ISFAP, the Ikusasa Student Financial Aid Programme, is a donor-funded bursary programme for South African students at partner universities. It funds qualifications in Occupations of High Demand, and awards are based on academic achievement and a financial means test. Funding is discretionary and not guaranteed to every applicant.
The ISFAP bursary requirements below come from the ISFAP welcome and application notice, which refers to the 2025 first-degree intake, and from ISFAP’s student pages. Confirm the details for your own intake on the ISFAP online application portal.
Eligibility Requirements at a Glance
- South African citizenship.
- Academic achievement and acceptance into the ISFAP partner university of your choice for the relevant degree programme.
- A qualification in an Occupation of High Demand at an accredited South African university.
- Financial need shown through a means test.
- Availability of funding (which universities, qualifications and groups of students) is set by ISFAP’s funding partners.
The 2025 notice says ISFAP would fund first-year undergraduate students that year and does not guarantee funding for all applicants. The portal also has a postgraduate login for master’s and honours study; doctoral (PhD) study is not funded.
Income and Affordability Requirements
ISFAP assesses financial need with a means test. It does not publish an income threshold or band on the pages we read, so we do not state one here. Do not assume your household is in or out of range: apply and let the means test decide.
Applications are reviewed for academic merit, financial need and career goals.
Credit and Financial Requirements
ISFAP does not describe a credit check on the pages we read; the assessment is academic achievement and the means test. What the bursary covers is described below, and the terms of any award, including whether any repayment or work-back obligation applies, are not stated on those pages. Ask ISFAP and get the terms in writing before accepting.
ISFAP bursary allowances: the funding package includes tuition, accommodation, study material, a monthly stipend and meals. ISFAP does not publish the stipend amount. Alongside the funding you get student support: academic support, psychosocial counselling, career guidance and skills development, with an on-campus ISFAP programme manager.
Documents and Verification Required
ISFAP bursary documents needed (mandatory list on the application notice):
- Certified copy of the applicant’s ID.
- Certified copies of the IDs of your parents, guardians or household contributors.
- Certified copy of your latest academic results (Grade 11 or matric), not password protected.
- The ISFAP consent form, signed by you and your household contributors and certified by a Commissioner of Oaths.
All documents must have been certified within the last three months. Certification can be done at a police station or post office, or by a Commissioner of Oaths, police officer or school principal, with signature, date and official stamp. Applications without the supporting documents uploaded will not be considered.
Check the document list on the portal to see whether proof of household income is also required before you submit.
How to Apply and Improve Approval Readiness
For the ISFAP bursary application, use the ISFAP online application portal. It is the only place to apply online, with separate undergraduate and postgraduate logins.
- Check the eligibility criteria and that your degree is at an ISFAP partner university.
- Get your documents certified and the consent form signed and certified.
- Complete the online form and upload everything as early as possible before the closing date.
- Wait for review; applications are added to a database used to match qualifying students to donor and ISFAP criteria. You can check status through the portal.
The portal notice we read covers the 2025 intake only, and the current closing date was not published where we looked. If you are searching for the 2025 application, that cycle is over; check the portal for the current one. Whether ISFAP charges an application fee is not stated on the pages we read, so be wary of anyone asking you to pay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is ISFAP for?
South African students at ISFAP partner universities who are studying towards an Occupation of High Demand, can show financial need through a means test, and have strong academic results.
Is ISFAP a loan or a bursary?
ISFAP presents itself as a bursary programme, but the pages we read do not give the terms of an award. Confirm with ISFAP whether any repayment or work-back obligation applies before you accept.
Does ISFAP fund any degree?
No. It funds qualifications in Occupations of High Demand at partner universities, as determined by its funding partners.
What documents do I need for an ISFAP bursary?
A certified ID copy of the applicant, certified ID copies of parents, guardians or household contributors, certified latest results (Grade 11 or matric) and a signed consent form certified by a Commissioner of Oaths. All must be certified within three months.
What does the ISFAP bursary pay for?
Tuition, accommodation, study material, a monthly stipend and meals. The stipend amount is not published.
What is the wraparound support?
Academic support, psychosocial counselling, career guidance and skills development provided alongside the funding.
How do I contact ISFAP?
Email [email protected], phone 010 880 0400 or WhatsApp 072 617 8072, or use the ISFAP contact page.
Confirm current criteria, dates and award terms with ISFAP. See bursary requirements, NSFAS requirements, loan requirements and browse all finance and funding requirements.