UNISA Bursary Application Status 2026: A Step-by-Step Guide

UNISA bursary applications for the 2026 academic year are currently OPEN for postgraduate students and OPEN for NSFAS (undergraduate). If you have applied, knowing where to look for your status is critical because UNISA uses different systems for different bursaries.

This guide provides a complete walkthrough on how to check your status for the UNISA Postgraduate Bursary, Merit Bursary, and NSFAS.

Is My Bursary Approved?

For most students, you will not find a simple “Approved/Declined” button immediately. Here is the current status breakdown for 2026:

• Postgraduate Bursaries (Honours, Master’s, Doctoral): Applications are open from 15 October 2025 to 19 December 2025. Outcomes are generally communicated via your myLife email in January/February 2026.
• Undergraduate Merit Bursaries: You do not apply for this. UNISA identifies top-performing students (75%+ average) and sends an offer to their myLife email automatically.
• NSFAS (Undergraduate): Applications are open. You must check your status on the myNSFAS portal, not the UNISA website.

Step-by-Step: How to Check Your UNISA Postgraduate Bursary Status

If you applied for a Master’s, Doctoral, or Honours bursary, you must check the myAdmin portal. Do not rely solely on SMS notifications, as these can be delayed.

1. Go to the UNISA myAdmin Portal:
   Visit the official UNISA website and locate the myAdmin section.
2. Login to Your Account:
   Enter your Student Number and myUnisa Password.
3. Navigate to “Student Admin”:
   Look for the “Student Admin” or “Financial Aid” section in the main menu.
4. Select “Financial Aid / Bursaries”:
   Click on the specific link for the bursary you applied for (e.g., “Postgraduate Bursary Application”).
5. View Application Status:
   Your current status will be displayed here. If it says “Application Submitted,” your application is still being reviewed.

Important Note: The final official outcome is always sent to your myLife email account. You must check your inbox and “Spam/Junk” folder daily in January 2026. If you miss the acceptance deadline email, the funds will be reallocated to another student.

How to Check Your NSFAS Status (Undergraduates)

If you are a detailed undergraduate student waiting for funding, you cannot check this on the UNISA website. You must use the official NSFAS portal.

1. Visit the myNSFAS Portal:
   Go to the NSFAS website and navigate to the “myNSFAS” tab.
2. Login:
   Enter your ID number and password.
3. Click “Track Funding Progress”:
   This dashboard will show you exactly where your application is in the verification queue.

What Do the NSFAS Statuses Mean?

• Validation: NSFAS is currently cross-checking your details with the Department of Home Affairs and SASSA to verify your identity and household income.
• Provisionally Funded: You are approved for funding, but UNISA must send your registration data to NSFAS to finalize it. Action: You must register immediately when registration opens to trigger the payment.
• Awaiting Academic Results: NSFAS is waiting for UNISA to confirm you passed your previous year. If you failed too many modules, funding may be withdrawn.

Understanding UNISA Bursary Status Messages

When you check your status on myAdmin or receive an official email, you will see specific terms. It is important to understand exactly what these mean so you can take the right action.

• Application Submitted: Your application is in the system but has not been looked at yet by the committee.
• Awaiting Evaluation: The bursary committee is actively reviewing your academic marks and uploaded documents.
• Provisionally Funded: This is good news. You have been selected for the bursary, but you must register temporarily by 31 January 2026 to activate the money. If you do not register, the system assumes you are not studying and you will lose the bursary.
• Insufficient Funds: You met the criteria, but the university ran out of money for this specific bursary category. This is common for postgraduate funding which is capped.
• Rejected: You did not meet the academic or financial requirements. The email will usually explain why (e.g., “Academic Record not met” or “Rule Check Failed”).

Are You Eligible for a UNISA Bursary?

Before you panic about a “Rejected” status, double-check that you met the core requirements for the 2026 academic year.

Postgraduate Bursary Requirements

• Citizenship: Preference is given to South African citizens. Permanent residents may apply for specific streams.
• Academic Performance: You typically need a 60% average in your previous qualification. If you scored 59%, your application will likely be rejected automatically by the system.
• Workload: You must be registered for the correct number of modules or credits.

Merit Bursary (Undergraduate) Requirements

• Average Mark: You must have obtained at least 75% on average in your previous year of study.
• Modules: You must have passed all your registered modules.
• Action: No application required. It is automatic.

What Documents Do You Need?

If your status is “Awaiting Documents” or if you need to appeal a rejection, have these ready immediately. Do not upload blurry or uncertified copies.

• Certified Copy of ID: This must be certified within the last 6 months.
• Full Academic Record: Download this directly from myUnisa.
• Proof of Registration: This shows which modules you are taking in 2026.
• Fee Statement: This shows how much you owe (necessary if you are asking for a refund).

What to Do If Your Application Is Rejected

If your status shows “Declined,” you may have the option to appeal, depending on the reason.

1. Check the Reason: Read the rejection email carefully. If it is due to “Insufficient Funds,” appeals are rarely successful. If it is due to “Academic Record,” check if they used the correct marks.
2. Submit an Appeal: If you believe there is an error (e.g., a mark was updated late), email the bursary division immediately with your updated academic record.
3. Explore Alternatives: If the appeal fails, look into external bursaries or the Fundi loan system immediately so you do not miss registration deadlines.

Contact Details for Bursary Enquiries

If your status has not changed for weeks after the official release date, contact the specific division directly. Do not just email the general UNISA address, as response times are slow.

• Postgraduate Bursaries (Honours & PGD): CGS-pgb@unisa.ac.za
• Master’s & Doctoral Bursaries: CGS-pgb@unisa.ac.za
• Undergraduate Merit Bursary: dsf-undergrad@unisa.ac.za
• NSFAS Enquiries at UNISA: DSF-NSFAS@unisa.ac.za

Always include your Student Number in the subject line of your email (e.g., “Enquiry: Bursary Status – Student 12345678”). This ensures your query is routed to the right administrative officer faster.