Grade 11 / Grade 12 Students: Should you wish to apply for the scholarship grant, you are requested to complete the online scholarship grant form – LINK HERE.
*Note: Only a student who has obtained an “A” or “B” aggregate is eligible for the award.

DUT Financial Aid

1.Location
1.1 Durban Campus – Lower Library Complex, Steve Biko Campus
1.2 Pietermaritzburg – Room H110, Riverside Campus
2. Core business
The core business of the Department of Financial Aid and Scholarships is to administer loans and bursaries that are pledged by donors to financially needy and academically deserving students. The Department endeavours to provide the necessary available funds to students who lack the financial resources in the pursuance of their studies.
3. Guide for Financial aid
• Financial Aid is granted to full-time registered students only.
• Students have to be South African citizens.
• Allocation of funds is based on financial need and academic merit.
• Financial Aid is granted subject to the conditions stipulated by donors/sponsors and DUT.
• Bursaries and loans are granted on merit. It is not automatically renewed each year. All students must therefore annually re-apply for the Bursaries/NSFAS loans

• Funds allocated to students are credited/paid directly to the student’s fee account.
• Donors are entitled to a full and detailed account of the administration of their monies.
4. Application Process for Bursaries / NSFAS Loans
• Only full-time registered students are allowed to complete and submit the application form for financial aid.
• The Forms are available from the Financial Aid Department.
5. Closing Date for Application Forms
• Returning Students/Continuing Students: 31 August of the current academic year
• New First Year Students: 5 February of the current academic year
• New Semester Students: 31 August of the current academic year
6. NSFAS Loans (National Student Financial Aid Scheme)
• NSFAS loans are government loans that are allocated to all tertiary institutions with the proviso that it is awarded to financially needy and academically deserving students.
• Low Interest on NSFAS loans will be calculated, and is tied to the inflation rate.

• You will be expected to make your own/family contribution towards the total costs of your studies.
• Up to 40% of the loan may be converted to a bursary dependent on your year-end results.
• All NSFAS students must re-apply for the loan before the 31 August of the current year for the following new academic year
7. Financial Need
The NSFAS National Means Test (Formula) is applied to determine financially needy students. The Formula takes into account household incomes, number of dependents and cost of living allowances. Depending on the outcome of the Means Test a family contribution has to be made.
8. Academic Merit
Students studying at DUT will be judged on their academic performance. Continuing students will have to pass 50% of their registered subjects (last exam results) to qualify for loans. New first year students will be awarded loans for tuition fees only based on their matric results.
9. The Financial Aid Package
New Students: New students will pay the minimum registration fee whilst NSFAS Awards will cover the tuition fees. THE AMOUNT OF THE AWARD WILL DEPEND ON THE FUNDS AVAILABLE.
Continuing Students: The NSFAS Awards covers tuition and residence costs including meal and/or book allowances. THE AMOUNT OF THE AWARD WILL DEPEND ON THE FUNDS AVAILABLE
10. Bursaries
Bursaries are awarded to students in terms of laid down criteria stipulated by donors/sponsors. Selection of students will be based on financial need, academic potential, field of study, etc.
11. Advertising of Bursaries
When Donors pledge funds to DUT, such funds will be advertised on the following Notice Boards: –
• Department of Financial Aid and Scholarships
• Targeted Academic Departments
• Faculty Offices
12. Scholarships
12.1 Undergraduate Scholarship: First Year Students
This award is made to first year full-time South African students who have obtained excellent results in the National Senior Certificate, which takes the form of a tuition fee remission as follows:

