DTEF Botswana Tertiary Education Sponsorship

The Government of Botswana Tertiary Education Students Sponsorship provides financial support to eligible students pursuing accredited tertiary education programs. This initiative covers local public and private institutions, as well as regionally and internationally accredited external institutions. The sponsorship is designed for new students, progression students, and re-sponsorship students, with specific eligibility criteria for different categories like orphan and vulnerable children, rural area children, and special education needs students. The program prioritizes certain fields of study and ensures applicants meet age and academic requirements before applying.

What it offers

• Full financial support for accredited tertiary education programs, including admission to local and international institutions.
• Priority placement in top-tier universities for high-achieving applicants.
• Sponsorship for new, progression, and re-sponsorship students, with distinct eligibility rules for each category.
• Focus on vulnerable groups, including orphans, vulnerable children, rural students, and students with special education needs.
• Strict academic and age requirements (must complete studies by age 35).

Who can apply

• New students: Botswana citizens not gainfully employed, aged under 35, with a minimum of 36 points from secondary education (or 31 points for OVC/RAC/SEN applicants, certified by relevant authorities).
• Progression students: Must have completed at least three years of prior qualifications (except for Masters in Psychology) and be under 35, with sponsorship limited to prioritized fields of study per cycle.
• Re-sponsorship students: Must have completed outstanding modules within one academic year, not previously received re-sponsorship, and meet specific conditions (e.g., passing all modules, sponsoring themselves for equivalent years if course changed).
• Top achievers: Must have attained specific grades (e.g., 6 A*s at BGCSE/IGCSE) to qualify for placement in local A-Levels/IBD programs or top-tier international universities.

How to apply

1. Download and submit the Loan Application Form (DTEF 1) along with supporting documents to the Department of Tertiary Financing (Block 6, Plot 37893, Universal Estate, Sephatlhaphatlha Road).
2. Submit required documents: Admission letter, certified National ID, high school results/certificate, affidavit of name discrepancies, social inquiry reports (for OVC/RAC/SEN applicants), and financial statements.
3. Receive acknowledgment within 10 working days after submission.
4. Assessment and placement: Placement officers review applications and issue a Sponsorship Letter within 10 days of approval.

Good to know

• Deadline: No explicit deadline is stated; applications are processed on a rolling basis until sponsorship cycles are filled.
• Processing time: 10 working days from application submission to feedback.
• Contact: Department of Tertiary Financing, Gaborone, Botswana (phone/fax/email provided).
• Note: Some applicants may have previously failed due to poor performance but must now pass all outstanding modules to reapply.

The sponsorship is not a loan but a direct financial support mechanism managed by the Government of Botswana.