When contemplating on social justice in March with Human Right's Day being celebrated on 21 March, one cannot help but to think of the words of former South African president, the late Nelson Mandela who once said that education is not only a means to economic development, but also a means to social justice, human rights and democracy. In contributing to social justice, Stellenbosch University (SU) is standing solid behind its students by helping them to make their dreams come true despite some financial, social and academic difficulties.  

Since 2010, SU has already spent a total of more than R800 million from its annual institutional budget to help fund undergraduate students. Over the past nine years, the University has spent an average of 28,34% of its main budget per year on undergraduate bursaries and loans.

SU has set clear processes in place to help more students from especially previously disadvantaged backgrounds to access and get funding for their higher education dreams.

Prof Wim de Villiers, Rector and Vice-Chancellor, ensured staff at a recent staff assembly at Stellenbosch that the University is committed to help students not just academically by also financially. “It is our policy and utmost desire not to exclude any student on financial grounds, if there is academic merit for the student," he said.

Over the years, SU has been committed to giving financial support to the BCIA (Black, Coloured, Indian and Asian) student population at the University.  

“The University strives to increase the diversity of its student population. Providing sufficient financial assistance to students ensures that they can focus on their studies and complete their degrees successfully. As graduates, they will make a contribution to the economy and a difference to our country as a whole," says Arrie Hanekom, Head: Bursaries and Loans (Undergraduate) at SU.

According to Hanekom, the introduction of the Ikusasa Student Financial Aid Programme (ISFAP) has helped many families in the so-called “missing middle. “Previously, families with a gross income up to R600 000 per year could not afford the high costs of student fees and would not have been able to send their children to a university if they did not received financial assistance in the form of bursaries or loans."

Throughout the years, SU has also been able to assist students waiting on their National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) allowances by helping them get the necessary study materials and food during their studies.

“It's important to recognise that the University makes a lot of its own funds available for bursaries apart from the other private funders in the system. In many cases our university is in a fortunate position where we can assist students who are still waiting for their NSFAS allowance funds to be paid out," says Ronel Retief, Registrar (Academic Administration).

For an outline of undergraduate bursaries and loans at SU from 2010 to 2018 click here​.

For more information on SU's bursaries and loans available, please visit www.sun.ac.za.​