By | June 11, 2021

About the HCI Foundation

HCI Foundation is the corporate social investment arm of HCI, a black empowerment investment company that has its origins in the Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers’ Union.
Our primary concern is the upliftment of all people in South Africa so that all may share in an improved quality of life.

HCI Foundation Bursary

The HCI Foundation Bursary Programme provides financial assistance to academically deserving and financially needy students, pursuing an undergraduate degree up to Honours level in any field of study, at a public university or university of technology in South Africa. HCI Foundation bursaries are primarily for students who will be in their 1st year of study in 2022and our current bursary recipients. Applications for other years of study will only be considered if we have spaces available.

BURSARY APPLICATION PROCESS

How to apply

Between 01 August 2021 and 31 October 2022.

1. Login (or register)

If you have applied before, you must login with your existing username and password. Click on lost password if you have lost or forgotten it. If you are a new applicant you must register on the system.

2. Complete the application form

There are 4 sections that you will be required to complete on the application form:

  • Personal Details
  • Family Details
  • Details of proposed study for the upcoming year
  • Parents’ employment information
  • Write an original motivational essay of no more than 750 words

Now begin to send in your supporting documents: Copy of ID, proof of family income or affidavit of
unemployment and proof of grant. You will be able to submit supporting documents until 31 October 2022

You can save your application at any stage and return to complete it later.

31 October 2022 before Midnight

3. Submit your application and outstanding supporting documents

Applications and all outstanding supporting documents (Copy of ID, proof of family income or affidavit of
unemployment, and proof of grant) must be submitted before 31 October 2022
(The system will close for applications at midnight on 31 October 2022)

4. Finalise uploading of your scanned documents or send them via fax or post.

Submit your supporting documents before or on 31 October 2022 by uploading your scanned documents
to your application form or send your documents via post or fax. 
If sent by post, your supporting documents
should still reach us by 31 October 2022. After midnight, no supporting documents will be accepted. Late
supporting documents will not be processed and your application will then be incomplete and therefore rejected.

Now begin to send in your results.

5. Submit your end of year results

Your Matric or end-of-year results should be sent to us via email, fax or post and these should reach us before 23 February 2022.
If we do not receive your results by 23 February 2022, then your application will be rejected.

N.B: Please note the following:

  • The Foundation will keep you updated on the status of your application. Emails will be sent to you at each
    stage of the review process
  • Check your email and post and follow our Facebook page and twitter account for updates
  • Once we have reviewed your application, we will send you a notification to tell you whether or not you have met
    our criteria
  • If you do NOT meet our criteria, your bursary application will be rejected
  • If you do meet our criteria, your bursary application will go to the next stage of the process
  • Meeting our criteria does not guarantee that you will be awarded a bursary
  • All first year applicants will be shortlisted and interviewed by phone
  • At institutions where we are oversubscribed, selection of students is based on academic performance and targets per institution
  • We will make our final selection and notify you that you have received an HCI Foundation bursary by 07 March 2022
  • If you are awarded a bursary, the HCI Foundation will contact your institution of study on your behalf
    and pay your bursary amount directly to the institution

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Although we strive to provide bursaries to as many as we can, not all will qualify.
Please make sure you meet the minimum requirements that we have.

DO I QUALIFY FOR A BURSARY?

South African citizens, refugees and asylum seekers who fulfil the following criteria:

  • Current HCI Foundation bursary recipients who are still studying at their respective institutions throughout South Africa.
  • New applicants at the level of Honours and Postgraduate Diploma who will be studying at the selected institutions.
  • Studying at a public university.
  • With a gross family income of less than R37 500 per month.
  • Age 35 years or under on 31 October 2022.

NB: We do not fund part-time, distance learning or students studying at TVET colleges.

SUPPORTED INSTITUTIONS

List of institutions we support

List of institutions we support

PLEASE NOTE – Our bursary programme has changed direction. From the year 2020 onwards, HCI Foundation bursaries will be given primarily to:

1) Our continuing bursary recipients who are still studying at their respective institutions throughout South Africa,

2) And to new applicants at the level of Honours and Postgraduate Diploma who will be studying at the selected institutions listed below:

  • University of Cape Town
  • University of the Western Cape
  • University of Stellenbosch
  • University of Kwa Zulu Natal
  • University of Pretoria
  • University of Witwatersrand
  • University of Johannesburg
  • Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University
  • Rhodes University
  • Nelson Mandela University
  • University of the Free State
  • North-West University

These universities have been selected on the basis of their high levels of enrollment in postgraduate studies.