Any funding or bursary questions? Please call Student Finances Client Service team on 021 808 3530 or log a ticket on our service desk portal.

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 Award

The Vice-Chancellor Award is allocated in recognition of sterling grade 12 final academic results achieved.

Candidates who will be considered for the Vice-Chancellor’s Award are top achievers who excelled in National Senior Certificate (NSC), Independent Examination Board (IEB), Cambridge, and other international examinations recognised by SU – and who have received a final offer to study towards an undergraduate qualification.

Fifteen (15) awards will be made.

A selection committee comprising representatives from Student Recruitment and the Centre for Undergraduate Bursaries & Loans (CUBL) will submit selected awardees for approval by the chairperson of the Committee for Bursaries & Loans (CBL).

The Vice-Chancellor awardees will receive correspondence from SU after the examination board results have been released and final admission offers were made. Each award value is R100 000 and is a once-off allocation to the Student Fees account.

b) Achiever Award

The Achiever Award recognises the sterling grade 12 academic achievement of 20 registered, first-year students. The following candidates will be considered for this award:

  • Category 1: the top ten, first-year students who are enrolled at SU and who excelled in NSC, IEB, Cambridge, and other international examinations recognised by SU
  • Category 2: 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). Should any of the top ten candidates from a quintile 1 to 4 school rank in either the Vice-Chancellor’s Award or category 1 Achiever Award, the next candidate on this ranking list will be considered.

The Achiever awardees will receive correspondence from SU after the examination board results have been released and final admission offers were made. 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 a quintile 1 to 4 school (as classified by the Department of Basic Education) and who 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 after the examination board results have been released and faculty registrations have been concluded.

Summary of conditions for an excellence award

  1. These awards are available to South African citizens and students with permanent residence status.
  2. A recipient must be registered at Stellenbosch University for their first year of study.
  3. Registration at Stellenbosch University must also be the student’s first registration at a higher education institution.
  4. The final grade 12 results are applicable; re-marks will not be considered.
  5. A recipient must have passed grade 12 (matric) not more than two years prior to the first year of study.
  6. The award is a once-off allocation to the Student Fees account in the first year of study. Refer to additional notes section for any credit balance.
  7. 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.
  8. 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 Award (for senior-year students)

A Senior Merit Award is allocated to the top 5% of senior student achievers per faculty on the condition that a candidate obtains a weighted aggregate of at least 75% in their previous academic year.

The Senior Merit Award is calculated as a percentage of tuition fees, excluding module and programme costs. Following registration and once results have been announced, the award is calculated programmatically. The calculated amount is then automatically transferred to the awardee’s Student Fees account. Qualifying students receive a rebate* (discount) of up to 20% on their basic study fees.

Please note that the percentage of top achievers per faculty may be adjusted subject to the available budget for SU 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 awardees will receive correspondence from SU after faculty registrations have been concluded.

Summary of conditions for a Senior Merit Award

  1. A recipient must be registered at Stellenbosch University for their undergraduate senior year of study.
  2. The award is only applicable for one year of study and cannot be carried over to a next study year. Refer to additional notes section for any credit balance.
  3. 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.
  4. 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 Award

  • An Excel Award or an Access Award cannot be allocated in addition to a Vice-Chancellor’s Award or an Achiever Award. A student who is identified for an Excel Award may, however, also receive an Access Award, or vice versa.
  • The award will settle the Student Fees account first. If a credit results from an excellence award allocation at the end of an academic year, the credit may be carried forward to the following academic year that the student registers.

    In addition to this, however, for the Vice-Chancellor Award, the Achiever Award, and Senior Merit Award only: after settling the Student Fees account, 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 – or paid over to the student.
    In addition to this, however, for the Excel Award and the Access Award only: after settling the Student Fees account, 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.

  • All undergraduate excellence awards and the Senior Merit Award may be held concurrently with other bursaries or a combination of bursaries, subject to the bursar or funder conditions.
  • The University reserves the right to cancel an award allocation accordingly should it be determined that a student misrepresented any of the information used as criteria to qualify for an undergraduate excellence award.

When are monies paid out?

An undergraduate excellence award or Senior Merit Award 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 before receipt of the UGEA or SMA 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.

Contact Us

Any funding or bursary questions?

Please log a ticket on our service desk portal. To ensure a prompt and efficient response, include your SU student number, a clear description of the issue, and select the relevant category when creating your ticket.

Alternatively, please contact our Student Finances Client Service team on 021 808 3530. When prompted, select 1 for assistance in English or 2 for assistance in Afrikaans. Please note that we receive a high volume of calls, particularly during peak periods, which may lead to longer waiting times. We appreciate your patience and encourage you to make use of the service desk portal.

To log a ticket on the service desk portal, please follow these steps:

    1. Access the service desk portal by typing “SU Service Desk” in your browser or clicking here
    2. Log In with your SU credentials. If you do not have an SU profile, create a new account with a valid email address and password.
    3. Navigate to Student Finances, then select “Student Fees” or “Undergraduate Bursaries.”
    4. Complete the query form by providing a clear description of your issue, including your SU student number and any supporting documents if applicable. Then, click "Create" to submit your ticket. Once submitted, you will receive a confirmation email.

    Stellenbosch campus

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    Please note that Admin A services are temporarily relocated to the Inorganic Chemistry Building until 2026 due to major renovations aimed at creating a more inclusive, student-focused space. We appreciate your understanding and patience during this time.

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    +27 21 808 3530

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