Scholarships and Student Funding in Botswana
By Muntasir Minhaz • Published Jun 18, 2026 • African Countries & Cities, African Scholarships & Student Funding
Botswana's main student funding route is a government loan and sponsorship scheme run by the Department of Tertiary Education Financing (DTEF), covering local and approved external institutions for eligible citizens.
🎓 New students need at least 36 points from secondary school, or 31 points if you're an orphan, vulnerable child, from a rural area, or have special needs.
📩 Apply with a loan application form and supporting documents to DTEF, or through the online Student Loan Management System during the application window.
💵 The 2025/26 cycle opened 2 July 2025 and closed 31 July 2025, with over P3 billion allocated to sponsor 12,034 new students.
Top achievers with 6 A*s at BGCSE/IGCSE or 3 A's at A-Level can apply through a separate top-achievers route, though the ministry has signaled it may discontinue this program.
DTEF: the main funding route
Most Batswana students who need financial support apply through the Department of Tertiary Education Financing (DTEF), the government body under the Ministry of Higher Education that runs Botswana's tertiary loan and sponsorship scheme. It funds Botswana citizens studying at local universities and colleges, and at accredited external institutions, according to the government's official sponsorship page . The scheme works as a loan, so read your agreement carefully before you sign.
Who qualifies
| Applicant type | Requirements |
|---|---|
| New students | Not gainfully employed, able to finish studies before age 35, minimum 36 points from secondary education (31 points for orphans, vulnerable children, rural area applicants, and those with special needs). |
| Progression students | Completed a lower qualification at least 3 years earlier, able to finish before age 35, sponsorship limited to prioritized fields and a capped number of places. |
| Top achievers | 6 A*s at BGCSE or IGCSE, or 3 A's at A-Level. |
These categories and thresholds come from DTEF's official page , though DTEF adjusts which categories it funds and how many places it opens from one cycle to the next. Check the current cycle's terms before you count on a route staying open.
How to apply
Get the loan application form from the Department of Tertiary Financing office in Gaborone or the online Student Loan Management System.
Attach your certified academic documents and supporting evidence for your category, for example proof of orphan or rural status if you're applying under the reduced points threshold.
Submit within the application window. DTEF aims to give feedback within about ten working days of a complete application.
Watch for your university admission and loan decision to line up, since you need both to register and pay.
The 2025/26 cycle, as an example
Application cycles open and close on fixed dates each year, so treat this as an example of how a cycle runs rather than a fixed calendar. The 2025/26 cycle opened on 2 July 2025 and closed on 31 July 2025 through the online Student Loan Management System. The government allocated over P3 billion and planned to sponsor 12,034 new students, up from 10,180 the previous year, according to Botswana Daily News . That cycle limited progression sponsorship to 50 places and paused re-sponsorship for returning students, so check which categories are open before you plan around a specific route.
The government also raised monthly allowances for brigade and technical college students from P300 to P1,900, effective August 2025, while saying budget constraints prevented raising university-level allowances to the P2,500 level some had requested, according to 2nd Republic News . Allowance levels change with each budget cycle, so confirm your rate directly with DTEF once you're sponsored.
Other funding to consider
Some employers, particularly in mining, banking, and parastatals, sponsor students under bonded agreements that require you to work for the company for a set period after graduation. Terms vary by employer, so read any bonding contract carefully before you sign, especially the repayment clause if you leave early. Individual universities and faculties sometimes run their own smaller bursaries for specific programs. Ask your faculty office directly, since these rarely get advertised widely.
Avoid funding scams
Apply directly through the official DTEF office or the Student Loan Management System, never through an agent who asks for payment to "guarantee" your sponsorship. Botswana's government scheme does not charge you to apply, and no legitimate scholarship needs an upfront fee.