The NSFAS bursary for students with disabilities is a dedicated ring-fenced funding that is available for students with disabilities. It is a comprehensive bursary scheme that provides for the following support:
• Tuition fees for an undergraduate degree or to the completion of a professional degree e.g. BEd, Social work and becoming a Psychologist.
• Meals Allowance
• Book allowance
• Assistive Devices Allowance
• Residence Allowance
• Human Support Allowance.
Students with disabilities may also apply for bursary support from various government departments. Among these are:
• Department of Social Development
• Treasury
• Local Government & Municipalities
• The South African Revenue Services
• The Funza Lushaka Bursary
There are a number of NGO’s that provide funding support for students with disabilities. Among these are the following:
• South African National Council for the Blind
• BlindSA
• St Giles
Students at the post graduate level are also offered opportunities for accessing bursary support. Among these are:
National Research Foundation allocates 4% of its funding to persons with disabilities.
The Disability Support Service advocates extensively for funders to create opportunities for students with disabilities within their bursaries.