Stellenbosch University (SU) offers excellence awards to top first-year students, senior merit awards, and need-based funding through its Centre for Undergraduate Bursaries and Loans (CUBL). Many students are also funded by NSFAS and private bursaries. The details below come from SU's merit bursary and funding pages.
Excellence awards for first-year students
SU grants excellence awards purely on academic achievement, not financial need. There is no application process, because SU collates the final Grade 12 results automatically.
- Vice-Chancellor's Award: R100,000 for top achievers in the NSC, IEB, Cambridge and other recognised exams who receive a final offer
- Achiever Award: R75,000 for 20 first-year students: the top ten overall, and the top ten from quintile 1 to 4 schools
- Excel Award: R25,000 for the top 1% to 5% of first-time, first-year students in each faculty
- Access Award: for all first-year students from quintile 1 to 4 schools who passed the NSC with an average above 80%, from R5,000 for 80% to 85%, rising on a sliding scale
Each award is a once-off credit to your student fees account in your first year. You must be a South African citizen or permanent resident, registered at SU for your first year, with no earlier higher education registration, and have passed matric no more than two years before. If you deregister in the first semester, you forfeit the whole award.
Senior Merit Award
The Senior Merit Award goes to the top 5% of senior students in each faculty with a weighted average of at least 75% in the previous year. It is calculated as a percentage of tuition fees and transferred automatically after registration.
SU Funding Opportunities (SUFO)
SU's need-based funding is allocated on financial need and academic merit. South African citizens or permanent residents with a conditional or final offer may apply. For 2027, SUFO applications were open from 1 October to 30 November 2026 only, and late applications are not considered. After you accept your offer, CUBL emails you details on how to apply online. You need documents such as proof of your parents' income, a one-page CV and the signed SUFO consent form, and a third party verifies all proof of income.
NSFAS
Apply to NSFAS on its own website and dates. You can apply for both NSFAS and SU funding.
Private bursaries
SU pays privately funded bursaries into the bursary holder's student fees account. Your account is paid first, and any credit balance is paid out only with the donor's written permission. Funders should use their company name as the payment reference.
Rebates
If you pay your study fees in full by 31 March, you qualify for a 3% rebate on the tuition portion. Bursary holders do not qualify for this rebate.
More funding
Browse our bursaries, or see Stellenbosch fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I apply for an SU excellence award?
No. SU identifies recipients automatically from final Grade 12 results.
When can I apply for SU funding?
For 2027, SUFO applications were open from 1 October to 30 November 2026.
Can I apply for both NSFAS and SU funding?
Yes.