Funding your studies

Bursaries worth knowing about.

Beyond NSFAS, dozens of government bodies, companies, and foundations fund students every year. Most successful applicants apply to 10–20 of these in one cycle — here's a real starting list, sorted by who actually funds what.

Start here

NSFAS — the big one.

Before any of the bursaries below, this is the funding most South African students should check first. The National Student Financial Aid Scheme is the government's main scheme for students who can't afford university or TVET college on their own.

Who qualifies
South African citizens and permanent residents with a combined household income of R350,000 or less a year — rising to R600,000 for students living with a disability. SASSA grant recipients qualify automatically, no separate income check needed.
What it covers
Full tuition, plus allowances for accommodation, transport, meals, and books — paid directly to your bank account. Applies equally to public universities and public TVET colleges.
Timing
Applications typically open around September for the following academic year and close in January. Apply early — certified ID copies and proof of income are the most common causes of delay. Funding covers your minimum study duration plus two extra years, so passing your subjects matters for staying funded.
Apply directly

This isn't something any third party, including this site, can apply on your behalf for. Go to nsfas.org.za →

Read this part first

Public-only vs. open to both

This is the single most common mix-up when applying: not every bursary works at every type of institution.

Public institutions only

NSFAS & most government funding

NSFAS only funds South Africa's 26 public universities and 50 public TVET colleges — it does not fund private institutions like IIE, Eduvos, or STADIO. Most provincial and departmental government bursaries follow the same rule. Always check "eligible institutions" before assuming your private college qualifies.

Usually open to both

Corporate & sector bursaries

Company-funded bursaries (Sasol, Eskom, Standard Bank, and similar) are typically open to students at any accredited institution — public or private — since the company cares about the qualification and skill, not who taught it. "Usually" isn't "always," though — each funder sets its own list, so confirm on their page before you apply.

Where to apply

Bursary directory.

Grouped by who's funding and what they're looking for. This isn't exhaustive — new ones open every year — but it's a solid starting list of established, legitimate funders.

Deadlines, amounts, and eligibility criteria change every cycle and vary by funder — this page deliberately doesn't list specific closing dates or Rand amounts, since those go stale fast and a wrong number here could cost someone a missed deadline. Confirm every detail directly on the funder's own page before applying or submitting documents.