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Student Opportunity Fund

Supporting postgraduate students when financial hardship threatens their studies.

The School of Human and Community Development (SHCD) Student Opportunity Fund provides financial assistance to eligible students in Psychology, Speech Pathology and Audiology, and Social Work who experience financial hardship that may prevent them from continuing their studies or participating fully in university life.

The Fund is designed to provide targeted, short-term assistance when other sources of financial support have been exhausted. It aims to help students remain engaged in their studies and successfully progress towards completing their qualifications.

The Student Opportunity Fund comprises three dedicated funds:

  • Psychology Postgraduate Student Opportunity Fund
  • Speech Pathology and Audiology Postgraduate Student Fund
  • Social Work Postgraduate Student Fund

Donations to these funds are managed as a subsection of the Wits University Foundation and are used for the direct benefit of students.

Who can apply?

Assistance may be considered for postgraduate students in SHCD. In Speech Pathology and Audiology and Social Work, assistance may also be considered for students in their fourth or final year, where applicable.

To be considered, students must:

  • demonstrate genuine financial need;
  • have exhausted other appropriate avenues of financial assistance, such as the University Hardship Fund or SRC Fund;
  • meet the required 65% Faculty academic average, or, where applicable, have received a satisfactory progress report from their supervisor;
  • complete the Student Opportunity Fund application form; and
  • provide the documentation required to demonstrate their financial need and academic progress.

Applications are considered subject to the availability of funds. Meeting the eligibility requirements does not guarantee that an application will be approved.

What can the Fund support?

Depending on available funds and the circumstances of the applicant, assistance may be considered for:

  • Registration fees
  • A portion of historical student debt, where this will enable the student to continue their studies
  • Full payment of fees, where appropriate
  • Food support
  • Eye tests and reading glasses for students who are in need and do not have medical aid support
  • Temporary accommodation costs where there are delays in receiving alternative funding
  • Transport costs for unfunded students, where assistance is necessary to enable them to attend university and participate in learning activities
  • Transport costs associated with clinical training where these costs cannot reasonably be afforded by the student
  • Urgent once-off personal emergencies, at the discretion of the Head of School

The Fund is intended to address essential and immediate barriers to study, rather than provide general financial support.

The Student Opportunity Fund does not ordinarily provide assistance for:

  • Registration or tuition fees where alternative funding is available or has already been secured
  • Long-term accommodation costs
  • Airtime
  • Clothing
  • Travel to university for students living in university residences
  • Conference fees
  • Page fees
  • Research costs

Students are therefore encouraged to explore all other relevant sources of financial support before applying to the Fund.

How are applications assessed?

Applications are assessed by the Postgraduate Student Opportunity Sub-Committee, which operates within the SHCD Graduate Studies Committee.

The Sub-Committee is chaired by the SHCD Graduate Studies Chair/Co-ordinator and includes representatives from the Departments within the School.

The Sub-Committee considers applications against the Fund's eligibility criteria, including:

  • the student's demonstrated financial need;
  • whether other avenues of financial support have been exhausted;
  • the student's academic progress;
  • the nature and urgency of the financial difficulty;
  • the extent to which assistance would enable the student to continue or participate in their studies; and
  • the funds available at the time of application.

Departmental representatives may consult with relevant course co-ordinators or supervisors where additional information is required.

Applications are considered as they are received, and the Sub-Committee may make decisions by email or meet on an ad hoc basis when required.

The Sub-Committee makes recommendations regarding funding, and all decisions are subject to approval by the Head of School. Records of decisions relating to the allocation of funds are maintained.

The School is committed to ensuring that funding is administered in a manner that is fair, transparent and equitable.

If your application is successful

Students who receive assistance from the Fund will be required to sign an agreement setting out the terms of the support.

Where appropriate, this may include a commitment to:

  • submit a journal article or other scholarly output; and/or
  • pay it forward by contributing to the Student Opportunity Fund in the future, when circumstances allow.

The intention of this approach is to encourage a culture of mutual support in which students who have benefited from the Fund may, in time, help future generations of SHCD students.

Donating to the Student Opportunity Fund

The Student Opportunity Fund depends on donations to ensure that students facing financial hardship can continue their studies.

Donations are managed through the Wits University Foundation. Contributions are exempt from donations tax and are deductible in accordance with Section 18A of the Income Tax Act 58 of 1962 (as amended), subject to the applicable requirements. Donors may request an 18A tax certificate from Justine Dangor at the Wits Development Office (justine.dangor@wits.ac.za) for qualifying donations at the end of each tax year.

The School provides regular reporting on the use and impact of the Funds. Regular reporting on fund activities are presented to the SHCD Executive Committee. Donors may also request a quarterly report.

When making a donation, please specify which fund you would like to support

When making a donation, please include the appropriate fund reference so that your contribution can be allocated to the fund you wish to support:

Please use the relevant reference when making your donation:
  • SWSOF - Social Work Student Opportunity Fund
  • PSYSOF - Psychology Student Opportunity Fund
  • SPPASOF - Speech Pathology and Audiology Student Opportunity Fund

Every contribution helps the School provide practical support to students at a critical point in their academic journey.

 

 


You will be guided to select the appropriate registration path for your situation.

Make a difference

Your donation can help a student overcome an immediate financial barrier and remain on track with their studies. When making your donation, please remember to include the reference for the fund you wish to support: SWSOF (Social Work), PSYSOF (Psychology), or SPPASOF (Speech Pathology and Audiology).

Please send your proof of payment to lerato.moroeng@wits.ac.za  and to justine.dangor@wits.ac.za 

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