South Africa is one of the countries in Africa that have the best universities on the continent and thousands of students from different parts of Africa often flood the higher institutions every year. The cost of studying in South Africa is not that cheap for students from developing nations, so the country offers financial aid and scholarships to make it easier for applicants to study in the institution of their choice.
Some of the scholarship programs are funded by the government, while others are sponsored by universities or private organizations and this enables the candidates to pursue undergraduate and graduate programs. This place is one of the best study destinations for many of the international students who want to acquire the best education.
A good number of these are fully funded scholarships whereas others are partly but also cover accommodation and additional fees for the students. Not only can the university programs open doors of opportunities for its recipients anywhere in the world, but as an international student in South Africa, you get to be immersed in the country’s cultural diversity and rich history.
How to secure a scholarship at a South African University
Research
Endeavor to visit the website of universities you are interested in to see if there are any available scholarships for international students in South Africa. You can also search for scholarships from various foundations established by individuals or companies. Remember that the other purpose of visiting the university website is to find out information about the study programs these scholarships cover.
Find out eligibility criteria.
The next step is to confirm if you meet the eligibility criteria for these programs at South African universities. This includes nationality, age, and educational background. Bear in mind that a candidate must meet all mandatory requirements to be eligible for the scholarship.
Prepare your documents
The application process for scholarship varies from institution to institution but the constant thing is that you will be required to present necessary documents (academic and others) to prove your eligibility for the scholarship. This includes transcripts, extracurricular activity transcripts, community service activity certificates, personal identification documents, and references. These must be sent to the scholarship selection committee in the prescribed format.
Start your application
Make sure you start your application early so you don’t have to be one of those who rush at the last minute. Once you see the scholarship you are eligible for, find out when the deadline is and if it is still open, waste no time.
There is a scholarship selection committee whose duty is to review many applications every year. Hence it is important to make sure your application stands out. If you are required to write a statement of purpose, make sure it catches the scholarship committee’s eye. One technique that has worked for many applicants is highlighting all your academic and extracurricular achievements.
Seek expert advice or assistance.
This is a part that many may not think is necessary but it helps to narrow down choices and get a professional approach that will help you when applying for an international scholarship in South Africa. There are academic scholarship advisors whose biodata is online or better still send an email to the admissions office of the university you want a study at and ask for help.
Having learned things that matter when you want to seek financial aid, below is a list of the top 5 scholarships for international students pursuing a degree at a South African university.
1. MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Pretoria
The MFSP offers free scholarships for international students at South African universities at the University of Pretoria. This is a fully funded scholarship that covers postgraduate studies at the University of Pretoria. These scholarships target high-achieving African students who are academically talented, economically disadvantaged, and living with a disability, as refugees or as internally displaced people.
2. University of Cape Town Scholarships
The University of Cape Town offers scholarships every year to international refugee students for postgraduate study. This financial aid is awarded on a competitive basis to applicants who are enrolled in any study program at the University of Cape Town. Students must have the means to fund their studies, as these are supplementary scholarships.
3. University of Johannesburg Scholarships
The University of Johannesburg, UJ, offers scholarships via the academic merit bursary scheme every year to new undergraduate students who display exceptional academic achievement.
These financial aids are provided to international students from SADC countries. The bursary value is based on the marks obtained in the six best subjects from the student’s high school results.
4. University of The Witwatersrand Scholarships
The University of The Witwatersrand also known as the University of Wits runs several scholarship programs that are as follows:
Postgraduate Merit Award for International Students; This scholarship is awarded based on merit. There is no formal application for this scholarship as offers are sent to eligible students as soon as they apply to study at the university.
Mandela Rhodes Scholarship; This scholarship is available for full-time students who are citizens of African countries. To apply for this scholarship, you have to go online.
5. Nelson Mandela University Postgraduate Research Scholarships
The Nelson Mandela University Postgraduate Research Scholarships for citizens and international students are designed for applicants who are enrolled in full-time bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate programs at the university. Nelson Mandela University offers partial and full-cost scholarships to cover the entire study period.
South Africans, permanent residents, and international candidates who demonstrate financial need are living with a disability, or have outstanding academic achievements are the ones who benefit from this scholarship.
