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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

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.

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.

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.

How long should it take for me to receive feedback on my application?

If you meet all of the basic requirements, you should receive feedback in a week.

How is cyberbullying managed?

Through Valenture Institute, UCT Online High School is proud to be a member of the Educational Collaborative for International Schools (ECIS) Community. All team members who engage with learners have completed up to ECIS level two training on Child Protection. Learn more about the ECIS Community here.

We have a zero-tolerance policy toward any form of bullying. We know that learners learn best in a safe and calm environment that is free from disruption or intimidation. Key staff members that engage with learners during their learning journey complete intensive training to ensure that they are fully equipped to offer support as and if appropriate.

For more information on our safeguarding of children policy, please read here.

What role does UCT (the university) faculty play in the high school?

UCT Online High School hires dedicated Learning Facilitators, Support Coaches and educational professionals who are incredibly good at creating and delivering content to high school and adult learners.

UCT (the university) and Valenture Institute have a shared governance structure to manage UCT Online High School. UCT’s Vice-Chancellor is Chair of the Oversight Committee, and UCT's faculty sits on the Operations and Governance committee, which is responsible for academic quality assurance, governance and overall management of the school.

UCT Online High School learners* also gain access to UCT faculty through our virtual My Brilliant Future series, hosted by our Head of Student Culture, Kieno Kammies. In this series, Kieno will interview UCT faculty and industry experts on topics to help set learners up for success at school, university and in life. In addition, UCT Online High School's learners will benefit from access to the UCT Vice Chancellor’s Open Lecture Series, as well as faculty-led seminars on areas of research at UCT.

*This is not applicable for Adult Matric learners.

How will I receive feedback on my child's application?

An email with an application outcome outlining whether your child has been accepted or not will be sent to you once the process is complete.

Are there any sibling promotional offers?

Yes! The more the merrier – when you enroll more than one high school student, each additional sibling will receive a 5% discount.

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).

What are Virtual Clubs?

Please read about our Virtual Clubs here.

*Please note that virtual clubs are only available for high school learners.

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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