The Ikusasa Student Financial Aid Programme (ISFAP) is a great resource for South African students who need financial assistance to pursue their tertiary education. They offer bursaries for undergraduate and postgraduate studies at select universities.
Here’s a guide to applying for an ISFAP bursary:
ISFAP Bursary Applications Eligibility
- Be a South African citizen.
- Have been accepted into a qualifying degree program at a partner university.
- Meet the financial means test criteria.
- Demonstrate academic merit.
ISFAP Bursary Required Documents
- Completed online application form.
- Certified copies of your ID and the IDs of your parents/guardians/household contributors.
- Certified copy of your latest academic results (e.g., matric certificate, undergraduate transcript).
- Certified proof of income for each household contributor (e.g., payslips, grant recipient proof).
- Signed consent form by you and your household contributors (certified by a Commissioner of Oaths).
- Proof of registration at your university (if applicable).
- A motivation letter explaining why you need the bursary and your career goals.
- A curriculum vitae.
How to Apply to ISFAP Bursary
- Applications for the new academic year open at the end of May in the previous session.
- Apply online through the ISFAP portal: https://www.isfap.org.za/
- Make sure you submit all the required documents by the deadline.
- ISFAP will keep you updated on the status of your application.
IMPORTANT:
Here are some additional tips for your ISFAP bursary application:
- Don’t wait until the last minute to apply. Give yourself plenty of time to gather all the required documents.
- Make sure your application is free of errors and typos.
- In your motivation letter, be sure to highlight your academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and community involvement.
- Keep your motivation letter and CV concise and to the point.
- Ask a friend, family member, or teacher to review your application before you submit it.