CUT Bursaries and Funding

The Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT) offers merit, leadership and sport bursaries to first-year and continuing undergraduates, and many students are funded by NSFAS, the Funza Lushaka bursary and external sponsors. The details below come from CUT's fees, bursaries and loans page and its 2026 financial registration guidelines.

Academic merit bursaries for first-years

CUT's academic merit bursaries are for students studying full-time for a diploma or degree for the first time after Grade 12. The amount is calculated from the six highest symbols in your final Grade 12 exams, and CUT reviews the criteria and amounts each year.

Academic recruitment bursaries

These are additional to the normal academic bursaries, and qualifying first-years are considered automatically:

• Category A: an amount for each A symbol
• Category B: R1,000 for a student with an A symbol enrolled in Engineering or Health and Environmental Sciences
• Category C (Top Ten): for the ten best first-year entrants, with at least 42 points on the CUT scoring scale

Leadership bursaries

First-year leadership bursaries need at least 27 points on the CUT scoring scale. Qualifying roles include head boy or girl, chairperson or vice-chairperson of the learner representative council, head of a high-school hostel, and winners of a national subject Olympiad or expo.

Sport recruitment bursaries

Sport bursaries go to promising sportsmen and sportswomen on merit, for league sports played for CUT. Only achievements at provincial level and higher are considered, and the closing date is 31 October. A few development bursaries are also available.

Funza Lushaka

Funza Lushaka is a merit bursary for deserving teacher education students in specific BEd specialisations. Apply online on the government website. CUT says it is currently worth R48,000 a year, subject to available funds.

NSFAS

NSFAS-funded students registering for an NSFAS-funded qualification do not pay CUT's minimum initial payment. This applies to first-time entering students listed as NSFAS-funded and to returning NSFAS students on the funded list.

Other funders

CUT's funding page lists other legitimate sources, such as ISFAP for high-demand careers, national government bursaries, and SETA bursaries through the official DHET SETA directory, including merSETA for engineering. Always check deadlines on the funder's own website, because many opportunities are managed by outside organisations.

Tips for applying

• Read each bursary brochure carefully.
• Keep strictly to closing dates.
• Apply directly to the person or company in the advertisement.
• Apply for more than one bursary.
• Have a back-up plan if your application is unsuccessful.

Browse our bursaries, or see CUT fees.