VerifiedThe Unisa Council bursary was advertised in 2017 and 2018. It is not listed on Unisa’s current Unisa’s student funding page, so do not wait for it. Unisa now funds students through NSFAS, a merit bursary and several bursaries it manages for outside funders.
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What the Council bursary was
- 2017: R99 million for South African students in a formal qualification with at least a 55% average, after a means test. It closed on 12 May 2017.
- 2018: R46 million, with applications closing on 31 May 2018.
Bursaries on Unisa’s funding page now
| Bursary | Who qualifies | How to get it |
|---|---|---|
| Merit bursary (undergraduate) | South African citizens with an average of 75% or more in the previous year | By invitation from the Division of Student Funding; covers tuition and prescribed textbooks |
| Hillensberg Trust | Citizens at NQF levels 6 to 8 with a 60% average in medicine, technology, visual arts, music or health science | By invitation |
| SETA bursaries | Mostly unemployed people aged 18 to 35, depending on the SETA | By invitation; otherwise apply to the SETA directly |
| Postgraduate diploma and honours bursary | Returning students with 50%, or new applicants with a 60% average on their degree | Online on myUnisa, 21 September to 30 November 2026 |
| Master’s and doctoral bursary | Students who meet the proposal and registration rules | Online on myUnisa, 21 September to 30 November 2026 |
Details: Unisa’s undergraduate bursaries page and the postgraduate diploma and honours bursary.
Unisa bursaries are free to apply for. Nobody can sell you a place on a Unisa bursary list.
For state funding, see NSFAS for Unisa students.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Unisa Council bursary open?
It is not listed on Unisa’s current funding page. It was advertised in 2017 and 2018.
Can I apply for the Unisa merit bursary?
No application is needed. Unisa invites students with a 75% average from the previous year.