Cornerstone Institute Financial Aid Fund

Written by Keagan HendricksStaff Writer (Unisa Alumnus)

Reviewed & verified by Naledi KhumaloSenior Admissions and Bursaries EditorVerified

Cornerstone Institute is an independent, not-for-profit higher education institution in Salt River, Cape Town, offering higher certificates, degrees in theology, arts and commerce, teaching PGCEs and honours degrees. Because it is private, Cornerstone receives no government subsidy, and its Financial Aid Fund is paid for by donors, trusts, religious institutions, companies and Cornerstone’s own resources. The fund usually grants a partial remission of fees, not a full bursary, and the student remains responsible for the balance.

On 29 September 2026 the Cornerstone financial aid application form was marked open. Returning students applying for the 2027 academic year have from 1 September to 31 October.

Three application windows through the year

Cornerstone publishes separate deadlines for new and returning students on its financial aid application page and in its 2027 fee structure:

Cornerstone does not give an opening date for new-student applications. The form itself is a Google Form linked from the application page. Cornerstone warns that the fund “receives more applications annually than it can support” and advises students to apply to other funders as well.

Who the Financial Aid Committee considers

The financial aid page sets four basic conditions: South African citizenship or permanent residence, proven academic potential, demonstrated financial need, and acceptance into a Cornerstone undergraduate or postgraduate programme. The Financial Aid Policy (last revised 8 April 2024) is narrower on residence: it says only South African students may apply and that a new applicant must be “from RSA”. Permanent residents should confirm with the Financial Aid Office before applying.

The policy adds practical conditions that decide many applications:

• New applicants must submit the form with all supporting documents before the closing date and must already have paid the initial payment in the fee structure (R5,180 for 2027).
• Returning students must not be on academic probation and must have settled the previous year’s balance. A failed year or failed modules cannot be funded again.
• Every applicant must take at least 80 credits a year or 40 a semester, sign an agreement and declaration, disclose everything that may affect the award, and show their own effort to find other funding.
• Recipients do 10 hours of community service each semester, at Cornerstone or in their community.

The committee also weighs qualitative factors: the student’s attitude and conduct, community involvement and commitment to social justice, expected year of graduation, and financial need. A donor may add its own criteria for money it has given.

Obligations once funding is granted

Cornerstone’s fee policy overrides the financial aid policy, so a student who falls behind on fees gets no allocation. The initial payment must be made at registration to activate approved funding. Recipients send an annual thank-you letter for funders, keep a personal profile up to date for funders to see, and submit proof of their community service on the organisation’s letterhead. Each recipient signs an undertaking to complete the qualification; if they do not, the policy says all money granted must be repaid.

Decisions, committee meetings and appeals

A Financial Aid Committee allocates the money; the policy says it should ideally include the Chief Financial Manager, the Financial Aid Officer and representatives of the finance, student services and advancement offices. The policy schedules its meetings for the first Thursday of March, May, July and October. An unsuccessful applicant can ask the committee for written reasons, which are due within five working days, and then appeal in writing to Senior Management. A student whose aid is withdrawn has ten working days to appeal, and the outcome is due within twenty working days.

Cornerstone fees per credit in 2027

Cornerstone charges by the credit, so the fee depends on the modules registered. The 2027 fee structure lists R250 per credit for the higher certificates, R705 for the BA and the Bachelor of Theology in Community Leadership, R405 for the BCom, R530 for the PGCEs and R720 for the BA Honours degrees in Community Development and Psychology. Cornerstone reports more than 500 students supported and R4.2 million awarded in aid, with 100% of designated gifts going to students.

Questions go to the Financial Aid Office on +27 (0)21 448 0050 or helpdesk@cornerstone.ac.za. For other funding at private institutions, see bursaries that fund private colleges, along with our commerce bursaries and postgraduate bursaries lists.

FAQs