Ikusasa Student Financial Aid Programme (ISFAP) 2026 – Fund Your Future!

Are you a high-achieving learner from a low-income or missing-middle background, passionate about making an impact in South Africa’s critical skills sectors? The Ikusasa Student Financial Aid Programme (ISFAP) is here to help you graduate debt-free with a career-focused support system.

📢 Applications for the 2026 academic year will open soon – get ready!

💡 What is ISFAP?

ISFAP (Ikusasa Student Financial Aid Programme) is a comprehensive bursary scheme that supports academically talented South African students who are financially needy, especially those falling into the “missing middle” income category (households earning too much for NSFAS but too little to afford university).

This programme goes beyond just tuition fees – it offers holistic support to ensure student success.

🎯 What Does ISFAP Cover?

✅ Full tuition fees
✅ Accommodation & meals
✅ Prescribed learning materials
✅ Monthly living allowance
✅ Medical and psychosocial support
✅ Dedicated academic mentors and tutors
✅ Work readiness and career preparation

ISFAP is not just a bursary — it’s a full support ecosystem designed to help students succeed academically, socially, and professionally.

📘 Priority Fields of Study Funded by ISFAP:

Accounting
Actuarial Science
Engineering (all disciplines)
Medicine & Health Sciences
Computer Science / IT
Data Science
Education (Maths, Science, Technology)
Economics
Quantity Surveying
Law (at selected institutions)

🧠 Focus is placed on high-demand careers that will shape the future of South Africa.

🏫 ISFAP Partner Universities (as of 2025/2026):

Students must be accepted at one of ISFAP’s partner universities to qualify:

University of Pretoria (UP)
University of the Witwatersrand (WITS)
University of Johannesburg (UJ)
University of Cape Town (UCT)
University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN)
Nelson Mandela University (NMU)
University of Venda (UNIVEN)
Central University of Technology (CUT)
Walter Sisulu University (WSU)
Tshwane University of Technology (TUT)
University of the Free State (UFS)
University of Limpopo (UL)
Stellenbosch University (SU)
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU)

Please check with ISFAP for updates or additions to the list.

🧾 Who Should Apply?

You qualify if you:

✔️ Are a South African citizen
✔️ Come from a household with an income under R600,000 per year
✔️ Are accepted or applying to a partner university for a funded field of study
✔️ Achieve strong academic results
✔️ Show potential and determination to succeed in higher education

🕒 When to Apply?

📌 ISFAP 2026 applications are expected to open around August/September 2025
🗓️ Deadline to be confirmed — follow ISFAP for updates

👉 Online applications only:
🌐 https://www.isfap.org.za

🌍 Why Choose ISFAP?

ISFAP is one of the most comprehensive bursary programmes in South Africa, focusing not only on financial support but also on academic performance, emotional wellbeing, and career readiness.

This is your opportunity to study with confidence and graduate with a degree that is aligned to South Africa’s economic growth and development.