The University of Witwatersrand (Wits) is one of South Africa's leading research universities. The institution has been around for 100 years and still boasts a large student population of more than 40,000 students.
Located in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, 63% of the university's total enrolment is for undergraduate study, with 35% being postgraduate.
The university has five faculties focusing on Sciences, Commerce, Law, Management, Engineering, Health Sciences and Humanities. Their 33 schools collectively offer more than 3000 courses.
Prospective students can choose from a wide range of courses on both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
However, the cost of some of the courses offered cannot be absorbed by the households of poor and working-class students. Apart from tuition fees, students also need to budget for books, stationery and travel costs.
Many of these students will have to rely on alternative funding sources to finance their studies. This includes student loans and bursaries.
These Bursaries Have Your Wits Course Fees Covered
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (Nsfas) provides bursaries to deserving students from poor and working-class backgrounds. Nsfas bursaries cover a student’s tuition and accommodation fees. They will also receive a transport allowance, stationary allowance and personal care allowance.
Sasol Bursary
The Sasol Bursary is awarded to students enrolled in undergraduate studies in Chemical Engineering and Mining engineering.
Funza Lushaka Bursary
The Funza Lushaka Bursary aims to increase the number of teachers in South Africa by funding students enrolled in a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE).
Sports Bursaries
Students who excel in sports can submit a Wits Sports Bursary Application. These bursaries are funded by the University itself, and by the generosity of alumni, the business and non-profit communities, and past Wits sports achievers.
National Olympiad Winners
Students who have won and are within the top ten runners-up in the English and Mathematics National Olympiad competitions can visit the Wits Financial Aid and Scholarships Office. A winner will receive R20,000 while the top-10 runners-up will receive R8,000.
Wits Entrance Scholarships
Wits university also provides scholarships worth up to R42,000 to students, based on their National Senior Certificate (NSC) admission point score (APS). The APS score is calculated excluding Life Orientation.
Students with an APS…
51 and higher will receive R42,000
Between 49 and 50 will receive R30,000
Between 45 and 47 will receive R15,000
Between 43 and 44 will receive R10,000
Passenger Rail Agency Of South Africa
The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) offers bursaries to students enrolled in several academic disciplines related to Prasa’s work. These include providing bursaries for technical courses and courses in engineering and operations.
There are plenty of bursaries which students in South Africa can apply for. Information on all these bursaries can be found on the Bursaries Portal website.
