Ida Manana Siyila Scholarship 202/2026 is now open. All interested applicants should apply Now. The Ida Manana Siyila Scholarship was formed in memory of Ida Manana Siyila, by an American family for who she worked, for over 30 years.

Closing Date: 24 February 2026 (at 17:00).

The scholarship is open to female students, who intend on pursuing degree studies at the University of the Free State, in ANY field of study. Students with exceptional academic records and involvement in community service or leadership should apply.

BURSARY REQUIREMENTS:

• You must be a South African citizen
• You must be female
• You must be from a previously disadvantaged background
• You must have completed Matric in 2026, in the Free State Province
• You must have been accepted to study towards a Bachelors Degree qualification at the University of the Free State, in 2026
• You must have a strong academic record
• You must have achieved a Bachelor level pass, with an UFS Admission Point (AP-score) of at least 36
• You must have been involved in community service or leadership during your school career
• You must have a total household income of LESS than R600 000 per year (before tax) – this includes ALL incomes (salary, grant, pension, etc) (not older than 3 months
• You must NOT be eligible for NSFAS funding

BURSARY COVERAGE:

The scholarship will provide cover for the following expenses: registration fees, tuition fees, books, residence or accommodation fees, and meals.

The scholarship will be awarded for 1 academic year at a time, and is renewable each year on condition that the bursar passes a minimum of 80% of their modules each year. The scholarship will be available for the minimum duration of time to complete the Bachelors Degree qualification (3 to 4 years), but will not exceed 6 years.

METHOD OF APPLICATION:

Download and complete the Ida Manana Siyila Scholarship Application Form 2026 (.pdf)

Note: the application form must be filled in on your computer, in Microsoft Word or pdf document (i.e. not filled in by hand).

Supporting Documents

These documents must be submitted along with your completed application form (the submission of these documents is compulsory – if any items are missing, your application may be disqualified):

• ID document (certified copy)
• Matric certificate (certified copy)
• Proof of acceptance to study at the University of the Free State, for 2026 (on institutions letterhead)
• Parents or guardians proof of household income (3 months recent bank statements payslips if employed, affidavit if unemployed, proof of pension or grant if applicable)
• Documents of your orphaned or emancipated status, if applicable (certified copy)
• Proof of address
• Personal statement (maximum 3 pages, in Times New Roman font, 12 point), that follow these guidelines:
  • 1. Brief description of yourself, including your education achievements and how you meet the scholarship criteria
  • 2. Details about how you are personally and actively involved in your academic program
  • 3. What you have learned about leadership and community service
  • 4. Values that are most precious to you and which values you think will help you at university
  • 5. How and why you selected your field/ course of study and what research have you conducted to ensure this course suits your personality and strength
  • 6. Goals and ambitions you have for the future

Note: all documents must be saved and compiled into 1 single pdf document.
 

Applications must be submitted in either of the following ways:

– Email: MacHeuTD@ufs.ac.za
(Insert the words “Ida Manana Siyila Scholarship Application 2026” in the email subject line).

– Hand delivery:
University of the Free State
Bloemfontein Campus
The Student Financial Aid office
Administration Building