University of Stellenbosch Funding information
e University can unfortunately not guarantee any student sufficient financial assistance to cover all study and living expenses.
Students are advised to plan their finances carefully and to check whether or not they meet the basic requirements, such as academic merit, before applying for a bursary. International students only qualify for the merit bursary – for which an applicant’s weighted average should be 75%.
Bursaries based on academic merit
Postgraduate students who attained a weighted average final year mark of 75% or more for preceding degree are eligible to apply. Minimum prescribed number of credits apply. Marks are calculated according to specified regulations. A progress mark in the present year of study will not be taken into account due to the fact that students’ academic performance must be evaluated on a comparative basis. Some study programmes do not offer progress marks; consequently the weighted average (of the final year’s marks of the previous qualification) is the criterion for the allocation of a Postgraduate Merit Bursary as well as for the allocation of most other bursaries and scholarships administered at this University.
The University acts as an agent for the National Research Foundation (NRF)’s freestanding scholarships and its grant holder-linked bursaries. Postgraduate students can apply for a limited number of smaller private bursaries. Information on these can be found under “Funding available – administered by SU”.
These bursaries are limited to certain fields of study and offer small amounts to a few selected students only. When allocation of these private bursaries is done, preference is given to the highest level of study (degree programme) and the highest marks, unless stated otherwise. Some departments, especially those in the fields of science and technology, offer financial assistance from departmental funds to selected students. It is important for prospective postgraduate students to contact the department in which they intend studying, not only to seek financial assistance but, more importantly, to discuss the nature of the postgraduate programme and to lay the basis for a good working relationship. No bursary will be granted to a student without the department’s recommendation.
Bursaries based on financial need
The University offers bursaries for extremely financially needy students with academic potential. Please note, financial need is determined by a means test based on i. a. family income. The University will under no circumstances grant a bursary based on financial need to people with a fair income but who have financial problems due to the lifestyle choices they have made, e.g. to own a house and make bond repayments, or to help family members studying at other institutions, etc. These bursaries are for those students who consistently performed well during their undergraduate / previous postgraduate years and have a very low family income. It is important to note that these bursaries are not big enough to cover all study costs and that students must also seek additional sources of funding.
Students with a fair family income (more than R100 000 per annum before any deductions) should rather contact Edu-loan. Edu-loan is a private organisation that offers study loans, and as a result of a contract concluded between Edu-loan and the University, prospective students can obtain a study loan at a reasonable rate of interest. Contact telephone number: 0860 5555 44.