ISFAP Bursary 2027: Undergraduate Funding for Students, Closes 31 October

The Ikusasa Student Financial Aid Programme (ISFAP) has opened applications for its 2027 bursary, and the closing date is 31 October 2026. If you are in matric or have finished matric, have been accepted at an approved public university, and come from a household earning R600,000 a year or less, the ISFAP bursary may pay for your first year of undergraduate study in 2027. Funding depends on the package you are offered, so read the details below and apply before the deadline.

About the ISFAP Bursary Programme 2027

ISFAP is a South African funding programme set up for students who fall into the so-called missing middle. These are young people whose families earn too much to qualify for NSFAS but too little to pay university fees without struggling. The programme funds students at approved public universities and supports them with more than money.

Beyond the funding, ISFAP students receive academic and social support while they study. That matters because many first-generation students drop out for reasons that have nothing to do with ability: housing, food, laptops and isolation. A bursary that deals with those pressures gives you a better chance of finishing your degree in minimum time.

Each year thousands of young South Africans apply, and funding is limited, so complete applications submitted early are the safest route. Funding decisions follow the programme’s own selection process, and the exact package you receive is confirmed during the application process.

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What the Bursary Can Cover

• Tuition fees
• Accommodation
• Meals
• Books and study materials
• Travel, where applicable
• A living allowance or stipend
• Academic and social support programmes
• Note: what you receive depends on your funding package, which is confirmed during the application process

Who Can Apply (Eligibility)

• South African citizen
• In matric, or already completed matric
• Accepted at an approved public university for 2027
• Entering first-year undergraduate study in 2027
• Household income of R600,000 per year or less
• Able to show financial need

Required Documents

• Certified copy of your South African ID
• Grade 11 final results and latest matric results (if still in matric), or your matric certificate (if completed)
• Signed ISFAP Funding Application Consent Form
• Proof of household income
• Certified ID copies of your parents, guardians and other household contributors

How to Apply

1. Register on the ISFAP online application portal.
2. Log in and complete the online application form.
3. Upload your certified documents.
4. Check every section, then submit before 31 October 2026.
5. Keep your confirmation and watch your email for requests from ISFAP.

Apply at ISFAP

Closing Date

The closing date for ISFAP Bursary Programme 2027 is 31 October 2026. No late applications will be accepted.

Why It Matters

Youth unemployment in South Africa sits well above 40 percent for people aged 15 to 34, and a degree remains one of the most reliable ways out. The missing middle is the group that most often falls through the cracks: too well-off on paper for NSFAS, too poor in practice to pay fees.

A funded place means you can focus on your studies instead of worrying about registration balances, rent and food. For a family earning under R600,000 that is stretched across several dependants, this can be the difference between starting university and staying home.

Applications are free. Never pay anyone to apply or to improve your chances.

Frequently Asked Questions