Students are often left to have to abandon their studies due to financial issues. However, many options for funding has been made available for students to ensure they get the higher education they deserve. Stressing over finances should not take away your motivation to study but unfortunately, that is a reality for many students.
Along with government funding and external bursaries, Stellenbosch University has made many options available to their students.
Prospective students who have already received their student numbers can apply online for bursaries and loans. Stellenbosch University offers financial aid. Students are advised to view bursary options here.
Sport Bursaries: A number of special bursaries are available for those who have excelled at sport. You may obtain further details of these bursaries from Maties Sport at 021 808 4642 or matiesport@sun.ac.za.
First-year merit bursaries: If a prospective students has scored a 90% or above average in their matric final results, up to 40% of their tuition fees will be paid back.
Senior Merit Bursaries: Awarded to the top 5% per faculty. Qualifying students will receive a rebate of 20% on basic tuition fees. Applicable to senior undergraduate students obtained a weighted aggregate of not less than 75% over the full academic year of the University.
SU Bursary Loan: This is aimed at missing middle students where the yearly household income is between R350,000 and R600,000 or households with an income between R600 000 - R1 million with two or more children at a tertiary institution. Covers only the tuition fees. Interest-free loans repayable at the prime interest rate.
SU Recruitment Bursary: Available only to South African citizens, who matriculated in the last 3 application years (2016 – 2018) from the Coloured, Black and Indian and Asian population groups. The student must achieve a weighted average of 60%.
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:
- BEng Civil Engineering
- BEng Electric and Electronic
- BEng Mechatronic
- BEng Industrial Engineering
- MEng Mechanical Engineering
- BEng Chemical Engineering
- Bachelor of Accounting (BAcc)
- Medicine (MBChB)
Gap-funding fee-adjustment grant (DHET): The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) has committed to implementing state-funded gap-funding grants in the form of an 8% rebate for fee adjustments for students from families with a combined household income of R600 000 a year or less. The gap-funding rebate is calculated as 8% of both tuition and university residence fees.
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: 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.
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 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.
A large number of general bursaries for study in any faculty, as well as bursaries for study in a specific faculty or department, are described in the Bursaries and Loans Calender and are available to students who are academically deserving and/or financially needy.
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.
