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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:

000
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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What exam will learners write in Grade 12 (matric)?

Learners who are enrolled with UCT Online High School will write the external exams for their subjects as set by the South African Comprehensive Assessment Institute (SACAI).

Is this an online university?

Nope, UCT Online High School is an online high school for Gr 8-12 learners for the SA National Senior Certificate (CAPS), learners in Year 10 for the Cambridge International curriculum* and adult learners who want to receive their Adult Matric; an incredible, cutting-edge, online one at that!

*Years 11, 12 and 13 for the Cambridge International curriculum will be offered in the coming years.

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.

What grading system is used?

An Adult Matric learner’s achievement in Adult Matric is reported by using the standard system in the CAPS curriculum. All final marks will be reported in percentages. A corresponding rating and level of competence are obtained using the following system:

100 - 80% - Outstanding achievement - 7

79 - 70% - Meritorious achievement - 6

69 - 60% - Substantial achievement - 5

59 - 50% - Adequate achievement - 4

49 - 40% - Moderate achievement - 3

39 - 30% - Elementary achievement - 2

29 - 0% - Not achieved - 1

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!

Can the matric examination be written online?

No, it cannot. You can apply for the Adult Matric programme, which can be completed online at any Adult Matric service provider, like UCT Online High School, but the final ASC examinations will have to be written in approved venues.

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.

Who will register my child to write Grade 12/matric examinations?

We do! UCT Online High School will register your child through SACAI to write their Grade 12/matric examinations.

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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