UCTs financial aid support to students South Africas

UCT’s financial aid support to students

South Africa’s Post-school System 2010 Public 892 936 Private 93 623 Public 326 889 Private 77 960 (1 688 899) 2016 (2 290 984) University Students 986 559 1, 143, 245 College students 404 849 College students 874 308 Adult Education & Training students Adult Education & Training 297 491 273 431 18 to 24 year-olds not in education, employment or training (NEETs) 2 781 185 Public 975 837 Private 167 408 Public 705 397 Private 168 911 18 to 24 year-olds not in education, employment or training (NEETs) 3 137 000

University of Cape Town • UCT was founded in 1829 as the South African College • The College developed into a fully fledged university during the period 1880 to 1900 • UCT was formally established as a university in 1918 • In 2017 UCT had a total of 28 649 students - Undergraduate: 17 218 (60%) - Postgraduate: 10 458 (37%) - Occasional: 973 (3%) • Total staff of 6 500 (3 700 PASS and 1 200 Academics and the rest being staff on contracts) • UCT is the highest-ranked African university

UCT’s commitment to funding students • Commitment to fund every academically deserving undergrad students in financial need (eligibility assessed) • R 1. 1 b made available in 2017 for students (undergrad R 739 m and postgrad funding R 350 m) • 8 464 students (49%) of undergraduate students received financial support from NSFAS, UCT and External Bursaries 3 407 (NSFAS) and 1 134 (GAP) (for 2018 = 3 870 NSFAS, 996 GAP) 3 923 External funding (Corporates, NGOs, Foundations, Donors, etc. ) • Additional R 20 m for undergrad financial aid appeals (‘bailouts’) and 1 398 students assisted, now R 13 million in 2018 just over 1 000 students • 90% of students receiving funding are black students (African, Coloured, Indian and Chinese) • In 2017, 3 386 students at postgrad level received financial assistance (32%) • Very limited mechanisms to assist students at postgrad level for student financial aid ‘bailouts’

NSFAS FINANCIAL AID • In December 2017, the President of South Africa announced that government would be introducing “fully subsidised free higher education and training for poor and working class South Africans”, • This is provided through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) to first-time entering undergraduate students at public universities who were from South African households with a combined annual income of up to R 350 000 in the 2018 academic year • Continuing students eligibility is still R 122 000 and also qualify for a bursary/grant rather than part loan • The funding provision from NSFAS changes from a loan to a grant effective 2018 for all students • NSFAS uses a national test to determine eligibility and also the EFC

NSFAS FINANCIAL AID con… • New students that are eligible to receive the bursary will need to sign an agreement form • This new form will include conditions that require students to contribute to society in one of two ways: - To remain in South Africa after completing their degree for however many years funding was received for. During this time the hope is that students will be working and contributing to the economy, not obtaining their education and leaving - Students must complete 10 day/80 hours of some kind of service work after their second year of studying • NSFAS experiencing serious administrative, IT and capacity challenges at the moment • UCT contributing in finding a solution as this is in the national interest to ensure NSFAS fulfils its mandate • UCT provides a free laptop to all first year NSFAS students (since 2017)

GAP FUNDING • Students with a gross family income of less than R 600 000 are eligible for GAP funding (UCT funding) • All applications are checked against the following eligibility criteria - South African citizenship or permanent residency (conditions apply) - First undergraduate qualification - Financial eligibility must be assessed - Applicant must not be under administrative order • GAP funded students will receive a non-repayable course fee bursary ranging from 20% to 50%, based on the gross family income • For GAP funded students with siblings at UCT - the 2 nd and subsequent siblings will receive a 50% course fee bursary, provided that all have applied for funding and are undergraduate students

POSTGRAD STUDENTS A CRITICAL NEED FOR THE UNIVERSITY? • Funding opportunities include Merit Awards, Research Scholarships, Departmental Awards, Travel Scholarships, International & Refuge scholarships • University is not able to provide full-cost funding to postgrad students • Scholarships and bursaries awarded will contribute towards the cost of study and applicants are advised to secure additional support • NRF funding a serious cause for concern for UCT • Postgrad issues have not received as much attention and may be next big issue? • UCT Task Team has introduced some changes for 2018 onwards • Seamless funding between undergraduate and post-graduate funding (Honours students) • Humanities programmes lack adequate funding as opposed to STEM Programmes

POSTGRAD STUDENTS A CRITICAL NEED FOR THE UNIVERSITY CONT… Balance Number of Students 3 793 514 108 AFRICAN OTHER 121 418 3 INTERNATIONAL 23 898 2 PERM RESIDENCY 40 689 3 3 138 503 89 SADC 469 007 11 UGRD 1 985 396 58 AFRICAN OTHER 6 812 1 INTERNATIONAL 51 870 2 PERM SA RESIDENCY 63 904 3 1 397 235 39 SADC 465 575 13 TOTAL 5 778 910 166 PG SA SA

Support required from External Funders • Sustainability of government funding still a big concern • Funding missing middle students for the full cost of study (attendance) • Allow more funders if not funding the full cost of study (top ups from UCT and other funders) • Timely communication • Confirmation of funding early on and follow-up in writing • More structured funding (universities as opposed to individual students) • Allow for laptops to be part of the FCS (UCT can assist) • Regular sponsorship visits (makes a big difference) • Extending some of the funding to postgrad programmes • Provide opportunities for work experience • Reasonable requests for reports and information

Questions and discussion. Thank you