The Ikusasa Student Financial Aid Programme Foundation NPC (ISFAP) received the highest number of applications in its history. More than 70 000 applications were received for student funding for the 2025 academic year, with 60 000 applicants seeking support for undergraduate studies and 10 000 applicants seeking support to pursue postgraduate studies.
“This is the biggest volume of applications that we have received to date. To us, this proves that a growing number of aspiring, as well as enrolled students, see ISFAP as a partner that can help them to achieve their future goals and build a better life for themselves and their families,” said Werner Abrahams, CEO of ISFAP.
The organisation, motivated by the positive response, urged more potential partners to come on board.
“As is evident based on the high number of applications that we’ve received, the demand for bursaries remains high, for this reason, we want to extend an invitation to private organisations who can offer funding to help meet this need, to come on board and partner with us on this mission,” Abrahams added.
Equally, the increasing volume of applications reflects ISFAP’s vision of expanding the level of support across the higher education sector. Particularly, it aims to expand the extent to which it can support poor and missing middle students in obtaining university qualifications in occupations that are in high demand.
With this focus on addressing the skills shortage in South Africa, ISFAP funds higher education in fields critical to South Africa's economic development, including Actuarial Science, Engineering, Medicine and Nursing, Computer and Data Science, Chartered Accountancy, and other Occupations in High Demand (OHDs), as defined by the Human Resources Development Council (HRDC).
ISFAP mainly aims to support missing middle students who come from a household where the income ranges between R350 000 and R600 000 per annum. In addition, the programme also accommodates unfunded students with a household income of between R0 and R600 000 per annum.
“Our focus is on investing in the development of a skilled economy. We offer financial as well as psychosocial support to students who are enrolled with us. This is what makes our model so special. We are here to fund as well as to guide and support students, to see them through to completion and help them fulfil their goals,” Abrahams said.
The programme not only focuses on academic excellence but also provides mental health support, life skills training, and financial literacy programmes, helping students thrive in all aspects of university life. Since its launch following the #FeesMustFall movement, ISFAP has funded over 3600 students, covering tuition fees, accommodation, books, laptops, stipends, and psychosocial support, ensuring a well-rounded educational experience and success.
The Ikusasa Student Financial Aid Programme Foundation NPC (ISFAP) is a non-profit organisation dedicated to funding and supporting the higher education of South Africa’s poor and middle-class students. Established in 2017, ISFAP partners with various universities and private sector entities to ensure that students in need can access and succeed in higher education, contributing to the nation’s economic development.
Saturday Star
norman.cloete@inl.co.za