IKUSASA Bursary South Africa 2025 | Online Application

The Ikusasa bursary is a great opportunity for students wanting to pursue their education but are unable due to a lack of financial resources. The bursary applies to both low-income and missing middle-income university students.

Planning to apply for the Ikusasa bursary for the next session? Here is a complete guide on the eligibility criteria, list of universities, and application process. So, dive right in for more.

About the Bursary

The ISFAP or Ikusasa Student Financial Aid Programme was established to facilitate the poor and missing middle-income university students (unable to fund their studies). Each year, it opens a list of selected universities and courses for undergraduate and postgraduate students. The bursary offers academic and non-academic support, including funding, life-skill training, social support, medical support, and mentoring.

IKUSASA Bursary Eligibility Criteria

To become eligible for the ISFAP bursary, you must fulfill the following requirements.

• The candidate must be a South African national.
• The candidate must have completed Matric. Or the candidate must be currently in their Matric qualification.
• The candidate must have been accepted to study at one of the public tertiary institutions listed below. They must be studying toward a qualification listed by Ikusasa.
• The candidate must be starting their first undergraduate year in 2025.
• The candidate must have a family income of not more than R600,000 per annum.
• The candidate must prove they are in financial need and require funding to complete their education.

IKUSASA Bursary Application Process

Applying to the Ikusasa ISFAP bursary is easy. The entire process is online. Here is how you can submit your application for the Ikusasa bursary.

• First, register yourself at the ISFAP online application portal (applyonline.isfap.org.za/user/register). Provide some personal details and set up a password.
• Once done, log into your account and click the Apply button.
• Fill out the application form. It usually requires details about your finances, personal details, and academic records.
• Double-check everything and make sure everything is factually correct.
• After this, upload clear copies of all the documents and you are done. Any missing item can result in your disqualification.

Documents Required for the Bursary

Here are a few documents you must submit along with the Ikusasa bursary.

• A South African national ID document (certified copy).
• Matric or Grade 11 latest results. It applies to candidates who are currently studying in Matric (certified copy).
• Matric academic records (degree certificate and transcripts). It must be certified copies of the documents. This condition applies to the candidates who have completed their Matric.
• ISFAP funding application consent form. You can download this from here (applyonline.isfap.org.za/sites/default/files/form/isfap-application_consent_form_v1.pdf). It must be completed by the application and their household contributors (certified copy).
• Proof of household income. It should be the latest payslips if they are employed, an affidavit if they are unemployed, and proof of pensions and social grants if possible. All the documents should be in a certified copy.
• Proof of guardian ID document (certified copy).

University Selection for ISFAP Bursary

Each year, ISFAP allocates a list of universities and courses for the bursary program. For the 2025 academic year, the list of universities and courses is as follows.

• University of Johannesburg
• University of Pretoria
• University of Witwatersrand
• University of Cape Town
• Stellenbosch University
• University of KwaZulu-Natal
• Nelson Mandela University
• Walter Sisulu University
• University of Venda
• Tshwane University of Technology
• Central University of Technology

You can see the listed programs and courses on each university’s official website.

Expenses Covered by the ISFAP Bursary

The ISFAP bursary 2025 is aimed to cover your full university fees, accommodation expenses, books or study material, meals stipend, social support, and academic costs. It further provides students with a living stipend, medical support, and academic support (life-skill training and mentoring), along with access to dedicated program managers on an LMS. Please note that the amounts are subsidized with a cap, so you can contact the university student office for further assistance.

IKUSASA Bursary Contact Details

For further bursary-related queries, you can directly contact Ikusasa through the following contacts.

• Telephone: 010 880 0400
• Email Address: [email protected]

If you are unable to facilitate your education yet want to continue it, the ISFAP bursary is an excellent opportunity. Aside from academic support, it helps students develop a personality, suitable for the market through their medical support, mentoring programs, and life-skill training. Finally, I hope this guide was helpful for anyone preparing for the bursary application.