Iqbal Survé Bursary Trust opens applications for South African students - IOL

Applications are now open for the Iqbal Survé Bursary Trust, providing financial support to South African students studying medicine, science, and business.

South African students pursuing qualifications in medicine, science, and business can apply for financial support through the Iqbal Survé Bursary Trust, as Survé Philanthropies opens applications aimed at helping academically deserving students access higher education.

Announcing the applications in Cape Town on September 14, the organisation said the trust would support students who demonstrate academic potential but lack the financial means to continue their tertiary studies.

For its founder, Dr Iqbal Survé, the initiative reflects his own experience of education as a route to opportunity.

“Education changed the course of my life. Coming from humble beginnings, I understood very early that education is more than a qualification; it gives you the knowledge, confidence, and agency to change the circumstances of your life,” he said.

The trust’s focus is on the gap between academic ability and the ability to pay, a barrier, Survé said, that continues to shape young South Africans’ prospects.

“Intellectual potential is not determined by economic circumstance, yet for too many young South Africans, economic circumstance still determines whether they can access higher education and fulfil that potential.”

Education is one of Survé Philanthropies’ main areas of work. Through the trust, the organisation says it aims to help students gain qualifications and develop skills that can improve their prospects while contributing to their families and communities.

“The Iqbal Survé Bursary is therefore deeply personal to me because it is about giving young people the opportunity to realise their potential and, through education, transform their own lives and, through their success, create opportunities for their families and communities,” Survé said.

Eligible students can submit applications through the trust’s online application form. Further information about the organisation is available on the Survé Philanthropies website.

For Survé, the purpose extends beyond helping an individual obtain a qualification.

“I have always believed that when education opens doors for you, you have a responsibility to hold those doors open for others.”

Applicants must be South African citizens, demonstrate financial need, and be enrolled at a recognised tertiary institution in South Africa. Their studies must fall within medicine, science, or business.

The bursary does not cover arts and humanities programmes, studies at institutions outside South Africa, personal expenses or outstanding debt.IOL