HCI Foundation: Bursaries 2025

HCI Foundation invites student to apply for Bursary Programme 2025 academic year.

Bursary Application Closing Date: 30 September 2024

The following bursaries will be awarded, for studies at selected universities:

• New bursary applicants: for Honours and Postgraduate Diploma studies, at selected universities (UCT, UWC, SU, UKZN, UP, WITS, UJ, RU, NMU, UFS, NWU).
• Current HCI bursary recipients: for continuing Undergraduate studies, at a public university or university of technology in South Africa.

The HCI Foundation will be awarding partial bursaries, that will provide cover for up to 75% of tuition fees (up to maximum of R40 000 per annum). Payments are made into the student’s fee account at their institution, around July every year.

The following expenses will NOT be covered: books, residence, transport, living expenses and meals.

Bursary recipients are NOT required to pay back or work back the bursary, but they are expected to: engage in community projects, take part in tutoring and mentoring programmes, as well as volunteer within their community.

Students will also be required to complete surveys and attend workshops throughout the year, after graduation.
 

Requirements

Applicants must satisfy the following minimum entry criteria before applying (please note that failure to satisfy all the requirements will lead to your application not being considered):

• You must be a South African citizen OR a refugee or asylum seeker
• You must be 35 years old or younger on the application closing date (30 September 2024)
• Current HCI bursary recipients: you must be continuing your studies towards an undergraduate qualification, at a recognised public University or University of technology in South Africa
• New HCI bursary applicants: you must be studying towards an Honours or Postgraduate Diploma, at any of these universities in South Africa:
  • University of Witwatersrand
  • University of Johannesburg
  • University of Pretoria
  • University of Cape Town
  • University of the Western Cape
  • Stellenbosch University
  • Rhodes University
  • University of KwaZulu-Natal
  • University of the Free State
  • Nelson Mandela University
  • North-West University
• You must be studying on a full-time basis (part-time or distance studies will NOT be funded)
• You must NOT be studying at a TVET College
• You must have a gross family income of less than R38 000 per month
• You must NOT be in receipt of a full cost bursary or a large partial bursary from another source (you may still apply if you have received a partial bursary, NSFAS or other loan)

How to apply

Applications must be submitted online at: HCI Bursary Application 2025

Submit clear copies of the following supporting documentation along with your online application (the submission of these documents is compulsory – if any items are missing, your application may be disqualified):

• ID document, if a South African citizen (certified copy)
• Proof of permanent residency, refugee or asylum seeker status, if applicable (certified copy)
• Full academic record, including most recent results (on institutions letterhead)
• New applicants: proof of registration or acceptance in to any of the above universities for 2024 (on university letterhead)
• Parents or guardians proof of household income (payslips if employed, affidavit if unemployed, bank statement if self-employed, grant or pension slip if applicable) (certified copies)
• Parents or guardians death certificate, if deceased
• Affidavit from parent, if only residing with 1 parent
• Motivational letter explaining why you should be selected for the bursary (including the following: your personal qualities and ethics, your leadership potential, your capacity for critical, your commitment to giving back) (to be saved in a separate word document – between 550 and 750 words)

NOTES ABOUT THE HCI BURSARY

• Applications are only accepted online – there is no hardcopy application form, nor can the application form be downloaded.
• Ensure that you allocate enough time to complete the online application form.
• You will be able to save your application if you are unable to complete it in one sitting and resume at a later time.
• Ensure that you complete and submit your application before the closing date.
• Ensure that you provide your correct email address and cell phone number when applying, so that HCI may reach you.
• What will need the following when applying: cell phone number, email address, student number (if applying for your second or higher year of study), proof of your parents’ or guardians’ monthly income.
• Students who are receiving NSFAS or any other partial bursary funding may apply for this bursary, however students who are receiving full funding from another source will not be eligible for this bursary.