Our 3 Core Funding Initiatives

UCT USA Student Bursary Fund

The Bursary helps aspiring undergraduate and postgraduate students complete their degrees and make a lasting, impactful contribution in South Africa and beyond.

UCT is committed to the challenge of funding this lifelong asset and to ensuring that no student will be turned away simply based on financial need. To demonstrate the impact, in 2025, your contributions have assisted 15 students with their fees.

A donation to the Student Bursary Fund will help the next generation of South Africans to follow in your footsteps and pursue their studies at UCT.

Unlocking Futures Fund

Government bursaries are available for the lowest income families, but this is often insufficient to cover all costs.

Each year, there are students who have completed the full academic requirements but cannot receive their degree certificates because they have a fees shortfall of between R1,000 and R150,000. They have worked hard and deserve the bright future that a UCT qualification will give them.

For as little as $15 a month, you can help a deserving UCT student attain their graduation dream. A single, larger donation between $100 and $500 will help multiple students to graduate and enter the world of work.

Food Sovereignty Program

The Food Sovereignty Programme ensures that no student studies on an empty stomach by providing monthly grocery packs to those experiencing food insecurity.

In 2024, the programme supported more than 1,100 students at its peak, distributing essential non-perishable items, and continues to assist hundreds of students in 2025.

Guided by principles of dignity, empathy, and care, it plays a vital role in supporting student well-being and academic success, helping many complete their studies despite severe financial hardship.