The University of Pretoria (UP) offers several funding options, including student loans, bursaries or grants and scholarships.

Student loans cover the costs associated with a student’s studies, and need to be repaid at a later stage. Most of these loans require that the interest be paid during a student’s studies and that the capital be repaid once the student has completed their studies. The loan may be granted with or without sureties, such as the Standard Bank Student Loan.

Bursaries or grants are financial awards granted to a student to cover the costs of their studies. The award is usually based on financial need and/or academic achievement, such as the National Student Financial Aid Scheme Bursary.

Scholarships are a form of financial support awarded to a student based on academic achievement or other criteria that may include financial need for the purpose of funding studies, such as the VC Scholarship Fund.

Application procedure

These easy steps will guide you through the application procedure. Please follow these steps carefully to ensure that your application is successfully submitted and verified.

Step 1: Access the application portal

To begin, log in to the UP Portal using your student credentials. Once logged in, navigate to the Student Centre portlet.

Step 2: Select financial aid options

Within the Student Centre, click on the “Fin aid/Funding Opportunities” tile. This will direct you to a landing page where you can access all information related to financial aid.

Step 3: Apply for financial aid

From the landing page, select the “Apply for Financial Aid” option. Next, click “Add Application”. You’ll be prompted to slide the “No” option to “Yes” to begin your application, then click “Next” to proceed.

Step 4: Select parental information

You will need to specify your parental status. Choose one of the following:

• Both parents

• Legal guardian

• One parent only

• Financially independent (25 years and above, and employed)

Step 5: Upload the required documents

To complete the application, the following documents need to be uploaded:

• Employed parents: proof of income

• Unemployed or self-employed parents: an affidavit confirming means of survival in monetary terms

• One parent: an affidavit stating whether the other parent is providing any financial support

• Financially independent students: proof of income 

Step 6: Submit your application

Once all the required documents have been uploaded, click “Submit” to finalise your application. Without submission, your application will not be verified.

Final tips:

• Ensure that all your documents are complete and accurate to avoid processing delays.
• Double-check that all sections of the application have been filled out correctly before submitting.

Once you have completed these steps, you may be on your way to securing the financial aid you need. If you encounter any issues or have questions, contact the Financial Aid Office for assistance.

Find more information on the Financial Aid page.