Bursary funding options
Merit Awards
Excellence Awards (for first-year students)
Stellenbosch University (SU) identifies students who will contribute to the institution’s well-established core functions: research and innovation, learning and teaching, and social impact. The University produces reliable and relevant knowledge, develops human potential, and forges meaningful partnerships with the rest of society. All of this makes SU a jewel in the crown of higher education in South Africa, and we are delighted and proud to have top learners join us as ‘Maties’.
Excellence awards are granted solely on the basis of scholastic or academic achievement and are not based on financial need. There is no application process as the final grade 12 results are automatically computer-collated and recipients identified according to the academic criteria per merit award category.
Achievement awards
a) Vice Chancellor’s Award
The Vice-Chancellor’s Award is allocated in recognition of sterling grade 12 final academic results achieved.
The following candidates will be considered for this award:
- ten awards to top first-year applicants who passed National Senior Certificate (NSC), and received a final offer to study towards an undergraduate qualification
- five awards to top first-year applicants who passed the Independent Examination Board (IEB), Cambridge, and other recognised international examination bodies, and received a final offer to study towards an undergraduate qualification.
The Vice-Chancellor awardees will receive correspondence from SU in January once examination board results have been released. Each award value is R100 000 and is a once-off allocation to the Student Fees account.
Important note The proposed list and final selection of candidates will be approved by the chair of the Bursaries and Loans Committee (KBL).
b) Top Achiever Award
The Top Achiever Award recognises the sterling grade 12 academic achievement of 20 registered, first-year students. The following candidates will be considered for this award:
- the top ten, first-year students who are enrolled at SU and who attended any school across all recognised examination bodies
- the top ten, first-year students who are enrolled at SU and who attended a quintile 1 to 4 school (as classified by the Department of Basic Education) and passed the National Senior Certificate (NSC)
The Top Achiever awardees will receive correspondence from SU in February once examination board results have been released. Each award value is R75 000 and is a once-off allocation to the Student Fees account.
Merit Awards
c) Excel Award
The Excel Award is allocated to the top 1 to 5% of first-time entry, first-year registered students per faculty.
Each award value is R25 000 and is a once-off allocation to the Student Fees account.
d) Access Award
The Access Award is allocated to all registered, first-year students from quintile 1 to 4 schools (as classified by the Department of Basic Education), and passed the National Senior Certificate (NSC) with a grade 12 average above 80%. The value of each award is based on a sliding scale and is a once-off allocation to the Student Fees account:
- more than 80% but less than 85% average: R5 000
- more than 85% but less than 90% average: R7 500
- more than 90% average: R10 000
Important note The averages used for Excel and Access awards are based on the calculation as per the University’s admission policy.
The Excel and Access awardees will receive correspondence from SU in February once the examination board results have been released and faculty registrations have been concluded.
Summary of conditions for an excellence award
- These awards are available to South African citizens and students with permanent residence status.
- A recipient must be registered at Stellenbosch University for their first year of study.
- Registration at Stellenbosch University must also be the student’s first registration at a higher education institution.
- The final grade 12 results are applicable, but re-marks will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
- A recipient must have passed grade 12 (matric) not more than two years prior to the first year of study.
- The award is only applicable for the first year of study and cannot be carried over to a next study year.
- If a student de-registers before the end of the first semester, the full award will be forfeited. If a student de-registered during the course of the second semester, 50% of the award will be forfeited.
- A recipient whose parent(s) qualify for an SU staff rebate on tuition fees will receive a pro-rated percentage of the award.
Senior Merit Bursary (for senior-year students)
The minimum academic requirement is a weighted average of 75% or higher and placement in the top 5% of senior students within the same faculty. The award is a once-off, tuition only rebate* allocation to the Student Fees account. Please note the rebate is capped up to 20%, dependent on the number of qualifying candidates and the total monetary value available for merit bursaries.
*The rebate excludes module and/or programme costs and it does not cover other expenses such as textbooks, accommodation, meals, and transport.
The Senior Merit Bursary awardees will receive correspondence from SU in February once faculty registrations have been concluded.
Summary of conditions for a Senior Merit Bursary
- A recipient must be registered at Stellenbosch University for their undergraduate senior year of study.
- A recipient must be a full-time student of the University.
- A recipient must be registered for an appropriate degree programme.
