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Fees/Financial Support and Bursaries

Fees | Financial Support and Bursaries | South African National Research Foundation Grants | Merit Awards, Scholarships and Financial Aid Packages | AfricaArray Scholarships

 
Fees

General fees are set annually by the SoG at Wits and for 2005 can be downloaded from: http://study.wits.ac.za/tuitionfees.html.

Further details for international students can be found at: http://www.wits.ac.za/depts/intoffice/fees.html.

The fees for the AfricaArray programme also are set annually by the SoG at Wits (View 2005 fees). The major difference between the AfricaArray fees and the general fees is the inclusion of the cost of the “sandwich” programme at the M.Sc. and Ph.D. levels.

Financial Support and Bursaries

There are several sources of financial support for post-graduate students. Extensive information on merit awards, scholarships and financial assistance can be found in the booklet entitled “General Information for Post-Graduate Applicants”, available from the Faculty of Science Office (Gate House) or at http://www.wits.ac.za/depts/wcs/postgrad/bursaries.html.

South African National Research Foundation Grants

Many students are supported by grants from the South African National Research Foundation (NRF) to individual staff members. A certain number of Honours, M.Sc., Ph.D. and post-doctoral bursaries are frequently awarded on a competitive basis to staff members who request them along with their research funding applications. NRF bursaries carry an obligation by each student to conduct “departmental” duties such as demonstrating, teaching, tutorials or other assistance, to a maximum of 12 hours per week. Full time NRF bursars are not allowed to hold full time salaried employment during the tenure of the bursary. Should a student supported by an NRF bursary not complete his/her degree, the NRF may insist upon being repaid in full the money allocated for the bursary. Further information on NRF bursaries may be obtained from the NRF website: http://nrf.ac.za.

Merit Awards, Scholarships and Financial Aid Packages

Wits University also has a number of merit awards, scholarships and financial aid packages for post-graduate students. Post-graduate merit awards vary in amount, but generally these are sufficiently generous such that all qualified post-graduate students should apply for them. These awards are based entirely upon academic merit, and may be applied for by South African and non-South African students. These awards are for full time Honours, M.Sc. or Ph.D. candidates who receive a positive recommendation from the Head of School and are given for a maximum of 2 years (M.Sc.) or 3 years (Ph.D.). These awards also carry an obligation to conduct 6 hours per week of “departmental duties”, such as demonstrating, etc. Note that the SoG requires a maximum of 6 hours per week of departmental duties, regardless of which, or how many forms of financial assistance requiring such work you receive. For application forms and further information on other sources of financial support from Wits University, go to the website: http://www.wits.ac.za/postgrad/bursaries.html.

AfricaArray Scholarships

Many companies and government agencies support students at Wits directly with bursaries. Other companies and government agencies provide bursaries to students through the SoG. AfricaArray is committed to helping students find financial support from a wide range of sources. A scholarship fund for AfricaArray students is being set up to provide support on a competitive basis for students from throughout Africa.

For additional information about funding for students, please email Prof. Paul Dirks (dirksp@geosciences.wits.ac.za) or Dr. Sue Webb (webbs@geosciences.wits.ac.za).