ISFAP Bursary 2024 | Application Guidelines & Deadlines

The Ikusasa Student Financial Aid Programme (ISFAP) provides bursaries to students who come from poor and working-class backgrounds, including the missing middle.

2024 bursary applications are now open so be sure to apply before the closing date. You may also be interested a bursary similar to this one, the NSFAS student bursary.

Overview

The ISFAP bursary is a well-rounded bursary offered to students and prospective students who cannot afford to pay their own fees.

ISFAP was established in response to the Fees Must Fall Movement which emphasises the need for higher education funding. With gaps still existing in funding, this is where ISFAP steps in and where the term ‘missing middle’ approaches.

The missing middle refers to students who don’t qualify for the NSFAS bursary due to their household incomes being over R350 000 per annum, the main NSFAS requirement, but they aren’t able to afford to pay their own fees. ISFAP then caters to these students.

ISFAP benefits

The ISFAP bursary covers your tuition fees, accommodation, food, learning materials such as your calculator and textbooks, a living allowance and pocket money. They also provide non-academic student support in the form of a project manage being available to support you, tutorial support, life support, admin support, life skills training as well as staff mentors.

This is what ISFAP refers to as wrap-around support as their funding support goes further than just your fees.

ISFAP Requirements 2024

In order to qualify for an ISFAP bursary, you need to:

• Have a household income which falls between R0 and R600 000
• Meet academic criteria and registration, which vary per institution but will include:
  • A National Benchmarking Test for some institutions (academic and behavioral strength)
  • Matric results
  • Funder constraints (that meet individual funder objectives) which will be applied to students applying
• Registered for courses at universities which fall under ISFAP’s areas of study that they fund

ISFAP Bursary Application 2024

You will be required to upload supporting documents during the application. The supporting documents include:

• Certified ID Copy of the Applicant
• Certified Copy of Latest Academic Results (Grade 11 or Matric)
• Certified Proof of Income

How to Apply for ISFAP Bursary

ISFAP has an exciting bursary opportunity for post graduate students for the 2024 academic year. Students of interest must be pursuing Honours or Masters studies in Humanities, Engineering, Accounting, Actuaries, Post Grad in Teaching TVET Colleges OR Entrepreneurship.

For more information and to apply visit: https://pg.isfap.org.za/

The bursary applications close on the 5th January 2024.

Once submitted, your application will be added to a database which will be used to pair qualifying students that match donor/ISFAP criteria. ISFAP will keep you informed regarding the status of your application.