12.1.1 A first year student who has obtained a National Senior Certificate with an aggregate of 80% or higher , shall qualify for a 100% remission of tuition fees for the first year of registration (subject to 1.3 below.)
12.1.2 A first year student who has obtained a National Senior Certificate with an aggregate of between 70% – 79% shall qualify for a 50% remission of tuition fees for the first year of registration, (subject to 1.3 below).
Important Notes
12.1.3 The calculation of the aggregate percentage is made by the DUT, and is based on the sum total of the percentages achieved for individual subjects (excluding Life Orientation) divided by the total number of subjects taken. Where a student has taken more than seven subjects, the aggregate percentage of the six highest subjects(excluding Life Orientation) is calculated
12.1.4 Only students who have obtained the National Senior Certificate in one sitting would qualify for this award. Subjects for which ’exemptions’ are granted towards the National Senior Certificate will not be eligible for this award.
12.1.5 The onus is on the student to establish whether he/she qualifies for a remission of fess at the time of student registration, and to apply for the scholarship using the prescribed application form.
12.1.6 Should a recipient of the scholarship withdraw from studies in the year for which the scholarship is granted, the full scholarship becomes payable to the institution.
12.1.7 Students who require and obtain exemption/s for admission to a DUT programme will not be eligible for this award.
12.2. Undergraduate Scholarship Award Scheme After Year 1 / Semester 1
This award is given to full-time, second and later year/semester South African students who obtain excellent results in the various levels of undergraduate study, and takes the form of a tuition fee remission as follows:
12.2.1 A returning student who achieved distinctions as final results for all instructional offerings for the previous year/level of study on the first attempt, and provided that the full curriculum was taken and passes, shall qualify for a full remission of tuition fees for the subsequent higher level of study.
12.2.2 A returning student who has achieved an overall pass with distinction (average of 75% and above) for the previous year/level of study on the first attempt and provided that the full curriculum was taken and passed, shall qualify for a remission of 50% remission of tuition fees for the subsequent higher levels of study.
NB: Performance in the Experiential Training Component is not considered in the above cases.
Explanatory Notes
12.2.2.1 The term ’subsequent level of study’ as used in this policy, shall mean:
• the subsequent year of study, if the student is pursuing an annual course of study.
• the first semester following the final examination in which the student obtained the qualifying distinctions/overall pass with distinction for all the instructional offerings, if the student is pursuing a semesterised course of study.
(To qualify for the remission of fees for the second semester, the student must achieve the qualifying distinctions/overall pass with distinction for all the instructional offerings in the first semester.)
• The semester following the co-operative education or experiential training component, in the event that a student is placed in industry for this purpose at the beginning of the year/semester following the final examination in which the student obtained the qualifying distinctions/overall pass with distinction for all the instructional offerings.
• The fourth and fifth year of the professional MTech ( Homoeopathy) and MTech (Chiropractic) degrees
Should a student achieve the qualifying distinctions/overall pass for the third year or final semester of the national diploma, such a student is entitled to a remission of fees for the BTech programme for that year/semester provided the student registers for the full curriculum of the BTech programme on a full time basis.
PLEASE NOTE: B-Tech students who register for part of the programme i.e. part-time over two years are only entitled to the remission of the part-time tuition fees for the first year/semester of study if he/she qualified for the award in his/her third year.
For students who receive qualifying distinctions/overall pass with distinction for all instructional offerings in the B-Tech programme, the student is advised to contact the Research Department to enquire about further incentives for the M-Tech programme.
12.2.2.2 Should the student register for a combination of semester and annual courses in the subsequent level of study, the remission shall apply to the annual courses and to the first semester of the subsequent level of study only.
(To qualify for the remission of fees for the second semester, the student must achieve the qualifying distinctions/overall pass with distinction for all the instructional offerings in the first semester.)
12.2.2.3 The onus is on the student to establish whether he/she qualifies for a remission of fees at the time of student registration, and to apply for the scholarship using the prescribed application form.
12.2.2.4 ’Exemption’ subjects do not qualify for the purposes of determining whether a full curriculum is taken, whether such exemptions are granted from the DUT or any other institution.
NB: International students who meet the criteria qualify for a book voucher award.
12.2.2.5 Should a recipient of the scholarship withdraw from studies in the year/semester for which the scholarship is granted, the full scholarship becomes payable to the institution.
12.4. Dean’s Merit Award
This award is made annually to the top achiever in each of the faculties, and shall take the form of a once-off cash award, the amount to be determined and reviewed from time-to-time by Executive Management.
Each faculty determines its own criteria for the award, as well as the selection process for the top achiever.
12.5 Vice-Chancellor’s Award
This scholarship is awarded at the discretion of the Vice-Chancellor, not necessarily to top academic achievers, but to new students who have obtained good passes in the matriculation examination, despite personal circumstances.
This scholarship will be limited each year, and shall usually take the form of a remission of tuition fees for the first year of study only, except that in deserving cases, this may be reviewed.
12.6 Dux Award
This scholarship is awarded to the recipient of the Dux/Top Matriculant at each school. The applicant has to satisfy the entry requirements for the programme applied for:
This award takes the form of a remission of tuition fees for the first year of study only.
Further remissions will be subject to the criteria identified for second and later year students (see 2 above)
Written proof on a school letterhead, of being a Dux recipient, bearing the signature of the school principal and the official stamp of the school must accompany all applications.
NB: The remission of fees for each of the awards detailed above excludes any additional levies or charges payable.
12.7 Merit Award For Students Who Receive Other Bursaries Or Scholarships
12.7.1 The onus is on the student to declare the receipt of any outside bursaries/loans when applying for a DUT scholarship in the first instance. Failure to do this could result in any future scholarship awards payable to the student being forfeited.
12.7.2 The remission of fees as described in the above awards does not apply to students who are in receipt of any scholarship or bursary (including NSFAS loans and bursaries), which covers the full amount that the student qualifies for in terms of this policy and which is ear-marked for the payment of tuition fees. The student is entitled to secure a loan for the balance of tuition fees owing only. A merit award is made however, to such students who otherwise meet the criteria for a DUT scholarship award, and this shall take the form of:
12.7.2.1 A voucher for the sum of R500 for the purchase of academic textbooks, for:
• second and later year /semester students who achieve an overall pass with distinction (average of 75% and above);
• first year/semester students who obtain a matriculation endorsement with an aggregate of 70% – 79% in the matriculation examination.
12.7.2.2 A voucher for the sum of R800 for the purchase of academic textbooks for:
•second and later year/semester students who achieve a distinction (75% and above) for each of the instructional offerings for the year of study;
• first year/semester students who obtain a matriculation endorsement with an aggregate of 80% or higher in the matriculation examination.
NB: International students who meet the criteria, qualify for the book voucher award.
12.7.2.3 If the student qualifies for a 100% remission of tuition fees and receives another bursary or scholarship that is less than the amount the student would have qualified for in terms of the student incentive scheme, the DUT shall grant a remission of fees for the difference. If the difference is less than the book voucher, the student will qualify for the book voucher of R800.
12.7.2.4 If the student qualifies for less than 100% remission of tuition fees, viz 50% and receives another bursary, the DUT shall grant a remission that is not more than the amount the student would have qualified for in terms of this student incentive scheme, and this shall also be limited to the difference between the full tuition fee payable (excluding charge levies) and the bursary received by the student. The student is entitled to secure a loan for the balance of tuition fees owing only.
Should you require further information, kindly contact the Department of Financial Aid and Scholarships:
Durban – Tel: 031 373 2553 or Pietermaritzburg – Tel: 033 845 8890
DUT Student Bursary Scheme
DUT Scholarship And Grant Forms
DUT Graduate Funding Opportunities
DUT Research Funding
DUT Post Doctoral Fellowship Application Form