As universities across South Africa open for the 2026 academic year this week, the Ikusasa Student Financial Aid Programme (ISFAP) has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the country's "missing middle", students who do not qualify for traditional government funding yet cannot afford the full cost of university education on their own.
"University opening week is a critical moment for students and families," says Werner Abrahams, CEO of ISFAP. "We wish all students a successful and rewarding 2026 academic year."
Abrahams highlighted some of the funding challenges currently shaping the higher education landscape. "As affordability dynamics continue to shift, the definition of the missing middle must also evolve."
"Income thresholds that were established more than a decade ago no longer fully reflect the financial realities facing many households today, particularly in the context of rising tuition, accommodation and living costs," says Abrahams.
He adds that this growing gap underscores the need for expanded and adaptive funding solutions that respond to a broader range of student circumstances. "ISFAP is adapting to meet that reality by working collaboratively across the sector, while remaining focused on what matters most, enabling students to start well, stay the course and graduate into meaningful work."
ISFAP's model combines financial support with proven wraparound interventions aimed to ensure that students not only access university, but are supported to succeed once they are there, says ISFAP.
The organisation's wraparound support model includes academic mentoring, psychosocial support and practical assistance, aimed at helping students navigate the pressures that often accompany the start of the academic year, adds ISFAP.
These pressures include accommodation challenges, food security concerns and academic adjustment. Internal student check-ins and programme data consistently highlight the role of these supports in strengthening persistence and graduation outcomes, says ISFAP.
In 2026, alongside its continued commitment to holistic student support, ISFAP remains focused on funding qualifications aligned to occupations in high demand, including Engineering, Medicine and Actuarial Science. At the same time, the organisation is broadening its storytelling to reflect student excellence and progression across a wider range of faculties, adds ISFAP.
ISFAP also recognises that there is room for closer collaboration across the higher education and funding ecosystem to address structural challenges that continue to hinder access for many deserving students, concludes ISFAP.
For more information, visit www.isfap.org.za. You can also follow the ISFAP on Facebook, LinkedIn, X, or on Instagram.
*Image courtesy of contributor