Scholarships, Bursaries and Awards



The IIE’s Varsity College has a variety of scholarships, bursaries and awards available. New students wanting to find out more, book an appointment with a student advisor at a campus close to you. Returning students can find out more at the Customer Relations Centre.

National Senior Certificate Award
Any student registering for their first year of study with The IIE’s Varsity College, who achieved a National Senior Certificate pass or Grade 12 equivalent with an average of 80% across six subjects (excludes LO) qualifies for an NSC award. The NSC award may not be used in conjunction with an Academic Scholarship.

Bursary (Scholarship)
The scholarships available at the IIE’s Varsity College for new undergraduate students only, include:

a) Excellence Scholarship: To qualify for one of these the student needs to have achieved an average of at least 75% in Grade 11 or 4 subjects (other than Life Orientation) with 80% or more.

b) Achiever Scholarship: These are awards, for candidates with a Grade 11 average of at least 60% and a household income less than R400000 per annum. Applicants are also required to submit a 600-word motivation with their application. *Only South African citizens.

Schools Quiz Bursary
These are bursaries, which form part of the prizes won by the top 3 schools competing in the Schools Quiz. The bursary is handed over to the school that will then award the bursary to a deserving individual.

Open Day Bursary
During the annual Open Days, a bursary competition is run per Open Day. All entrants must have met the qualifying criteria around interviews and applications to enter.

Activation Bursary
The bursary is open to schools through our Schools Activations campaigns and is awarded through a competition for all Grade 12 students from these schools who apply before the application closing date. The bursary covers 1 year of study only to the value which is determined each year.

Bursary (Leadership)
Leadership bursaries are awarded to any prospective undergraduate contact student who assumed a senior leadership role at the school they matriculated from. These students must be registered for a full complement of modules and must be attending lectures at The IIE’s Varsity College. This is a one-year bursary and is not renewable.

National Sports Club Bursaries
Bursaries are available to students who are interested in becoming a member of one of our competitive sports clubs and have achieved a high level of sporting performance. Bursaries are awarded depending on the positional and transformation requirements of each sports club.

Discretionary Sport Bursaries
Bursaries are available to students who have achieved National Senior Protea colours in 2023, however, preference is given to students participating in sporting disciplines whereby The IIE’s Varsity College participate in the USSA (University Sport South Africa) Championships.

Sports Club Administrator Bursary
This bursary is intended to recognise leadership at The IIE’s Varsity College - any current student who is elected as a Sports Club Administrator will receive this bursary which is in accordance with the existing “VC Voice Constitution”. This is a one-year bursary based on performance.

Bursary-Family Loyalty
This is awarded to any student, who has an immediate family member who is concurrently studying at The IIE’s Varsity College/Vega/IIE MSA. The value of the bursary is 5% of the qualification tuition only, that each student is registered for in the current academic year, provided the account payer is the same individual or company. The calculation amount will not include the cost of the academic material. This applies to both contact or distance, undergraduate or postgraduate qualifications.

The Aggregate Distinction Award
An Aggregate Distinction award is calculated from an overall programme average of 75% in the previous academic year, on a complete module load required per the minimum completion time of the qualification for contact and a minimum of six modules in the previous year for distance studies. This specifically excludes repeat modules, and terms and conditions apply.

Bursary (CSI)
This bursary is reserved for current students who come from a previously disadvantaged background or in need of financial assistance and is based on academic performance. This bursary is applied in the current academic year. Students need to reapply for the bursary for each academic year.

Social Committee Bursary
This bursary is intended to recognise leadership at The IIE’s Varsity College - any current student who is elected to the Social Committee will receive a leadership bursary which is in accordance with the existing “VC Voice Constitution”. This is a one-year bursary based on performance.

VC Cares Bursary
This bursary is intended to recognise leadership at The IIE’s Varsity College in community engagement - any current student who represents The IIE’s Varsity College on VC Cares will receive a leadership bursary which is in accordance with the existing “VC Voice Constitution” policy for the determination of the value and criteria.

VC Voice
This bursary is intended to recognise leadership at The IIE’s Varsity College - any current student who is elected to the VC Voice Committee will receive a leadership bursary which is in accordance with the existing “VC Voice Constitution”. This is a one-year bursary based on performance.

Career Centre Ambassadors
This bursary is intended to recognise leadership at The IIE’s Varsity College - any current student who is elected as a Career Centre Ambassador will receive a leadership bursary which is in accordance with the existing “VC Voice Constitution”. This is a one-year bursary based on performance.

Sports Committee Bursary
This bursary is intended to recognise leadership at The IIE’s Varsity College - any current student who is elected to the Sports Committee will receive a leadership bursary which is in accordance with the existing “VC Voice Constitution”. This is a one-year bursary based on performance.

Discretionary Sport Bursaries
Bursaries are available to students who have achieved National Senior Protea colours in 2023, however, preference is given to students participating in sporting disciplines whereby The IIE’s Varsity College participate in the USSA (University Sport South Africa) Championships.

Sports Club Administrator Bursary
This bursary is intended to recognise leadership at The IIE’s Varsity College - any current student who is elected as a Sports Club Administrator will receive this bursary which is in accordance with the existing “VC Voice Constitution”. This is a one-year bursary based on performance.

Bursary-Family Loyalty
This is awarded to any student, who has an immediate family member who is concurrently studying at The IIE’s Varsity College/Vega/IIE MSA. The value of the bursary is 5% of the qualification tuition only, that each student is registered for in the current academic year, provided the account payer is the same individual or company. The calculation amount will not include the cost of the academic material. This applies to both contact or distance, undergraduate or postgraduate qualifications.