ISFAP was established as a funding model to sustainably cater for the higher education needs and costs of South Africa’s poor and middle-class students. The programme aims to fast track South Africa’s skills production for the 21st century by funding the higher education costs of mainly students studying towards a career in Occupations of High Demand (OHDs), which have been identified as critical to South Africa’s economic development by the Human Resources Development Council (HRDC). These include Actuaries, Accountants, Engineers, Medical Doctors, Pharmacists and Prosthetists.
Since growing South Africa’s skills base and supporting students from poor and middle-income families is critical to the growth and development of South Africa’s economy, both government and the private sector have come together under ISFAP to fund students and help address issues of sustainable employment and decent work in the country post-qualification. So, other than its aim to promote higher education, ISFAP also represents yet another positive public-private partnership aimed at driving National Development.
ISFAP aims to address the following challenges that face South African students:
Reducing the high dropout rate of poor and working class students in the higher education and training sector
Improving the employability of funded graduates
Improving the country’s skills profile, especially in occupations of high demand
Improving the partnership between government, the private sector/business and higher education institutions in supporting poor and “missing middle” students.
Student support that ISFAP offers:
Full university Fees, paid in full
Accommodation*
Books*
Meals Stipend*
Cash allowance
Academic (tutorials; academic development & extended programmes)
Social support
Life skills training
Mentoring (first year experience)
Medical support (psycho-social support)
Access to dedicated programme managers
Use of an online student platform to track individual academic progress
*These amounts are subsidised with a cap. Please contact us for more information.
ISFAP - the Ikusasa Student Financial Aid Programme - was established to assist poor and 'missing' middle income university students in selected fields of study to afford the university fees by means of providing financial aid provided the candidate meets certain prescribed requirements.
