A variety of loan and bursary options are available to deserving students who have been accepted into their first year at CPUT.

The most popular choice is the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) which is a government body that allocates a set amount of money toward a student’s individual tertiary education needs.

The repayable loan has already assisted thousands of students nationwide to gain access to higher education. It also incentivizes students to perform well academically by offering to wipe 40% of the amount owed if they continuously score well.

NSFAS loans are repayable once a student starts earning a salary.

Students who have been accepted to CPUT as first time, first-year students for 2014 can apply for financial aid up to the last working day of February. All applications are managed and processed by the Financial Aid office at CPUT.

CPUT also offers merit bursaries to students who scored an A-aggregate in their matric exams

Applicants must be South African citizens, have a very good academic record, should be assessed as financially needy and have to make a family contribution towards their studies. The size of awards varies according to individual needs.

Additionally most commercial banks, including Eduloan - similar to a bank loan, have affordable student loan options available.

Finally a number of external companies, clubs, churches etc offer financial assistance to needy students.

Check https://www.cput.ac.za/study/funding/undergraduate for more information on financial aid and funding.

Written by Lauren Kansley

Tel: +27 21 953 8646
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Liaises with the media and writes press releases about interesting developments at CPUT.

CPUT will continue to remain the most reasonably priced higher education institution in the Western Cape.

After consulting with student representative leaders, the CPUT Council has decided to increase tuition fees for 2013 by an 8%.  Fees for residence accommodation will increase by 10%.

Despite the increase in tuition and residence fees, the university remains one of the most affordable in South Africa and the cheapest in the Western Cape.

The CPUT Council is also committed to acting in the best interest of current and prospective students and as a result has decided to not increase the upfront payment for the 2013 academic year.

Day students will have to make an upfront payment of R 3 500, while those staying at one of CPUT’s residence’s will be required to make an upfront payment of R 5 000 (R3 500 for tuition + R1 500 for residence).

The university will also not exclude any academically competent but financially needy students. However, students who require assistance must follow the institution’s normal Credit Management processes as set out in the university’s policy.

Financially needy students are also advised to apply for Financial Aid, which includes a range of bursaries as well as the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).   In all instances of funding, students must meet the criteria that are set by the relevant bursary fund or NSFAS.

These funding mechanisms have proved to be a huge success in helping financially needy students to achieve their academic goals.

During the last four years, CPUT together with NSFAS has more than doubled financial support to financially needy students.

By Candes Keating

Written by CPUT News
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CPUT and the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has more than doubled financial support to financially needy students over the last four years.

In a bid to help poor students access higher education, the institution made 9 044 financial aid awards to the tune of R105 683 258 in 2008 compared to 2011’s awards valued at R228 687 030.

Awards to students with disabilities also increased from R591 491 in 2009 to R2 748 000 last year.

Graham Renecke from the Financial Aid Office says these figures prove we are doing something right.

Last year 526 students who could not continue to the next year because of an outstanding debt were granted a reprieve by the institution and allowed to enroll for the following year.

Despite the huge demand for funding Renecke says that of this year’s R53 million NSFAS allocation the university is left with a whopping R32 million.

 “The reason for this slow uptake is that students don’t submit their loan agreement forms,” he said. 

He urged students to sign the documents and submit them to the university as early as possible in order for the financial aid office to claim the money from NSFAS.

The university awards financial aid to students who are academically competent but financially needy based on the NSFAS criteria, the National Credit Act as well as the university’s policy.

NSFAS financial aid consists of bursaries and study loans, a portion of which is paid back on completion of your studies and the start of work.

For more information about NSFAS funding call 021 460 3918 or 021 959 6371.

By Kwanele Butana

Written by CPUT News
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Accommodation service providers are lending a helping hand to students remaining in leased residences by providing them with food parcels.

South Point, one of the biggest providers, has collaborated with the Gift of the Givers Foundation to secure food parcels for students who remain in South Point buildings during the national lockdown. This includes students who are self-funded as well as students who receive NSFAS or other funding and in addition to a food parcel drive initiated by the Department of Student Affairs.

Another large service provider, Park Central, has been offering students in its various buildings food parcels since the early days of the lockdown.   A weekly parcel is given to replenish students’ supplies.

More leased accommodation service providers are pledging to come on board and assist students.

 “We are grateful for the selfless work being done by our service providers, which goes a long way in ensuring students’ needs are met. They are displaying a huge measure of corporate responsibility which we welcome and encourage such gestures to continue post this period as we all have a common goal to serve our clients, (the students) in both good and bad times, “said Phillip Chibvuri, residence finance specialist in the Business Unit.

The Business Unit will continue to work with stakeholders to ensure students receive the necessary support in all spheres of operations. One of the service providers, Student Junction, is scheduled to start providing aid to students in their buildings from today (April 30). 

“More discussions are underway to negotiate business terms with these accommodation providers to reach mutual grounds post the lockdown as new risks will emerge and financial impacts will be felt. We are pleased all our service providers are willing to come to the table to craft and draft ways to reduce any adversities," added Johnny Basson, the business manager in the Business Unit.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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The day before he graduated as a Doctor of Engineering: Chemical, Dr Lukhanyo Mekuto was in Bloemfontein to receive a Research Excellence Award for Next Generation Researchers from the National Research Foundation (NRF).

Originally from Brown’s Farm, Philippi, Mekuto (28) is the only child of a domestic worker and the first one in his family to not only get postgraduate, but also undergraduate degrees. He also has the distinction of being one of the youngest doctoral graduates CPUT has produced.

He arrived at university in 2008 and obtained his BTech in Biotechnology in 2011. He went on to complete his MTech cum laude in 2014. He obtained his postgraduate degrees in record time too, completing his master’s degree in 18 months and his doctorate in two and a half years.

