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Learning Liberated Scholarship & Bursary Programme.

Join us on our mission to unleash South Africa's learning potential

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This is our mission.

UCT Online High School is launching a Learning Liberated Scholarship & Bursary Programme to unleash South Africa's learning potential. Our mission is to make online education as affordable as possible to provide more education opportunities to bright young South Africans. As a result, we are collaborating with Corporate South Africa to make this vision a reality by unlocking the funds to make this possible. If you would like to be part of this exciting opportunity and apply for a potential scholarship or bursary you will need to complete an application as part of your UCT Online High School admissions application.

Why partial scholarships or bursaries?

The Learning Liberated Scholarship or Bursary programme offers partial scholarships or bursaries for a January start date to make education more accessible to a diverse range of learners who may not afford the full tuition. This approach allows for more efficient distribution of financial aid, supporting a larger number of learners with available funds. Additionally, funding through donations and philanthropy increases support for the programme, as donors can see their tangible impact on multiple learners. Partial scholarships or bursaries also foster a sense of commitment among recipients to maintain academic performance, leading to higher success rates. Furthermore, this financial assistance helps learners and their families manage education costs.

Available for entry into grades
8-11
Curriculum
NSC
Partial Scholarship or Bursaries
80% of the
Tuition fee
Next Intake
Jan 2025

Our Partners

Applications for 2025 close in:

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Days
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Join our Learning Liberated Scholarship and Bursary Programme today.

Hear from our existing scholarship & bursary learners

Learning Liberated Scholarship & Bursary eligibility criteria

  • Applicant must be a South African citizen
  • Applicant must reside in South Africa
  • At least one of the applicant's guardians must be a South African citizen
  • Applicant must be age appropriate for the grades to which they are applying (grades 8-11)
  • Applicant must want to complete the CAPS curriculum resulting in the National Senior Certificate (NSC)
  • Applicant must demonstrate financial need (the family household income may not exceed R350,000 per annum or R29,000 per month)
  • Applicants applying for entry into:
    1. Grades 8-10 must obtain a minimum 50% ave in both English (Home Language) and Mathematics
    2. Grade 11 must obtain a minimum 50% ave in English (Home Language) and 40% ave in either Mathematics or Maths Literacy
  • Applicant must have aspirations to pursue a tertiary education and career after school
  • Applicant must have access to stable internet, a laptop or desktop, and a printer
  • Applicant must have a safe learning environment with necessary support from at least 1 adult champion/supervisor
  • Applicant must submit an Applicant Reference Letter from a senior member of the learner’s current school and must accompany the scholarship application confirming that the learner has the necessary aptitude to thrive in an online learning environment.
  • Applicant must submit an Aspirations & Academic Journey Letter motivating their desire to pursue a tertiary education and career after high school
Applicant
6 May - 31 August 2024
An APPLICANT:
  • Starts an application
  • Works through the application process towards becoming a Candidate
  • Can have their application closed if they do not meet eligibility criteria, submit correct documents, successfully complete the LLSB Application Assessment, or follow the process correctly
Candidate
1 - 30 September 2024
A Candidate has:
  • Completed the application process
  • Met all the eligibility criteria
  • Successfully completed the LLSB Application Assessment and
  • Submitted all required documents, including SRO validation
  • Paid Placement Fee (non-refundable)
Candidates are not guaranteed a scholarship or bursary but will be shortlisted and depending on available funding and Sponsor's additional requirements; will be matched accordingly
Recipient
1 - 31 October 2024
A RECIPIENT is someone who has:
  • Been awarded and accepts a Learning Liberated Scholarship or Bursary supported by a corporate sponsor
  • Received a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)
  • Accepted the T&Cs of the MOA, and has signed and returned the MOA within the specified timeframe and
  • Submitted their Term 4, 2024 Academia report and this has been validated by SRO team

Frequently Asked Questions

We’ve got tons of A’s
This is a question about fees

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This is a question about fees

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This is a question about fees

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This is a question about fees

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This is a question about fees

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Do learners ever have the opportunity to meet face-to-face?

