Bursaries and Scholarships for Nursing in South Africa

Due to the increasing demand for trained healthcare professionals in South Africa and the high cost of training, several institutions have introduced bursary and scholarship programs to support needy individuals who are pursuing studies in this field. Coming up below is a list of bursaries and scholarships for nursing in South Africa, but first, check out the types of nursing scholarships and general eligibility for these scholarships.

Types of Nursing Scholarships

1. Merit-based Scholarships – These are awarded based on academic performance and excellence in extracurricular activities.
2. Need-based Scholarships – These scholarships are given to students who demonstrate financial need.
3. International Scholarships – These are given to students from other countries.
4. Government Scholarships – These scholarships, funded by the national and regional government, support nursing students.
5. Private Scholarships – These are offered by foundations, companies, and private organizations.
6. Minority Scholarships – These scholarships target students from minority backgrounds and underrepresented groups.
7. Specialty-specific Scholarships – These target nurses pursuing studies in particular specialties related to nursing e.g. paediatric nursing, oncology nursing, etc.

Eligibility for Nursing Bursaries and Scholarships in South Africa

• Academic Performance – Applicants should have a strong academic record and meet the minimum GPA requirements for the scholarship.
• Financial Need – Applicants should be from a disadvantaged economic background that impedes their access to education.
• Demographic – Some scholarships target students from underrepresented groups and minority backgrounds.
• Citizenship – Applicants should be South African citizens.
• Leadership – Applicants should demonstrate leadership abilities and have a record of leadership positions held in the past.
• Community Service – Applicants should have evidence of community service, especially in the healthcare space.
• Specialty Interest – Applicants pursuing specific nursing specialties often qualify for specialty scholarships.
• Professional Goals – Applicants should be able to articulate their career aspirations clearly and demonstrate that they are working towards specific professional goals.
• Letters of Recommendation – Applicants should have letters of recommendation from teachers, community leaders, employers, etc.
• Extracurricular Activities – Applicants should have evidence of participation in extracurricular activities.
• Work Experience – Applicants should previously have carried out nursing-related work in the healthcare space.

Bursaries and Scholarships for Nursing in South Africa

Life Healthcare Bachelors in Nursing Bursary

• Life Healthcare offers Bachelor of Nursing students at South African Universities funding to help with the completion of their university education
• These bursaries cover tuition fees for each year of their nursing programme, accommodation and meals at the universities at which they are enrolled, and the cost of prescribed textbooks.
• Applicants for these bursaries should be of South African nationality and currently registered for a Bachelor’s degree in the field of nursing at a South African Higher Education Institution.

Western Cape Government Bursaries

• The Western Cape Government Bursary Programme aims to provide unemployed individuals in the Western Cape with financial aid to obtain their qualifications. These bursaries are allocated based on the region’s healthcare sector needs for that period.
• Applicants must go through a selection process to identify deserving candidates. Those who are successful at this stage will then benefit from the necessary work experience provided by the region’s community service project for the duration of the study programme.
• After the applicants complete their studies, they must apply for available posts within the Western Cape, Department of Health and Wellness, where they will work back the bursary through employment. 
• Bursaries are offered for the following fields of study:
  • Nursing
  • Medical (MBChB)
  • Pharmacy
  • Radiography
  • Emergency Medical Care

National Student Financial Aid Scheme (DHET Bursaries) 

• The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is a government entity under the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) that provides financial support to disadvantaged students who wish to further their studies at public universities or TVET colleges in South Africa
• These bursaries cover living allowances, accommodation, transport, and learning materials in accordance with the latest approved DHET guidelines.
• Some of the main eligibility requirements for these bursaries include:
  • having South African citizenship;
  • being SASSA grant recipient;
  • having a combined household income of not more than R350 000 per annum;
  • being a person with a disability whose combined household income is not more than R600 000 per annum;
  • being a student who started studying before 2018 and whose household income is not more than R122 000 per annum.

Umthombo Youth Development Foundation  

• The Umthombo Youth Development Foundation addresses the shortages of healthcare staff at participating rural hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape Provinces by identifying and supporting rural youth who have the potential and interest in becoming healthcare providers.
• Young people from rural schools are selected and supported to study for a health science degree. They receive funding and mentorship throughout the study period to increase their chances of qualifying as a healthcare professional.
• In exchange for the educational opportunities provided, graduates of this program are required to work at their local rural hospital for a duration similar to the number of years they received support.

DEMOCRATIC NURSING ORGANISATION OF SOUTH AFRICA (DENOSA) STUDY FUND BURSARIES

• DENOSA Bursaries, another of the bursaries and scholarships for nursing in South Africa, are administered by the DENOSA Study Fund Committee as one-off donations. They are not renewed automatically.
• Applicants for these bursaries must be fully paid-up members of DENOSA for a minimum of two years preceding the date of application. Also, members who wish to apply for these bursaries must by fully paid-up members for the academic year and the duration of the course for which the bursary is awarded.
• To qualify for these bursaries, applicants:
  • must be registered nurses and/or midwives;
  • should have undertaken a certain amount of approved post-basic work;
  • must have completed an application form;
  • must have been accepted for the course of study for which they require a bursary.

Stellenbosch University iThemba FMHS Bursary fund

• The FMHS iThemba Bursary Fund was established in 2015 in support of students who have exhausted all other avenues to access funding for their studies.
• This bursary fund is accessible to undergraduate students in the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences who demonstrate financial need. Successful recipients are allocated a maximum of R50 000 for the specified academic year.
• Applicants for these bursaries should demonstrate financial need and that they have exhausted all other available options for funding. They should also provide proof that they do not qualify for or have been unable to access any other funds, bursaries, and/or loans.
• This program is open to both South African and non-South African citizens.

Bursaries and scholarships for nursing in South Africa play a crucial role in supporting the education of healthcare workers, thus bridging the shortfall in the country’s healthcare workforce.