Scholarships, Bursaries and Student Loans in South Africa

NSFAS: the main government route

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS ) funds tuition, registration, accommodation, a living allowance, and a book or learning material allowance for eligible students at public universities and TVET colleges. To qualify for the full bursary, your combined household income needs to sit at or below R350,000 a year; students living with a disability qualify with household income up to R600,000 a year. Households earning between R350,001 and R600,000 do not qualify for the bursary but can apply for an NSFAS loan instead, repaid after you graduate and start earning.

NSFAS mostly funds a first undergraduate qualification, a diploma or bachelor's degree, and has not offered bursaries for postgraduate qualifications such as the Postgraduate Certificate in Education since 2021, although it now lists a separate repayable postgraduate loan. Apply directly through the NSFAS website ahead of each academic year and check the current opening date, since it moves from year to year.

Funza Lushaka: funding for future teachers

The Department of Basic Education's Funza Lushaka bursary funds a full teaching qualification for students who commit to teach at a public school for a matching number of years after graduating. It targets priority subjects such as mathematics, science, technology and African languages, and applies alongside, not instead of, NSFAS eligibility rules.

NRF funding for postgraduate study

The National Research Foundation (NRF) funds Honours, Masters and Doctoral students through its DSI-NRF Postgraduate Student Funding program. You need at least a 65% average in your previous degree. Full Cost of Study funding goes to South African citizens and permanent residents whose household income sits at or below R350,000 a year, students living with a disability, or exceptional academic achievers, while a smaller Partial Cost of Study allocation covers other qualifying students, including a limited number of international applicants.

SETA and corporate bursaries

Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) fund students studying toward qualifications their industry needs, usually with a work-back obligation at a company in that sector after graduation. Large employers, including Sasol, Eskom, Anglo American and Investec, run their own bursary schemes for fields like engineering, actuarial science, accounting and IT, typically covering tuition, accommodation and a monthly allowance in exchange for a guaranteed job offer and a service commitment after you graduate. Search each company's careers page directly for current bursary cycles, since application windows open and close within a single year.

How to apply for each route

Apply to more than one scheme at once where the rules allow it, and confirm with each funder whether accepting one award affects your eligibility for another.