Yes, learners and guardians are encouraged to meet up and get to know each other. UCT Online High School will do its best to enable  learners and guardians to do this by creating online spaces to get to know each other and self-organise.

Where does UCT Online High School operate?

As an online school, we accept international learners from all over the globe, provided that they are not on our sanctioned list (see T&Cs), agree to adhere to the school academic calendar and are able to operate in South African Standard Time (SAST).

If you would like more details about how to join our online school from your country of residence kindly contact our Admissions Team at admissions@uctohs.valentureonline.com

What FET costs will be incurred in Grades 10– 12? Are there FET or Examination costs incurred in Grades 10 - 12?

Yes, there are standardised exam registration fees and examination fees that are subject to change as per SACAI. Applicants are advised to budget accordingly. Please refer to our fees handbook for detailed information about this.

Is UCT Online High School a safe and inclusive environment?

A resounding yes! UCT Online High School is strongly committed to offering an inclusive learning experience. We celebrate the uniqueness of individuality. Our policies and rules are there to support and uphold these principles

Do I need to reapply for the following academic year if my child/learner is already enrolled at Uct Online High School?

As a school, unless stated otherwise, we presume your child/learner will be staying with us for the next academic year, and we will automatically enrol your child/learner.

How do science practicals work in an online environment?

UCT Online High School uses an integrated approach to delivering science practicals for internal assessments that utilises video demonstrations, online simulations and at-home practicals within a fun, safe and controlled environment. Learners will never be required to attend a physical venue to conduct science practicals nor acquire expensive and potentially dangerous equipment to use at home. All practicals to be conducted within the home environment will use materials listed in our stationery and equipment list, and/or cheap and easy-to-source materials from a local supermarket or online store. Additionally, learners will be briefed on the practicals they will be conducting before the module where the practical is placed, allowing the learner’s primary caregiver to source the required materials well in advance. The methods used to deliver science practicals adhere to the Curriculum Assessment Policies Statements (CAPS) outlined by the Department of Basic Education (DBE). We aim to equip learners with the practical skills required to prepare them for future studies in the sciences through the use of a fun, engaging, and safe environment.

What is UCT Online High School?

UCT Online High School is a bold new initiative from the University of Cape Town and its partner, Valenture Institute. Developed to enable high school and adult learners throughout South Africa, and beyond, to choose an aspirational secondary school. UCT Online High School's ecosystem is designed to help learners unleash their potential and set them up for success in school, university and life.

What documents are required upon application?

You need to have the following critical documents on hand:

1) ‍A copy of your birth certificate or South African Identity Document
2) A General Education and Training Certificate (GETC); or a Grade 9/old Standard 7 school report stating that you have passed; or
3) A recognised equivalent qualification at NQF level 1 which requires 2 official languages.

Once you've received a conditional offer and have accepted your placement at UCT Online High School, we will ask you to submit all of the documents referenced in the application process during the pre-orientation phase. These documents are required before starting at UCT Online High School.

Partnering with a PBO

UCT Online High School has partnered with the iBhodi Trust (Registration number IT000433/2020), a Public Benefit Organization (PBO) to facilitate all donations for the high school Learning Liberated Scholarship & Bursary programme.  There are several compelling reasons for this. Firstly, the financial benefits are clear, as donations often come with tax incentives, reducing the overall cost of giving while maximising the positive impact of the contribution.

Secondly, PBOs ensure transparency and accountability in fund management, providing our partners with the assurance that their resources are being used efficiently and ethically. This ensures that the funds are directed towards their intended purpose - supporting deserving learners in their pursuit of education. Ultimately, investing in a PBO associated with a high school scholarship & bursary programme aligns corporate philanthropy with financial prudence, transparency, and a strong commitment to the betterment of the community and the education of future leaders.

Want to join us on our mission to unleash South Africa's learning potential?

If you are part of a corporate or NGO that would like to find out more about contributing to our Learning Liberated Scholarship and Bursary Programme, get in touch through the form below.
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