ISFAP Bursary 2027 Closing Date and Requirements

Key facts

Status: Applications open Closes 31 October 2026
Provider: ISFAP
Field of study: Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Informatics and Information Systems
Study level: Undergraduate, High school
Academic year: 2027
Last checked: September 2026

Applications for the 2027 academic year are open and close on 31 October 2026 at midnight.

Written by Keagan HendricksStaff Writer (Unisa Alumnus)

Reviewed & verified by Naledi KhumaloSenior Admissions and Bursaries EditorVerified

Open · closes 31 October 2026 · 14 days left Latest update ↓

The Ikusasa Student Financial Aid Programme (ISFAP) is the bursary for South Africa’s missing middle: students who earn too much at home for NSFAS but cannot pay university fees. It funds full degrees in high-demand fields at 26 partner universities and wraps academic, social and medical support around each student. This page gives the 2027 closing date and requirements at a glance; our full ISFAP guide has the complete details.

ISFAP requirements for 2027

South African citizen in Matric or with Matric.
Accepted, or applying, for a first-year undergraduate qualification in an approved high-demand programme at a partner university for 2027.
Household income of no more than R600 000 a year, with demonstrated financial need.
Results that meet the university’s admission requirements for the programme.

What ISFAP covers

Tuition fees for the full degree.
Accommodation, or travel if you live at home, plus books and meals.
A living stipend.
Academic support, life skills training, social support and medical assistance.

How to apply for ISFAP

Apply to a partner university for an approved programme.
Register at applyonline.isfap.org.za and complete the online form.
Upload certified copies, not older than three months, of your ID, Grade 11 and Matric results, the signed ISFAP consent form, proof of household income and the IDs of your parents, guardians and other household contributors.
Submit before midnight on 31 October 2026.

Contact details

Telephone: 010 880 0400
Email: students@isfap.org.za

Read the full ISFAP bursary guide, check the ISFAP monthly allowance, and apply to NSFAS instead if your household earns R350 000 or less.

FAQs

1. When does ISFAP close for 2027? +

31 October 2026 at midnight. Later applications are held over for 2028.

2. Who is ISFAP for? +

The missing middle: South African students whose household income is too high for NSFAS but no more than R600 000 a year, entering first-year undergraduate study in a high-demand field at a partner university.

3. What does it cover? +

Tuition, accommodation or travel, books, meals and a stipend, plus academic, social and medical support for the full degree.

4. What documents are needed? +

Certified copies, not older than three months, of your ID, Grade 11 and Matric results, the ISFAP consent form, proof of household income and the IDs of parents, guardians and other household contributors.

5. Where do I apply? +

Online at applyonline.isfap.org.za after applying to a partner university.

6. Where is the full guide? +

Our main ISFAP bursary page has the complete list of partner universities, requirements and application steps.

Update note (checked September 2026): applications for the 2027 academic year are open and close on 31 October 2026 at midnight. Applications received after that are considered for 2028.

Checked the requirements and closing date? Apply directly with the provider.

Apply on the provider’s website

About ISFAP

Non-profit student funding programme

The Ikusasa Student Financial Aid Programme (ISFAP) funds South Africa's missing middle: students whose households earn too much to qualify for NSFAS but not enough to pay university fees. ISFAP is based in Illovo, Johannesburg. Registered nameIkusasa Student…

Read the full ISFAP profile →

Address: 17 Fricker Road, Illovo, Johannesburg, 2196
Phone: +27 11 555 0000
Website: isfap.org.za

Student funding in numbers

2025811 011students funded by NSFAS580 000 at universities, 231 000 at TVET colleges, on a budget of R48.7 billion.

20261 026 091students approved for NSFAS funding609 403 first-year applicants qualified and 416 688 continuing students met the progression criteria, out of 893 847 applications.

2027 projectedR53.4bnbudgeted for NSFASThe allocation rises from R48.7 billion in 2025 to R51 billion in 2026 and R53.4 billion in 2027. Student numbers for 2027 are not published yet.

Figures from the Minister of Higher Education’s Budget Vote of 3 July 2025 and the NSFAS statement of 2 January 2026. NSFAS is the largest funder, not the only one – we track the rest.