Provider: ISFAP
Location: South Africa
Category: Bursary
Closing date: 31 October 2026

About the Bursary

ISFAP (the Ikusasa Student Financial Aid Programme) is inviting students to apply for its 2027 bursary programme. The bursary is aimed at students from the “missing middle”: families who earn too much to qualify for NSFAS but cannot afford the full cost of tertiary study. Funding is awarded for studies in Occupations of High Demand.

What the Bursary Covers

• Tuition fees
• Accommodation and travel (if you do not have accommodation)
• Books
• Meals
• A monthly living allowance (stipend)

Through your university, you will also receive academic support, social support, life skills training and medical support when required.

Fields of Study

Bursaries are awarded for selected qualifications at partner institutions. Fields include Engineering (Electrical, Civil, Mechanical, Chemical, Industrial, Mining, Metallurgical, Computer and Electronic), Computer Science, Information Technology, Accounting, Actuarial Science, Economics, Law, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Dietetics, Education, Agriculture, Architecture, Construction, Quantity Surveying, Town Planning, Social Work, and Natural Sciences such as Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Geology and Biochemistry.

Partner institutions include the University of Pretoria, University of Cape Town, University of the Witwatersrand, Stellenbosch University, University of Johannesburg, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Nelson Mandela University, North-West University, University of the Free State, University of the Western Cape, University of Limpopo, University of Venda, University of Fort Hare, University of Zululand, University of Mpumalanga, Sol Plaatje University, UNISA, Rhodes University, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, and the universities of technology (Tshwane, Cape Peninsula, Durban, Vaal, Central, Walter Sisulu and Mangosuthu).

Check the full list of approved qualifications for your institution before applying.

Eligibility Requirements

• You must be a South African citizen.
• You must be in Matric or have completed Matric.
• You must have been accepted at one of the partner public institutions, for a listed qualification, in 2027.
• You must be starting your first year of undergraduate study in 2027.
• Your family household income must not exceed R600 000 per annum.
• You must be in financial need and require funding for your studies.

How Applicants Are Selected

• A household means test for all applicants
• Academic achievement and acceptance into an approved qualification
• National Benchmarking Test (NBT) results for some institutions
• Matric results
• Availability of funding from funding partners

How to Apply

Apply online before the closing date of 31 October 2026. Have your Matric results, proof of acceptance and household income documents ready before you start.

Apply Now: ISFAP Online Applications

Applications close on 31 October 2026. Do not wait until the last week, as late applications will not be considered.