South Africa is home to 26 public universities. These educational institutions are often the goal for many learners who have obtained a matric qualification and want to further their education.
However, in South Africa, there are many students who cannot simply enrol at their dream programme before considering the costs associated with the programme.
The question around funding has led to questions being posed to The Bursaries Portal in which prospective students want to know if their are tuition free universities in South Africa.
Are There Any Tuition Free Universities In South Africa?
South Africa does not have fully tuition-free universities for all students, but there are significant efforts to provide free or subsidised education to students wanting to further their education at a university.
NSFAS
The South African government funds education for students from poor and working-class families through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme.
NSFAS provides comprehensive bursaries and student loans to deserving learners enrolled in approved courses at universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges. Funding includes tuition and registration fees as well as several allowances for food, accommodation, and learning materials.
NSFAS bursaries are available to students with a household income of less than R350,000 per annum.
University Scholarships
Some universities offer full scholarships based on merit, sports, or specific conditions, which can effectively make education tuition-free for selected students.
For information about university scholarships, it's best to visit the website of the university you're interested in attending and explore available scholarship opportunities along with their requirements.
Bursaries
Bursaries are financial awards provided to students to help cover the cost of their education.
Unlike loans, bursaries do not need to be repaid, making them a valuable form of financial assistance for students, especially those from low-income families or disadvantaged backgrounds.
Bursaries can be merit based or income based. The South African government, along with provincial government departments offer several bursaries to upskill their future workforces. Private companies also offer bursaries to help students cover the costs of tertiary education.
The Bursaries Portal contains a list of the latest bursaries available in South Africa and beyond.
