Tertiary Education Students Sponsorship for Botswana Students
About the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Research Science and Technology
The Ministry of Tertiary Education, Research Science and Technology exists to provide and build knowledge and innovation through the development and implementation of Policy on Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology to transform Botswana in to a knowledge based society through effective stakeholder collaboration.
Overview of the Scholarship
The Placement Division coordinates sponsorship award criteria, selects applicants and places them into reputable accredited institutions approved by the relevant accrediting bodies.
Currently, sponsorship for students is administered in the following institutions:
- Local Public and Private Tertiary institutions
- Accredited external institutions (Regionally and Overseas)
Department of Tertiary Education Financing
To implement and monitor Tertiary Education Financing Policy and Sponsorship guidelines for post-secondary candidates education and training to support the technical and manpower needs of the country.
Student Placement
- Award of sponsorship to students for both local and external training,
- Arranging for students to take pre-requisites for entry to institutions outside the country,
- Facilitation of placement of students in institutions outside the country,
- Facilitation of placement of special needs students,
- Facilitates signing of memorandum agreement between Government and sponsored students
- Administration of sponsorship,
- Re-instatement of students who have once terminated due to poor performance.
Disbursement of Funds
- Facilitates payment of students tuition and allowance,
- Administration of students’ bank accounts.
Career Guidance and Counselling
- Provides career guidance and counselling services to sponsorship beneficiaries,
- Provision of Social welfare services.
Monitoring and Evaluation of Students Performance
- Monitors and evaluates students’ academic performance to facilitate informed decisions on sponsoring students.
Loans Recovery
- Prepares expenditure and bills for sponsorship beneficiaries,
- Manages recovery of funds from sponsorship beneficiaries,
- Makes follow up with sponsorship beneficiary defaulters,
- Facilitates litigation with sponsorship beneficiary defaulters.
Contracts Management
- Manages service level agreements with training institutions.
- Manages contracts with health insurance providers of students studying outside the country.
- Manages contracts with insurance covers for students studying outside the country on work-related attachment.
- Manages contracts with financial institutions services for funds disbursement to students.
Who is eligible?
New Students;
- Botswana citizen who is NOT gainfully employed.
- Applicants must be able to complete the programme of study before turning thirty-five (35) years of age.
- The cut-off point for Government sponsorship is 36 points for Secondary Education.
- Candidates who have upgraded their results must also have a minimum of 36 points.
- Orphan & Vulnerable Children (OVC), Rural Area Children (RAC), Special Education Needs (SEN) with minimum cut-off points of 31.- applicants under this category should be certified and registered with the Social Welfare Office.
Progression Students;
- Progression consideration is based on recognition of prior learning.
- Prospective applicants must have completed lower qualifications not less than three years (3) at the time of applying except for Masters in Psychology and must be able to complete the programme of study by the age of THIRTY- FIVE (35) or below.
- Consideration for sponsorship is STRICTLY limited to the prioritized fields of study as per the sponsorship cycle.
Re-sponsorship Students;
(NB – Target group is determined as per re-sponsorship cycle)
- Students NOT currently under the sponsorship
- All outstanding modules/subjects should be completed within one (1) academic year at the most.
- The students must not have previously benefited from re-sponsorship.
- Some students would have been terminated due to poor academic performance but have sponsored themselves to pass all the failed modules/ subjects or have passed relevant years after the change of course. These students must also satisfy the following conditions;
- The student should have passed ALL outstanding modules.
- Where the student changed courses, he/she must have sponsored themselves for the same number of years as he/she was sponsored by Government.
- The student should submit a complete academic transcript.
- A financial statement, which states that the student does not have any outstanding debts with the institution or a letter from the institution stating that the student has no outstanding fees.
Top Achievers Students;(NB-Criteria is subject to change as per sponsorship cycle)
- Applicants should have attained at least any of the following grades:
- 6A*s at BGCSE/IGCSE
- 3A’s at AS
- 3A’s at A Levels
- 4 (7) at Matric
- The qualifying applicants will be placed in local institutions for A-Level/IBD Programmes or directly into Top Tier Universities internationally.
How do I get this service?
In order to access this service, applicants must follow the following steps:
- Download and submit the Loan Application form along with all supporting documentation to the Department of Tertiary Financing located at Block 6, plot number 37893, Universal Estate, Sephatlhaphatlha Road.
- Upon receipt of an application, an acknowledgment letter is issued to the applicant.
- Placement officers will assess the application forms and supporting documents.
- If successful, Applicant details will then be captured in Student Loan Management System (SLMS) and placement officer append signature as witness in the Loan Agreement.
- Placement officer generates Sponsorship Letter from SLMS, which will be manually signed by Head of Division.
- Feedback to the applicant is provided within ten (10) days
What supporting documents are required?
When applying for the service please attach the following documents:
- Admission letter clearly showing the name of programme and its duration
- A Certified copy of a valid National Identification card (Omang)
- Certified copy of High School results/certificate or Statement Results
- Affidavit of names in the case where names are different between certificate and Omang
- Social Inquiry Report from Social Workers in case of OVC applicant-those with less than 36 points
- Confirmation Letter on social status in those less than 36 points
- Confirmation Letter on RAC status in case of RAC applicant
- Detailed Assessment Report from Special Education Department in case of SEN applicant
How long will this service take?
Ten (10) working days
How much does it cost?
No cost
Where can I obtain this service?
Department of Tertiary Financing located at Block 6, plot number 37893, Universal Estate, Sephatlhaphatlha RoadWhere can I get more information on this Service
Director
Department of Tertiary Financing
Private 0079
Gaborone, Botswana
Block 6, Plot, 37893 Gaborone,
Tel: (267 316 4023/ 371 9320/21/22/19)
Fax: (267 397 2775)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DepartmentOfTertiaryEducationFinancing/
Opening hours: 7:30 am to 12:45 pm and 13:45 pm to 16:30 pm, Monday to Friday, except for public holidays