommodation, and a living allowance for qualifying students at public universities, including Unisa.
Students must apply directly through the NSFAS website during the application period and meet the financial and academic eligibility requirements.
Department of Transport (DOT) Bursary
This bursary is available to unemployed South African citizens studying specific qualifications related to transport and logistics at Unisa. Eligible undergraduate programmes include BCom in Transport Economics, BCom in Logistics, Diploma and Advanced Diploma in Civil Engineering.
Applicants must have achieved an average of at least 50% in the previous academic year. The bursary covers tuition fees, prescribed textbooks, access to library services, a stipend, and research costs (where applicable).
Applications must be sent to mogaslm@unisa.ac.za from the student’s myLife email account, with their student number and “DOT BURSARY APPLICATION” in the subject line. Returning DOT beneficiaries must reapply annually.
Hillensberg Trust Bursary
This invitation-based bursary supports financially needy and academically deserving South African students – particularly those in the “missing middle” category. Students must be registered at Unisa for undergraduate or postgraduate qualifications and must have achieved an average of at least 60% in their previous year of study.
Eligible qualifications include Medicine, Technology, Visual Arts, Music, and those under the Faculty of Health Sciences. The bursary covers tuition, prescribed textbooks, transport allowance, and a laptop for first-time bursary recipients. Students should monitor their myLife email accounts for invitations.
For more information, contact Mr Mashweu via email.
SETA Bursaries
Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) bursaries are primarily invitation-based and target students in fields aligned with specific industry sectors. These include Finance, Construction, Transport, Safety and Security, Education, and Services sectors.
While some bursaries are managed through Unisa, students not invited may apply directly via the respective SETA websites. Applicants must be South African citizens between the ages of 18 and 35, with a minimum average of 50% in their previous year of study. Some SETAs also accept employed students.
- FASSET – Finance and Accounting
- CETA – Construction and Engineering
- TETA – Transport
- SASSETA – Safety and Security
- ETDP-SETA – Education
- BANKSETA – Banking
- Services SETA – Various educational sectors
Invited students should monitor their myLife email accounts regularly.
For more bursary opportunities and the latest updates, visit the Bursaries Portal.
