Established in 2016, the Ikusasa Student Financial Aid Programme aims to financially assist poor and middle-class students with their tertiary studies.
The programme unfortunately does not cover students who are enrolled on Postgraduate courses at the University of South Africa (Unisa). However, ISFAP currently avails its funding assistance to eligible university students in 11 public institutions throughout the country, with a focus on the following courses:
Central University of Technology
- Bachelor of Engineering Technology in Mechanical Engineering
Nelson Mandela University
- Bachelor of Engineering Technology in Civil Engineering
- Bachelor of Engineering Technology in Electrical Engineering
- Bachelor of Engineering Technology in Industrial Engineering
- Bachelor of Engineering Technology in Marine Engineering
- Bachelor of Engineering Technology in Mechanical Engineering
- Bachelor of Engineering in Mechatronics
Stellenbosch University
- BEng Civil Engineering
- BEng Electric and Electronic
- BEng Mechatronic
- BEng Industrial Engineering
- BEng Mechanical Engineering
- BEng Chemical Engineering
- Bachelor of Accounting
- Medicine (MBChB)
Tshwane University of Technology
- Bachelor of Technology in Nursing
- National Diploma in Medical Orthotics and Prosthetics
- University of Cape Town
- Bachelor of Business in Actuarial Science
- Bachelor of Science in Engineering in Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Bachelor of Science in Mechatronics
- Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering
- Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering
- Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
- Bachelor of Science in Engineering and Electrical Engineering
- Medicine (MBChB)
- Occupational Therapy
University of Johannesburg
- BAcc Bachelor of Accounting
- B(Eng. Tech) Electrical Engineering
- B(Eng. Tech) Mechanical Engineering
- B(Eng) Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- B(Eng) Electrical and Electronic Engineering with Information Technology
- B(Eng) Mechanical Engineering
- Bachelor of Science in Information Technology in Computer Science and Informatics
University of KwaZulu-Natal
- Bachelor of Occupation Therapy
- Bachelor of Pharmacy
- Bachelor of Physiotherapy
- MBChB
University of Pretoria
- BCom Accounting Sciences
- BSc Actuarial and Financial Mathematics
- Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBChB)
- BEng Chemical Engineering
- BEng Civil Engineering
- BEng Computer Engineering
- BEng Electrical Engineering
- BEng Electric and Electronic Engineering
- BEng Industrial Engineering
- BEng Mechanical Engineering
- BEng Metallurgical Engineering
- BEng Mining Engineering
University of Venda
- Bachelor of Arts in Language Practice
- Bachelor of Arts in Social Work
- Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting
- University of Witwatersrand
- Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting
- Bachelor of Economic Science in Actuarial Science
- BCom General
- Bcom Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE)
- Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering
- Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering
- Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering
- Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
- Bachelor of Medicine
- Bachelor of Arts in Speech and Hearing
- BSc (Maths of Finance)
- BSc (Statistics and Actuarial Science)
Walter Sisulu University
- Bachelor of Chemistry
- Bachelor of Physics with Chemistry
- Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery
Students must meet the bursary's requirements in order to be eligible for funding assistance. This includes being nationals of South Africa and meeting the minimum household income threshold of R600,000.
The bursary covers the following fees:
- Full university Fees (paid in full)
- Accommodation*
- Books*
- Meals Stipend*
- Cash allowance
- Academic (tutorials; academic development & extended programmes)
- Social support
- Life skills training
- Mentoring (first-year experience)
- Medical support (psycho-social support)
- Access to dedicated programme managers.
It is also worth noting that, a cap is used to subsidise these amounts (maximum amount). Moreover, the tertiary institution's study costs may have an impact on the funding provided by the programme.
To ensure that the student is coping with their academic workload, the bursary tracks the student's academic progress via the student academic portal. If students are struggling with the workload, they are encouraged to seek university support.