His advice to those who, like him, want to excel in whatever field they choose, is to determine who they are and what they want. “Distinguish yourself from others. The mistake we in the township make is that we want to go with the crowd. I decided in grade 10 that I was not going to do that anymore.

“I tell learners, ‘Define who you are and what you want. Once you’ve done that you have to make a conscious decision to go after what it is that you want,’” explains Mekuto, who on weekends tutors children from his area in maths and physics.

According to Mekuto, the number one excuse people give for not reaching their potential is a lack of funds. “I have come through the NSFAS (National Student Financial Aid Scheme) system. NSFAS paid for my BTech up to my PhD, so in my view no funding is no excuse.”

His research revolved around the biological treatment of industrial wastewater generated by gold mines. His interest was piqued when he read about cattle deaths in KwaZulu-Natal due to cyanide poisoning in 2012. The cyanide came from their water, which was contaminated by mining activities in the area. Mekuto investigated the use of micro-organism to break up the cyanide into its component elements.

Written by Abigail Calata

In a recent communiqué from the Department of Higher Education and Training a few important matters regarding student funding for 2016/2017 was communicated. Below please find the decisions reached by government addressing financial aid concerns.

• All NSFAS qualifying students who were registered in 2016 and meet the academic progression requirements for 2017 will continue receiving funding in the new academic year.
• NSFAS will pay the registration fee for all NSFAS funded students, meaning they do not pay any upfront fee.
• In 2017 students from households with an annual family income of up to R600 000 (the missing middle) will have the upfront or registration fee covered by government gap funding. They will therefore be allowed to register without paying registration/upfront fees.
• All missing middle students with historic debt will be allowed to register in 2017. Universities are required to develop transparent student debt policies for students not covered by the NSFAS scheme.
• Legitimate, peaceful student protests should be supported and the rights of all, including those who choose not to protest (the silent majority) must also be protected.

Written by CPUT News
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The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is calling on all prospective and returning students who have not yet applied for 2019 financial aid to do so by November 30. 

Applicants can submit their applications online at www.nsfas.org.za . They can also visit their nearest National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) centre for support with their application.

NSFAS has indicated that there will be no extended window period for 2019 applications and no applications will be accepted after the 30 November deadline.

The application process takes only five minutes to complete and requires only a copy of the Identification Document (ID) of the applicant and their parents, payslips of both parents, if parents earn an income and a consent form to give the Scheme permission to verify income. Those whose parents are not working are only required to submit a signed consent form.

Continuing students who are funded by NSFAS this year will be contacted by NSFAS to sign their agreements online, if they have not done so already. They are not required to reapply as funding will automatically continue in 2019, if they meet the progression rule of a 50% pass.

Written by CPUT News
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Students who need to fund their studies partially or in full have a number of options available to them. 

CPUT Merit Scholarship

CPUT offers merit scholarships to first-year students who achieved an overall matric pass of 75%. The scholarship covers a year's worth of tuition fees.

Find out more about Merit scholarships, here: http://www.cput.ac.za/study/funding/undergraduate/cput

NSFAS

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme, or NSFAS, is a government organisation that assists academically competent and financially needy students to pay their study-related costs.

Students entering university for the first time in 2017, including 2016 matriculates, must apply from 9-20 January 2017.

University student who were not funded (declined/ did not apply) by NSFAS in 2016, can apply for funding from 9-20 January 2017.

For more information, and to apply, visit: www.nsfas.org.za

DHET fee adjustment grant

Government will pay the fee increase capped at 8% for all qualifying registered students with a gross combined family income up to R600 000 per annum in 2017. This is a grant and will not have to be repaid by qualifying students. The grant will only cover tuition fees and accommodation provided by universities.

Find out more about the DHET grant, here: http://www.cput.ac.za/study/funding/undergraduate/dhet-fee-adjustment-grant

External bursary opportunities

External bursaries and scholarships are offered by off-campus organisations such as companies, NGOs, government departments, and SETAs. Students must apply to these organisations directly.

Opportunities on offer are listed here: http://www.cput.ac.za/study/funding/undergraduate/bursaries/opportunities

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For more information on Merit scholarships, NSFAS, the DHET fee adjustment grant, external bursary opportunities, and other undergraduate funding matters, visit the Financial Aid Office:

Webpage: http://www.cput.ac.za/study/funding/undergraduate

Location:

• Bellville Campus: Ground Floor, Library Extension
• Cape Town Campus: Administration Building, Floor 5
• Wellington Campus: Administration Building, Room A19
• Mowbray Campus: Barkley Davis Building, Room 0.23

Loans

A wide variety of financial institutions offer study loans to students to pay for their studies.

Institutions that offer loans include banks, as well as Eduloan.

Postgraduate funding

Postgraduate students at CPUT are exceptionally well supported by a wide range of bursaries funded by external organisations and by the University.

Funding opportunities are advertised at http://www.cput.ac.za/research/postgraduate/funding

Postgraduate students can also get in contact with the Centre for Postgraduate Studies:

Phone: +27 21 953 8600
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Location:

• New Library Building, Bellville Campus
• CCE Building, Cape Town Campus

Caro Wiese Award

The Caro Wiese awards is offered annually to two CPUT students (1 female and 1 male) who have succeeded in overcoming extremely difficult circumstances to realize their full academic potential.

Find out more about this award and how to apply for it, here: http://www.cput.ac.za/study/funding/caro-wiese-award

Student jobs

The Student Jobs web page advertises positions specifically for CPUT students. New jobs are loaded regularly.

Visit the Student Jobs page here: http://www.cput.ac.za/blogs/jobs/

Written by CPUT News

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