The University of South Africa (known as Unisa), is South Africa’s largest university system, by a number of enrollments. UNISA is a comprehensive university that offers vocational and academic programmes, many of which have received international accreditation, as well as an extensive geographical footprint.
Unisa has 8 prestigious colleges, which offer a variety of high-quality academic and vocational programmes. Students may pursue qualifications within any of these departments: College of Accounting Sciences (CAS); College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (CAES); College of Economic and Management Sciences (CEMS); College of Education (CEDU); College of Graduate Studies; College of Human Sciences (CHS); College of Law (CLAW); College of Science, Engineering and Technology (CSET). Unisa also has a Graduate School of Business Leadership (SBL), which is recognised as one of the top business schools in South Africa.
ABOUT THE UNISA BURSARY PROGRAMME – FIELDS COVERED
Unisa is inviting Postgraduate students to apply for bursary funding, for the 2024 academic year.
Bursaries will be awarded for Postgraduate studies at Unisa, within ALL fields of study, towards a:
- Doctoral qualification
- Honours qualification
- Master’s qualification
- Postgraduate Diploma
MORE ABOUT THE UNISA BURSARY PROGRAMME – COVERAGE VALUE & SELECTION
The bursary will provide cover for the following expenses, in order to allow Unisa students to register and complete their qualifications:
- Postgraduate Diploma and Honours bursary: tuition fees only
- Master’s degree by research and experimental research bursary: tuition fees and research essentials (capped at R55 000) over the first 3 consecutive years of study
- Master’s degree by coursework bursary: tuition fees and research essentials (capped at R25 000) over the first 2 consecutive years of study
- Doctoral degree by research bursary: tuition fees and research essentials (capped at R80 000) over the first 4 consecutive years of study
- Doctoral degree by experimental research bursary: tuition fees and research essentials (cappped at R120 000) over the first 4 consecutive years of study
The College of Graduate Studies (CGS), partnered with the Division of Student Funding, is committed to jointly managing the postgraduate bursary processes, via the Postgraduate Bursaries Administration. Together, the CGS Postgraduate bursaries Administration and the Division of
Student Funding (DSF), will decide on the amounts awarded to successful applications.
Applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application via their myLife email account.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE UNISA BURSARY
Applicants must satisfy the following minimum entry criteria before applying (please note that failure to satisfy all the requirements will lead to your application not being considered):
Postgraduate Diploma and Honours bursary:
- You must be a South African citizen
- You must have completed an undergraduate qualification by no later than 31 January 2024
- You must have achieved a minimum overall average of 60% for your entire undergraduate degree
- You must be temporarily registered to study at Unisa by 28 February 2024
- You must intend on studying towards a Postgraduate Diploma or Honours qualification at Unisa in 2024
- You must NOT hold any postgraduate degree at the same level or a higher level
- You must NOT be registering for a special study programme (certificates and non-degrees)
- You must NOT be a permanent staff member at Unisa
Master’s and Doctoral bursary:
- You must be a South African citizen or an international student, however preference will be given to South African students (in a 80/20 ratio)
- You must have completed your Research Proposal Module by no later than 31 January 2024, if applying for the M&D research
- You must have completed a Honours or Postgraduate Diploma qualification by no later than 31 January 2024, if applying for Master’s by Coursework
- You must be temporarily registered to study at Unisa by 28 February 2024
- You must intend on studying towards a Master’s or Doctoral qualification at Unisa in 2024
- You must NOT hold any postgraduate degree at the same level or a higher level
- You must NOT be registering for a special study programme (certificates and non-degrees)
- You must NOT be a permanent staff member at Unisa
HOW TO APPLY FOR THE UNISA BURSARY
Candidates can apply by following these application instructions:
1) Download the relevant application form:
Unisa Postgraduate Diploma & Honours Bursary Application Form 2024 (.pdf)
2) Fill in the application form on your smartphone, tablet or computer, using Adobe Acrobat Reader
3) Name your application form in the following format: Your student number_ PGD & HONOURS Bursary_Application Form_2024 (e.g., 123456789_PGD & HONOURS Bursary_Application Form_2024) or Your student number_M&D_Bursary_Application Form_2024 (e.g., 123456789_M&D_Bursary_Application Form_2024)
4) Submit your application on myUnisa
NOTES ABOUT THE UNISA BURSARIES
Postgraduate Diploma and Honours bursary notes:
- The bursary will NOT provide cover for any failed modules from your Postgraduate Diploma or Honours degree.
- Bursaries will be awarded subject to the availability of funds, and will be awarded to students from highest to the lowest performing.
- Bursaries will be awarded for 2 consecutive years of study only – recipients must reapply for the second year of funding, which will be granted based on the student maintaining a minimum average of 60%.
- Appeals can be submitted, along with your motivation, between 1 and 15 April 2024 – appeals must be submitted via email to the Postgraduate Bursaries Administration at: [email protected].
- Appeals will NOT be considered if there is insufficient funds available or the applicant has been a bursary beneficiary for the full years of the bursary.
- The bursary award will be cancelled if the recipient does not abide by the bursary conditions or terminates their studies.
Master’s and Doctoral bursary notes:
- The bursary will be awarded subject to submission of a satisfactory academic progress report from your supervisor(s) (Section C of the application form).
- Bursaries will be awarded for the first 2, 3 or 4 consecutive years of study – recipients must reapply for funding each year, which will be granted based on the student maintaining satisfactory academic progress.
- Bursaries will be awarded subject to the availability of funds.
- Appeals can be submitted, along with your motivation and supported or signed by the supervisor, between 1 and 15 April 2024 – appeals must be submitted via email to the Postgraduate Bursaries Administration at: [email protected].
- Appeals will NOT be considered if there is insufficient funds available or the applicant has been a bursary beneficiary for the full years of the bursary.
- The bursary award will be cancelled if the recipient does not abide by the bursary conditions or terminates their studies.
- Students should also read the Unisa Bursary Guides before applying.
CLOSING DATE FOR THE UNISA BURSARY
11 February (extension).
(Applications submitted after these dates will not be accepted – please apply before the closing date to ensure your application is considered.)
CONTACT THE BURSARY PROVIDER
For any queries related to this bursary programme, please communicated with Unisa via your myLife e-mail account:
Or email: [email protected] / [email protected]
For assistance with completing the form, email: [email protected] via your myLife email account
Note: Unisa will not respond to queries from any other email accounts (yahoo, gmail, outlook etc).