Please refer to the Grade 12 FAQs pdf.

All study applicants who are South African citizens and who received a conditional or final offer from Stellenbosch Unversity may apply.

Since the University’s financial resources are limited, funding is allocated based on financial need (household financial circumstances) and academic merit (the applicant’s potential to study successfully).

SU funding applications for prospective students open 1 October to 31 October 2024 only. Late admissions will be managed on a case-by-case basis.

Stellenbosch University (SU) offers a range of mostly partial-cost bursaries. For details, consult the Bursary Yearbook* and the Types of funding tab on the Centre for Undergraduate Bursaries & Loans (CUBL) website.

*All bursaries with the Applications: SUFO link means you can apply online during the SU Funding Opportunities (SUFO) application period

You will need to provide various documents to support your application for funding from Stellenbosch University. Please see the table below for a summary of the support documents you will need to submit, depending on your personal, family, and financial circumstances. All applicants must complete the Consent Form, signed by all parties.

All documents submitted as proof of income will be verified by a third party.

Clearly label each support document and upload as a pdf when requested in the online application form.

As a prospective student, once you have accepted your conditional or final offer, you will receive an email from the Centre for Undergraduate Bursaries & Loans (CUBL) which will include details on how to apply for SU Funding Opportunities (SUFO). All applications are online, and you will need your SU student number to access the portal. In the interim, more information is available on the CUBL website, under the Application Process tab.

All applications will be considered after the closing date. Applicants for Stellenbosch University’s own bursaries will be notified of the outcome by end-February. The outcome dates for bursaries made available by SU external donors may vary, however, the majority will be allocated by end-May.

Applications are online via the NSFAS website, www.nsfas.org.za. You will need to create a myNSFAS account and then follow the application instructions.

NSFAS funds first-time entering (FTEN) students at public universities. This bursary is available to South African citizens, students with permanent residence status, and all SASSA grant recipients. Funding is for the duration of your study programme, provided you meet the academic requirements and remain financially eligible.

Students who come from a home with a gross household income (HHI) of less than R350 000 per year (R29 167 per month) – or a for a student living with a disability, a gross HHI of not more than R600 000 per year (R50 000 per month) – are strongly advised to apply for this government-funded National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) bursary.

Applications usually open late November and close 31 January. We recommend that you check the official NSFAS website regularly for announcements and news.

Stellenbosch University does not manage the application or selection process for NSFAS. We only help administer bursary disbursements to successful applicants as instructed by government.

Important note All prospective students who apply for NSFAS funding must also apply to SU Funding Opportunities (SUFO)*.The student is then registered on the CUBL database, which ensures you are considered for top-up funding (costs not covered by NSFAS allowances) from the University. Top-up funding includes accommodation shortfall, emergency, and/or graduate debt funding; it aims to bridge the financial gaps not covered by NSFAS.

*The University has limited funds available; an application for funding is not a guarantee that funding will be granted

Yes, all prospective (and current) NSFAS-funded students must also apply to SU Funding Opportunities (SUFO). This means you are then registered on the CUBL database, which ensures you are considered for top-up funding (costs not covered by NSFAS allowances) from the University. Top-up funding includes accommodation shortfall, emergency, and/or graduate debt funding; it aims to bridge the financial gaps not covered by NSFAS.

All prospective students are encouraged to research and apply for other funding options at the same time that you apply for SU funding*.

GoStudy and Allbursaries are good starting points: bursaries are listed by study programme and/or closing date.

For prospective students from a home where the gross annual household income is less than R600 000 (R50 000 per month), you can consider signing up to feenix – a crowdsourcing platform.

You’re welcome to contact Student Finances Client Service on 021 808 3530 or email info@sun.ac.za. If you are sending an email, remember to include your unique, 8-digit SU student number (#) in this subject line: # / SUFO query. Please allow 48 hours for an email reply.