WANT TO STUDY BUT CAN'T AFFORD? START HERE!

There are different types of financial aid for studies. Bursaries or scholarships are funding for deserving students, either to encourage them in a specific field or to reward them for achievements in academics, sport or leadership. You don't need to repay a bursary, unless you drop out before you finish your studies, and some bursary donors may require you to work at their company after you've graduated. If you don't get any bursaries, you can take out a student loan. These have to be repaid, with interest, once you complete your studies. You can apply for loans or bursaries from government, universities, private companies and banks.

Government funding

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) offers financial aid to students who show academic potential, but who don't have access to any other loans or bursaries. Although you will need to repay the loan, a big portion may be converted into a non-repayable bursary if your marks are good enough. The NSFAS is funded by the South African government and is available to students of TVET colleges and public universities.

The NSFAS also administers certain government bursaries, such as the Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme

 for prospective public school teachers, and the Department of Social Development bursaries for social work students.

University financial aid

Each university has a financial aid office that assists students with loan and bursary applications. This should be your first stop for any financial aid, including university funding, NSFAS loans and external bursaries.