Opening date: 01 February 2023 – 15 February 2023

A) BACKGROUND

The Islamic Relief South Africa (IRSA) Bursary Program focuses on providing needy tertiary students with financial support to access their education. A tertiary qualification is an enabler for many to break the cycle of poverty, however, financial exclusion remains a big concern in South Africa.

The level of inequality in South Africa, which is the most unequal country in the world reflected in how access is limited to higher education for students coming from poor households. In a recent survey that was conducted by Stats SA, 51% of youth cited a lack of financial means as a course for not being able to access higher education.

This situation is clear due to the #FeesMustFall movement which started in 2015, by university students who were expressing their frustration with being financially excluded. This resulted in the shutdown of institutions for a period, loss of life destruction of property. Even though the destruction and loss of life may have taken centre stage, and political players found an opportunity to gain popularity, the challenges of students remain to this day.

For this reason, Islamic Relief South Africa established the IRSA Bursary Program as an exit component to the Orphans Sponsorship Program for the project rights holders as well as community members in need of financial resources to access higher education.


B) SELECTION CRITERIA

  • Gender
  • Age (18 to 24)
  • Public universities 
  • Country of origin
  • Year of Study – (Only undergraduates applicants and first years will be given priority)
  • Student who does not have debt (money owed to public universities) will be considered
  • Applicant must have a demonstrated financial need, and household income must be R 450 000,00 per annum
  • Persons with Disabilities (PWDs)
  • Students who submit all supporting documents as required
  • Preference will be given to students who will be studying full-time towards a degree or diploma in any of the following fields of study:
  • Agriculture
  • Build Environment (Architecture, Construction)
  • Medicine
  • Engineering
  • Nursing
  • Information Technology
  • Logistics and Supply Chain Management
  • Financial management
  • Accounting Science
  • Economics

B) APPLICATIONS PROCESSES

  • Applications will be done online or manually, and application forms can be acquired from Islamic Relief South Africa’s website or from one of our regional offices in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban.
  • Online applications will be received via a cloud depository and manual applications can be submitted via any of the means listed below:
  • By email to a dedicated email address
  • Drop off at any of our 3 regional offices
  • Applications will be opened on the 30 of January 2023 and will be closed on the 15 of February 2023 at 23:59, no late applications will not be accepted.
  • Students are required to submit the following supporting documents during application:
  • ID/passport / Asylum Seeker/ Refugee Status
  • Matric / Grade 12 (For those who already obtained  matric/grade 12 and will be doing the first year in 2023)
  • Academic transcript (For a student who is already at the university and will be proceeding to another academic year in 2023).
  • Provisional or final acceptance letter from the university (For those who will be/are doing the first year in 2023)
  • Quotation indicating the amount required for tuition
  • Proof of income (Latest payslip for parent(s) /guardian(s) who are employed, and if any or both parents are not employed affidavit that is not older than 6 months must be attached)
  • If any or both parent(s) is/are deceased, death certificate(s)  must be attached
  • Bursary candidates have to declare if they have applied to any other bursary institutions and if approved they have to make a declaration of such,
  • Bursary beneficiaries who fail to declare receipt of any other academic funding will have their bursary terminated.
  • Please consider your application as unsuccessful if you are not contacted within a two months after the closing date

  D) FINANCIAL INFORMATION

  • This Bursary will only cover tuition fees and allowance for prescribed textbooks will be provided.
  • Fees will be paid directly to the institution.
  • Each beneficiary will be required to provide the closest or accredited service providers for prescribed textbooks.
  • No payment to the institution will be done until necessary information or documents from the beneficiary are submitted.
  • Tuition fees will be paid in the following schedule:
  • 50% of tuition fees will be paid in the first semester
  • 50% of tuition fees will be paid in the second semester

E) STUDENT MENTORSHIP AND SUPPORT

  • Each beneficiary of this bursary will be required to send academic results every semester and attend academic progress meetings after each semester.
  • Each beneficiary may request academic support and tutoring service from the Project Manager of the bursary.
  • Open days and career days will be done as part of providing support to those who want to get information that is required for enrolling in institutions of higher learning.
  • Each beneficiary will be required to enroll and complete a leadership program that will be offered by IRSA.
  • Each beneficiary will be required to attend all 4 annual online seminars that will be hosted by IRSA.

F) CONTINUED FUNDING

  • Beneficiary who was previously funded by IRSA in 2022 will be accepted under the following conditions:
  • They must be having a minimum average of 60% in the 2022 academic year, and they are also required to reapply.
  • Beneficiaries who failed or performed poorly in 2022 due to illness and are in possession of proof are allowed to apply.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the closing date of the Islamic Relief Bursary Program?

  • Closing date is on 15-02-2023

What does Islamic Relief Bursary Program cover?

  • Tuition fees, prescribed textbooks and tutoring services

Does the Islamic Relief Bursary Program fund parttime courses? 

  • No, Islamic Relief Bursary Program is for students who will be studying fulltime.

Does the Islamic Relief Bursary Program fund students who are in TVET College?

  • No, Islamic Relief Bursary Program only covers 26 public universities in South Africa as follows: 
  1. Cape Peninsula University of Technology
  2. Central University of Technology
  3. Durban University of Technology
  4. Mangosuthu University of Technology
  5. Nelson Mandela University
  6. North-West University
  7. Rhodes University
  8. Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University
  9. Sol Plaatje University
  10. Tshwane University of Technology   
  11. University of Cape Town
  12. University of Fort Hare
  13. University of Johannesburg University of KwaZulu-Natal University of Limpopo
  14. University of Mpumalanga University of Pretoria
  15. University of South Africa (UNISA) University of Stellenbosch
  16. University of the Free State
  17. University of the Western Cape
  18. University of the Witwatersrand
  19. University of Venda
  20. University of Zululand
  21. Vaal University of Technology
  22. Walter Sisulu University

 

Which supporting documents are needed?

  • ID/passport / Asylum Seeker/ Refugee Status
  • Matric / Grade 12 who already obtained  matric/grade 12 and will be doing the first year in 2023
  • Transcript/ results for a student who is already at the university
  • Provisional or final acceptance letter from the university for those who will be doing the first year
  • Quotation indicating the amount required for tuition
  • Proof of income (Latest payslip for parent(s) /guardian(s) who are employed, and if any or both parents are not employed affidavit that is not older than 6 months must be attached)
  • If any or both parent(s) is/are deceased, death certificate(s)  must be attached

I am studying at a private institution of higher learning; do I qualify for Islamic Relief Bursary Program part-time courses?

  • No

Does the Islamic Relief Bursary Program only fund the Muslim community?

  • No

Does the Islamic Relief Bursary Program fund students who are in private colleges and private universities?

  • No

Does the Islamic Relief Bursary Program fund only South African citizens?

  • No

Does the Islamic Relief Bursary Program only cover specific courses and if yes which courses?

  • Yes, Islamic Relief Bursary Program cover specific courses, degree or diploma in any of the following fields of study:
  • Agriculture
  • Build Environment (Architecture, Construction)
  • Medicine
  • Engineering
  • Nursing
  • Information Technology
  • Logistics and Supply Chain Management
  • Financial management
  • Accounting Science
  • Economics

All completed application forms and supporting documents are to be completed and emailed to [email protected] or dropped off at one of our regional offices:

Johannesburg: 157 Barry Hertzog Avenue, Emmarentia, 2195

Tel: 011 486 0378


Durban: 405 Sparks Rd, Sherwood, Durban, 4091

Tel: 031 208 2838


Cape Town: 396 Imam Haron Rd, Lansdowne, Cape Town, 7780
Tel: 021 696 0145
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