Boston City Campus does offer its own bursary programme to students, and this funding has been running since the institution first opened in 1991. Because Boston City Campus is a registered private higher education institution, it does not receive funding through NSFAS, the government scheme that supports students at public universities and public TVET colleges. Instead, Boston funds its own bursary scheme directly as part of its Corporate Social Investment programme, alongside a set of alternative financing options such as flexible payment plans and third-party study loans. This article explains exactly how Boston City Campus bursaries work, who qualifies, what they cover, and what other funding routes are available to students studying there in 2026 and 2027.
Why NSFAS Does Not Fund Boston City Campus
NSFAS operates under a legal mandate that restricts its funding to public institutions, meaning South Africa’s public universities and public TVET colleges. Boston City Campus, despite holding recognised accreditation and offering a wide range of qualifications from higher certificates to postgraduate and MBA programmes, does not fall within this mandate because of its status as a private institution, not because of any shortfall in the quality or recognition of its courses.
This distinction often confuses prospective students, since Boston City Campus holds international accreditation from bodies such as the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) and the British Accreditation Council (BAC), alongside local registration as a private higher education provider. Accreditation, however, is not the deciding factor for NSFAS eligibility; institutional type is. A student cannot redirect an NSFAS allowance to Boston City Campus, and switching from a public institution to Boston does not carry NSFAS funding across with the transfer.
The Boston City Campus Bursary Programme
Boston City Campus runs its own internal bursary scheme, which forms part of the institution’s Corporate Social Investment initiative rather than being funded through any government channel. This programme was originally established with a focus on increasing access to finance-related qualifications, and it has since broadened to cover a wide range of fields of study offered across Boston’s support centres.
The bursary is open to both new students who have not yet registered and existing, already-registered students who need financial assistance to continue or complete their qualification. This dual structure means the bursary is not limited only to first-time applicants entering their first year of study; a student already partway through a Boston qualification can also apply if their financial circumstances change.
What the Bursary Covers and What It Does Not
Boston City Campus bursaries typically provide partial to full coverage of tuition fees, with the exact percentage awarded depending on the applicant’s demonstrated financial need and the funds available for that application cycle. Coverage generally ranges from a smaller partial contribution up to full tuition cost, rather than being a single fixed amount applied uniformly to every recipient.
| Bursary Detail | What Applies |
|---|---|
| Funding source | Boston City Campus’s own Corporate Social Investment programme (not NSFAS) |
| What it covers | Tuition fees, ranging from partial to full coverage depending on need |
| What it typically excludes | Stationery, external examination fees, accommodation, and transport costs |
| Application frequency | Twice a year, aligned with Semester A and Semester B intakes |
| Transferability | Not transferable to another person and cannot be exchanged for cash |
| Usage limit | One bursary per student per semester |
If a student is awarded a bursary that is worth less than the full cost of their chosen qualification, the student remains responsible for paying the shortfall themselves. Conversely, if the awarded bursary is worth more than the cost of the qualification selected, the surplus is not paid out to the student and cannot be applied toward other courses, modules, or future semesters.
Who Qualifies for a Boston City Campus Bursary
Eligibility for the Boston City Campus bursary programme is based on a combination of academic standing, financial need, and basic administrative requirements rather than one single criterion. Applicants generally need to meet the following conditions:
- Be at least 17 years old, with guardian consent required for applicants under 18.
- Have successfully completed Matric, or already be registered for a Boston City Campus qualification if applying as an existing student.
- Be registered, or intend to register, for a qualification currently offered at Boston City Campus.
- Submit a motivational letter explaining their personal circumstances and reasons for requiring financial assistance.
- Demonstrate genuine financial need, since the bursary programme is designed primarily to support students who show academic promise but lack the means to fund their studies independently.
Because the bursary draws from a limited pool of funds each semester, meeting these minimum criteria does not guarantee an award; applications are assessed competitively against the number of available bursaries for that intake period.
How and When to Apply
Boston City Campus bursary applications open twice a year, timed to align with the institution’s two main semester intakes. Applications for the first semester intake typically close toward the end of the preceding year, while applications for the second semester intake close roughly midway through the current academic year. Because these windows are relatively narrow and applications are assessed on a competitive basis, students are encouraged to apply as early as possible within each window rather than waiting until close to the deadline.
Applications are submitted directly through the Boston City Campus support centre where the student is registered, or intends to register, rather than through a centralised national portal. Boston operates a large network of support centres across all nine provinces, so applicants should direct their bursary application and any supporting documentation, including the required motivational letter, to their specific local centre rather than a general head office address.
Other Funding Options Available at Boston City Campus
Beyond its own bursary scheme, Boston City Campus supports students through several additional financing mechanisms designed to make private tertiary study more manageable.
Flexible payment plans allow students to spread the cost of their qualification across the academic year rather than paying the full annual fee upfront. This does not reduce the total amount owed but can ease the pressure of a single large payment at the start of the year.
Low-interest financing through a banking partner is also available to Boston City Campus students, giving them the option to finance their studies over an extended repayment period of up to several years. Unlike a bursary, this is a loan and must be repaid with interest over time, so it should be treated as a financing tool rather than a form of free funding.
Students can also pursue external bursaries from companies, professional bodies, and other private funders, provided the specific bursary’s terms allow funding at a private institution rather than restricting eligibility to public universities or TVET colleges only. Fields such as business management, information technology, accounting, marketing, and hospitality, which make up a large share of Boston’s course offering, are commonly funded by corporate bursary programmes that are open to accredited private institutions.
Combining Funding Sources
Students are not necessarily limited to a single funding source when covering the cost of a Boston City Campus qualification. A student can, in principle, combine an internal Boston bursary covering part of their tuition with an external bursary or a portion of self-funding to cover the remainder, provided the terms of each funding source do not explicitly prohibit combining it with other awards. Because Boston’s own bursary rules limit a student to one Boston bursary per semester, students looking to close a larger funding gap should treat the internal bursary as one piece of a broader funding plan rather than their only option, and should research external bursaries and financing routes in parallel rather than relying on a single application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does NSFAS fund Boston City Campus?
No. Boston City Campus is a private higher education institution, and NSFAS funding is restricted to public universities and public TVET colleges, so NSFAS does not contribute toward tuition, registration, or any other costs at Boston City Campus.
Does Boston City Campus have its own bursary programme?
Yes. Boston City Campus runs an internal bursary scheme, in place since 1991, funded through the institution’s own Corporate Social Investment programme, open to both new and existing students who demonstrate financial need and academic potential.
How much of my tuition can a Boston bursary cover?
Coverage varies by applicant and by the funds available in a given semester, ranging from partial coverage up to full tuition fees, though the bursary typically excludes costs such as stationery, external exam fees, accommodation, and transport.