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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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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

Nulla vitae elit libero, a pharetra augue. Nullam quis risus eget urna mollis ornare vel eu leo. Vestibulum id ligula porta felis euismod semper. Aenean lacinia bibendum nulla sed consectetur. Integer posuere erat a ante venenatis dapibus posuere velit aliquet. Cras mattis consectetur purus sit amet fermentum.

Who is Valenture Institute? What is the relationship between UCT (the university) and Valenture Institute?

Valenture Institute is an ed-tech company that partners with leading education institutions to offer aspirational high school experiences to learners worldwide. Valenture Institute's proprietary learning technology, analytics and learner support model are at the forefront of online education.

UCT (the university) has partnered with Valenture Institute to create UCT Online High School. By combining UCT’s research-driven excellence with Valenture Institute’s proprietary learner support model, we’ve created something truly special at UCT Online High School.

UCT and Valenture Institute have a shared governance structure to manage UCT Online High School, with UCT’s Vice-Chancellor as Chair of the Oversight Committee, which is responsible for setting strategy and measuring the performance of the school. UCT and Valenture Institute appoint members of the Operations and Governance committee, which is responsible for academic quality assurance, governance and overall management of the school. Valenture Institute is responsible for the technology and day-to-day operations of the school — it’s a classic case of teamwork making the dream work!

Do we partner with tutoring centres or anything of that nature?

Unfortunately, not. We place the highest authority on the safety and security of our learners. Our Learning Facilitators, Support Coaches, School Counsellors and staff are thoroughly vetted and monitored in line with our Safeguarding Policy to ensure that you/your child is as safe as possible in all their interactions with UCT Online High School.

Unlike a traditional school, you/your child will not be on our premises, and therefore, we cannot take responsibility for you/your child’s safety at your home or any other environment that you/your child is using to access UCT Online High School.

We cannot take responsibility or vouch for any third parties such as:
- au-pairs,
- tutors,
- schools,
- or any other person or institution that you contract with to supplement, care for, or assist you/your child with UCT Online High School’s programme.

UCT Online High School is completely independent of these people or institutions. We cannot take any responsibility for them. Where a learner or guardians contract with another party or school, such a contract is between the learner/guardian and that person or company and in no way involves UCT Online High School.

Do you offer classes?

We are a distance learning institution; we do not offer in-person (live) classes. You can access your future from the comfort of your own home.

How does UCT Online High School manage cheating during online exams and assessments?

UCT Online High School requires all learners to download The Invigilator app onto their mobile phones or learning devices. They are required to use this during all internal Cycle Tests and Examinations. The app allows examiners to choose from a variety of photo authentication and speech recording tools, matched to the level of security required for each assessment.

The app uses artificial intelligence to authenticate photos, flag recordings containing speech, and generate verification codes for integration into an LMS (Learning Management System).

How are matric final marks calculated?

The Amended Senior Certificate (ASC) is scored against the same metric and Admission Point Scores (APS) as the National Senior Certificate (NSC), which are awarded when a learner completes their matric at high school. The points are broken down into percentage groups that equal an admission point score that determines whether you will be granted access to a tertiary institution. Every subject is awarded a point based on the percentage result of their examination. Tertiary institutions use this system to determine entry requirements for their courses.

What Learner Management System (LMS) do you use?

Our customised Moodle platform – it’s fantastic!

How do I register for my Amended Senior Certificate (ASC) examinations?

The Department of Basic Education (DBE) opens registrations for ASC examinations from October/November to January. You can register online or in person, with your supporting documents to complete your registration. The Amended Senior Certificate (ASC) examinations are scheduled for the May/June examination session each year. 

Online examination Registration

You can register online on the government’s e-Service website

Education District Office

You can visit your nearest Provincial Department of Education district office to register in person. 

Documents You Will Need 

  • Completed registration form
  • A certified copy of your ID or birth certificate
  • Candidates whose country of birth is outside of South Africa will need to use their passports (and provide visa copies)
  • Repeat candidates must include a copy of their previous highest qualification 
  • Examination numbers of the previous Grade 12 or equivalent examinations

What are your operating hours?

Our support staff keep regular weekday operating hours between 8am - 5pm (SAST) and adhere to South African public and school holidays. Please note that all exams and live events happen in South African Standard Time (SAST).

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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