Delay in outcomes of bursary applications frustrate honours students

Some honours students at the North-West University (NWU) are desperately awaiting information from the National Research Foundation (NRF) about their bursary applications.

Although the NRF confirmed in a statement posted on its official Facebook page on 17 March that it had finalised its internal process for the NWU, the institutions had not yet communicated to all applicants. 

In an the post, the NRF stated that universities, and not the foundation, were responsible for communicating the outcomes of the process to applicants. It added that the NWU was in the “green stage” of the NRF progress system, meaning all approved applications had been sent back to the university for final processing and communication.

Despite this, some students said they had not yet received feedback.

Neo Motsobane, a psychology honours student at the NWU Potchefstroom campus, told threestreamsmedia that the delay had been stressful.

“Some students from different faculties say they have received their responses and I haven’t, which makes me very anxious,” she said. Motsobane added that not receiving funding could place financial strain on her family.

Delphinah Sibanyoni, an honours communication student at NWU, said the delay had created uncertainty around her studies.

“The delay in receiving bursary approval from NRF has caused a lot of uncertainty in my academics and puts one under financial pressure” she said.

Sibanyoni says communication during her undergraduate funding through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, or NSFAS, which is the government’s bursary support scheme, had been clearer and more consistent compared to NRF processes.

Siphesihle Nhlapo a former honours student in Media Studies and Journalism at NWU Potchefstroom, who received NRF funding in 2025, said feedback had been communicated earlier during her application cycle.

“I received feedback mid-March and then I used the NWU bursary for my registration. For accommodation, I stayed on campus, so I didn’t have to worry about rent because the university automatically deducted the money from the bursary once it reflected,” she said.

Frustration was also visible in social media interactions, in particular on a Facebook group created for student discussions about NRF matters.

A student believed to be from the NWU, posted that the university should “just send those rejection letters” to ease anxiety. Other students in the comment section expressed similar concerns, saying they were still waiting for updates on their application status.

Attempts to obtain comment from NWU’s awards office were unsuccessful at the time of publication.