- A recipient must take the full number of modules prescribed for the year of study concerned.
- Students who studied at other institutions are to submit their results before 15 February of the current academic year to the Centre for Undergraduate Bursaries and Loans (CUBL) for consideration.
- The award is only applicable for one year of study and cannot be carried over to a next study year.
- The Senior Merit Bursary will not be granted based on a student’s final-year undergraduate academic results.
- If a student de-registers before the end of the first semester, the full award will be forfeited. If a student de-registered during the course of the second semester, 50% of the award will be forfeited.
- A recipient whose parent(s) qualify for an SU staff rebate on tuition fees will receive a pro-rated percentage of the award.
Important additional notes: Excellence Awards and Senior Merit Bursary
- An Excel Award or an Access Award cannot be allocated in addition to a Vice-Chancellor’s Award or a Top Achiever Award. A student who is identified for an Excel Award may, however, also receive an Access Award, or vice versa. All Undergraduate Excellence Awards and the Senior Merit Bursary may also be received in addition to another partial cost bursary but not in addition to any other bursary or a combination of bursaries that cover the total cost of attendance*.
- The award will settle the Student Fees account first. Only thereafter, any credit available may be used for allowance disbursements such as accommodation, meals, textbooks, and travel associated with the student’s circumstances and living arrangements.
- You are obliged to inform the Centre for Undergraduate Bursaries and Loans (CUBL) of any bursary or funding held concurrently to your Undergraduate Excellence Award or Senior Merit Bursary, whether from your faculty, an external company, trust, or the Government.
- The University reserves the right to reduce or cancel this award allocation accordingly and should you receive a full scholarship offer of which the components cover your total cost of attendance* for the year, then this award will be automatically cancelled.
*Cost of attendance is a combination of costs that include tuition fees, accommodation, meals, study materials, and travel (the latter strictly associated with a student’s studies and based on a student’s circumstances and living arrangements)
When are monies paid out?
An Undergraduate Excellence Award or Senior Merit Bursary will reflect on your Student Fees account no later than the June statement.
Refund process
No cash refunds will be paid out. The only exception to monies being paid out is if a payment has been made to your account and the account has a credit. In this instance, please email CUBL and request the bank form to provide proof of payment from a parent/legal guardian. The rebate will show as a credit on your Student Fees account, with monies paid out from August.
Why may an excellence award or senior merit bursary be cancelled or reduced?
Cancellation If a student receives a full cost bursary, or a combination of bursaries that cover the full cost of attendance*, then the Undergraduate Excellence Award or Senior Merit Bursary will be cancelled.
Reduction If a student receives one or more partial bursaries and the excellence or senior merit award increases this funding to above the cost of attendance*, then the Undergraduate Excellence Award or Senior Merit Bursary will be reduced accordingly, so the combination of bursaries equals the cost of attendance.
*Cost of attendance is a combination of costs that include tuition fees, accommodation, meals, study materials, and travel (the latter strictly associated with a student’s studies and based on a student’s circumstances and living arrangements)
For any technical issues whilst completing your 2024 SU Funding Opportunities application
Please email sufunding@studenthero.co.za or WhatsApp https://wa.me/27716250562 with a screenshot or detailed description of the problem encountered.
For any general or document issues whilst completing your 2024 SU Funding Opportunities application
Please call 021 808 9111 or email info@sun.ac.za for assistance.
Stellenbosch Campus
Physical Address
Admin A Building, Ryneveld Street, Stellenbosch 7600
Office hours
Monday to Friday 8:00 – 16:30
+27 21 808 9111
info@sun.ac.za
Tygerberg Campus
Physical Address
Clinical Building, Francie van Zijl Drive, Tygerberg 7505
Office hours
Monday to Friday 8:00 – 16:30
+27 21 938 9129 / 21 808 9111
tygbursaries@sun.ac.za
Centre for Undergraduate Bursaries and Loans (CUBL)
sunfinaid@sun.ac.za
All NSFAS and FUNZA bursary assistance at SU, including FMHS NSFAS/FUNZA students
nsfas@sun.ac.za
Email correspondence
Due to the high volume of emails received, all email correspondence must please include an SU student number, bursary name/ref, and a short descriptor in the subject line, for example: ‘12345678 / NSFAS – allowance payment query’. This will ensure your enquiry can be attended to promptly and efficiently.