Bursaries Postgraduate

College of Human Sciences: Honours / Postgraduate Diploma Bursary

A. Bursary Conditions:

The Bursary shall be awarded by the CHS on recommendation by the CHS Bursary Selection Committee.
The Bursary shall be tenable in the first instance for one year, subject to renewal in subsequent years of registration. Any subsequent award will be based on the appropriate and successful utilization of the previous award/s and on satisfactory progress as demonstrated in the academic record of the student.
The Bursary shall be open to financially needy holders of an undergraduate degree in Social Science, Humanities and Arts who have achieved the minimum average of 65% for the major in which they wish to undertake the Honours studies. Students who intend to study for their fourth year in Social Work and Visual Arts are also eligible, provided they meet the minimum requirement of 65% average at the third-year level. Such students are therefore required to motivate their applications by providing evidence of their need to the Vetting Committee.
The Bursary will not be awarded to students who are receiving funding from other sources.
The Bursary shall be open to South African citizens only.
The Bursary shall cover the full registration and tuition fees for the student's chosen modules in the Honours degree, Postgraduate Diploma or the fourth year of study in Social Work or Visual Arts.
For students who have not completed the Honours or Postgraduate Diploma in 3 years, the Bursary shall be converted into a loan with interest rates determined by Unisa.
The Bursary shall NOT pay repeating modules that have been failed during previous examinations.
Recipients of the bursary will be urged to continue their studies and register for the Master's degree upon successful completion of their Honours or Postgraduate Diploma studies.

B. Important Dates:

Applications for the Bursary shall be open on 30 September and close on 31 December.
Notification of results will be communicated to applicants before 31 January.

C. Submission of applications:

The relevant application form must be sent to:

College Research Administrator
College of Human Sciences (UNISA)
PO Box 392, UNISA, 0003

Click the link to the CHS Honours / Postgraduate Diploma Application form to download and submit to the address above.

Unisa Postgraduate Scholarship for Masters and PhD students

Criteria and conditions:
In line with the university’s funding policy, student funding to postgraduates is provided on the basis of academic merit.

i) Eligibility

The Unisa Postgraduate bursary is awarded to students studying towards a Masters of Limited Scope (only reseach component), a full research Masters as well as Doctoral research.
ii) Criteria for award
1. A pass mark of 60% or higher in the preceding qualification.
2. Have obtained 24 Credits in the Proposal module at Unisa.
3. A satisfactory supervisor's report.
4. Approval by the Postgraduate Bursary Committee based on academic performance, research field and research methodology.
iii) Bursary conditions
1. All bursary awards, including the first one, are conditional upon receipt of a positive report from the student's supervisor. Detailed progress reports must be submitted to the Division Student Funding (DSF) by October of any given year.
2. Bursaries are not awarded to full-time staff members of UNISA. They should apply for the Master's and Doctoral Support Programme.
3. Students who hold a postgraduate qualification will not be considered for a bursary for postgraduate study at the same level.
4. Students who are registered for a four-year bachelor's degree programme do not qualify for a postgraduate bursary in their final year.
5. The bursary is awarded to both South African and non-South African citizens registered at Unisa.
6. Continued receipt of the bursary is dependent on a favourable supervisor's report indicating that the recipient is progressing with his/her studies.
7. Students need to submit a student's report (Section F of the application form) before the application will be submitted for consideration to the Postgraduate Bursary Committee.
8. Students who graduated at another University must submit a copy of a complete, official academic record with marks given in certified percentages and not as symbols.
9. Granting of the bursary is not automatic. Students who apply by the specified date and have completed the application form will be considered.
10. The continuation of the bursary is conditional upon a satisfactory progress report from the supervisor as well as the completion of a re-award application form and submission of proof of registration.
11. A bursary will only be awarded provided no other financial assistance has been granted to a student, unless, such an award does not cover the full tuition cost and other related expenditure. Students may canvas for other funds in order to augment their Unisa bursary.
12. The Postgraduate Bursary Committee will meet once every quarter to evaluate applications received for funding (February, April, July, November). Only applications received on or before the last day of the month preceding the Committee meeting will be considered in the following month.
13. By signing the application form, the student indicates that he/she agrees with and accepts these conditions.
iv) Bursary covers
1. Masters of Limited Scope
  - Only research component
  - R15,000 for research costs, payable in two instalments (50% in first semester, 50% in second semester)
  - A student can only qualify for this bursary for one academic year.
2. Full Research Masters
  - Registration fee
  - Research funds totalling R55,000 payable:
    - 30% in first year
    - 20% in 2nd year
    - 60% in last year
  - This bursary is awarded for a maximum of 3 years
3. Doctoral Research
  - Registration fee
  - Research funds totalling R80,000 payable:
    - 20% in first year
    - 20% in 2nd year
    - 20% in 3rd year
    - 40% in last year
  - The bursary is awarded for a maximum of 4 years