Looking for Wits Financial Aid. The Financial Aid & Scholarships Office (FASO) administers funds on behalf of the University, donors and sponsors. The office also provides information and advice on student funding.
Students needing financial assistance for Undergraduate and Postgraduate studies at Wits can apply for the Donation Discretionary Fund via student self-service.
Your application will be added to a database that will be used to find students that match donor criteria if, and when, we receive donor funding. This application does not guarantee you funding for the current academic year.
Please read the Discretionary Funding terms and conditions
The application can be accessed on the student self-service portal.
The Student Self-Service How to Guide will walk you through the steps of how to access self-service for Financial Assistance.
National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS)
What does the bursary cover?
All students and learners who need financial assistance should apply to NSFAS through the NSFAS Online Application system.
- Accommodation
- Transport
- Living allowance
- Book allowances
- Incidental/personal care allowance
NB: We encourage applicants to print a copy of their NSFAS online application and keep a record of all supporting documents in case they are required later. Also, check your email account regularly for correspondence from NSFAS. Please make sure that you receive a reference number after submitting your application form online. If you did not receive a reference number it means your application may have not been submitted successfully.
How to apply for Accommodation and Allowances
- Log in to the students self-service portal
- Click on ‘STUDENTS”
- Click on “STUDENT SELF-SERVICE”
- Enter your person number(student number) and password
- Click on “FINANCIAL AID”
- Click on “ALLOWANCES AND ACCOMMODATION” then complete the form
Please note that students who qualify for allowances need to update their Banking details online by following the steps below:
- Login to the student’s self-service portal
- Click on the “My Bank Account” tile
- Click on the “Add / Update Account” tab
- Follow the instructions
What happens to the credit balances in my account?
- All credits at the end of the academic year must be returned to NSFAS.
- The financial aid and scholarships office will process these as a charge to the fee statement to clear the credit in the fee account.
- If these are not processed at the end of the academic, it will still be processed in the following year.
- The university must return these funds to NSFAS.
- Log in to the student’s self-service portal
- Click on ‘STUDENTS”
- Click on “STUDENT SELF-SERVICE”
- Enter your person number(student number) and password
- Click on “FINANCIAL AID”
- Click on “ALLOWANCES AND ACCOMMODATION” then complete the form
Please note that students who qualify for allowances need to update their Banking details online by following the steps below:
- Login to the student’s self-service portal
- Click on the “My Bank Account” tile
- Click on the “Add / Update Account” tab
- Follow the instructions
What happens to the credit balances in my account?
- All credits at the end of the academic year must be returned to NSFAS.
- The financial aid and scholarships office will process these as a charge to the fee statement to clear the credit in the fee account.
- If these are not processed at the end of the academic, it will still be processed in the following year.
- The university must return these funds to NSFAS.
Contact Details
Financial Aid & Scholarships Office
Solomon Mahlangu House, Ground Floor
Braamfontein Campus East
University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg
2001
Postal address:
Financial Aid & Scholarships Office
Private Bag X3
Wits
2050
Overview of Public Universities in South Africa
Here's an overview of some public universities in South Africa, including general admissions requirements and estimated application periods. Keep in mind, specific program requirements and dates can vary significantly, so it's important to check each university's official website for the most current information.
University of Pretoria
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with minimum scores in specific subjects related to the chosen program; for international students, equivalent qualifications.
- Application Period: Usually opens in March and closes at the end of July for most programs.
University of Cape Town
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with pass levels required for degree study; subject-specific requirements depending on the program.
- Application Period: Application opens in April and closes at the end of July.
Stellenbosch University
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with required marks; some programs have additional testing.
- Application Period: Opens in March and typically closes at the end of June.
University of the Witwatersrand
- Admissions Requirements: Matriculation certificate with university exemption; required scores vary by faculty.
- Application Period: Begins in March and ends on the 30th of September.
University of Johannesburg
- Admissions Requirements: Matric exemption with a minimum APS score; specific subject requirements based on the faculty.
- Application Period: Opens in April and generally closes by the 30th of September.
University of the Free State
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with specific marks for the program applied to; additional requirements for certain courses.
- Application Period: Typically opens in April and closes at the end of August.
University of Venda
- Admissions Requirements: Completion of the National Senior Certificate with an endorsement for diploma or degree studies; specific APS scores needed.
- Application Period: Usually from May to September.
University of Fort Hare
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with university exemption; certain programs may have specific requirements.
- Application Period: Opens around May and closes at the end of September.
University of the Western Cape
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with specific performance levels; additional requirements for certain programs.
- Application Period: Generally from May to September.
North-West University
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with university exemption; program-specific requirements may apply.
- Application Period: Opens in March and usually closes by the end of August.
Rhodes University
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate or equivalent; minimum academic performance in certain subjects.
- Application Period: Applications open in April and close at the end of September.
Nelson Mandela University
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with required scores for chosen programs; portfolio or additional tests for some faculties.
- Application Period: Opens in April, with a deadline at the end of August for most programs.
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with specific scores; additional requirements for certain courses.
- Application Period: Opens in May and typically closes by the end of September.
University of Limpopo
- Admissions Requirements: Senior Certificate with endorsement for diploma or degree courses; specific APS scores for different programs.
- Application Period: From April to September.
University of Zululand
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with an endorsement for bachelor’s degree studies; specific score requirements for various programs.
- Application Period: Usually between April and November.
Central University of Technology
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with specific scores for the chosen field of study; additional criteria for certain programs.
- Application Period: Application period generally starts in May and ends in October.
Vaal University of Technology
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with a pass that qualifies for admission to bachelor’s degree, diploma, or higher certificate programs.
- Application Period: Typically from May to September.
Walter Sisulu University
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with required scores for chosen programs; additional criteria for certain faculties.
- Application Period: From April to September.
This list provides a starting point for understanding the admissions landscape across South Africa's diverse higher education institutions. Given the variability in programs and requirements, it's crucial to consult each university's website for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
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