How can a foreign student get financial aid if they got good matric results?

The long answer

Unfortunately, it is very difficult for foreign citizens to get financial aid, as most bursaries and the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) only apply to South African students. 

A GroundUp article in February 2023 quoted James Chapman, the Head of Advocacy and Legal Advisor at the Scalabrini Centre, as saying that the Centre had approached many funders, foundations, and companies for assistance for foreign students, and in total the amount of that funding was about R14 million, while NSFAS and private funders offered billions of rands for South Africans. The number of foreign citizens in South Africa was about 2.9 million, he said, and many were unable to do tertiary education because of lack of funds. He said that tertiary funding opportunities should be offered to everyone, not just South Africans.

A further hardship is that foreign students also have to pay 75% of their fees upfront at South African universities. This, said Buhle Zuma, the spokesman for Wits University, was required by Home Affairs. And while a student may be doing well academically, they struggle to meet these financial requirements.

A well-known bursary for foreigners in South Africa is the Mukuru Bursary but it only awards bursaries to two foreign national Grade 12 learners per year to study at a university or a technical university in South Africa. The learners must be interested in studying one of the following subjects:

1. Business Analysis

2. Information Technology Engineers

3. Software Architecture

4. Software Development

5. Software Development Management

6. Software Quality Assurance

These are the minimum entry requirements for the Mukuru Bursary:    

• You must have completed Matric

• You must have achieved a minimum overall average of 70% and a Bachelor’s Pass in Matric

• You must be studying full time towards an undergraduate qualification, within one of the fields of study listed above

• You must be in your 1st, 2nd or 3rd year of study

• You must have achieved a minimum overall average of 65% at tertiary level

• You must be registered to study at a recognised and accredited tertiary institution in South Africa (University or University of Technology)

• You must be in financial need

• You must NOT be an employee of Mukuru

• You must read and agree to the Mukuru Education Fund Bursary T&C’s

Perhaps the best advice is to ask an organisation like the Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town for help and advice. These are their contact details:

• Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town (www.scalabrini.org.za) 

• Email: info@scalabrini.org.za 

• Tel: + 27 (0) 21 465 6433

It would also be a good idea to visit the university or technical college that you are interested in; show them your academic record and ask what financial assistance you might qualify for, and if they know of any other bursary or donors that might assist you.

Wishing you the best,
Athalie