Every year, the government offers sponsorship to vulnerable students that are eligible so that they can attend college or university. This sponsorship comes in the form of scholarships, student loans, CDF bursaries and TEVET bursaries. In this blog, we are going to discuss TEVET bursaries to try and shed more light on this somewhat lesser-known form of government sponsorship. 

To understand what TEVET bursaries are all about, we first need to know the meanings of TEVETA and TEVET Institution. Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Authority (TEVETA) is a body under the Ministry of Technology and Science (MoTS) that regulates, monitors and coordinates technical education, vocational and entrepreneurship training in Zambia. Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training (TEVET) Institutions are simply tertiary schools that are accredited to TEVETA. Most of these schools are skills and trades training institutes but some of them are colleges and institutes of applied sciences, technology, engineering and business. TEVET institutions are not under the ministry of education like the other colleges and universities. They are under the ministry of technology and science. Some well-known TEVET institutions in the country are Evelyn Hone College, Northern Technical College (Nortec), Kabwe Institute of Technology (KIT), Technical and Vocational Teachers College (TVTC) and all the Trades schools. You can find a full list of TEVET institutions and the courses they offer on the MoTS website. 

Now that it’s clear what TEVETA and TEVET institutions are, we can go on to talk about the TEVET bursary scheme. TEVET bursaries are government sponsorship that is offered to vulnerable students that are not able to pay school fees for them to access skills training at trade, craft, certificate, diploma or degree level. These bursaries are offered under the ministry of technology and science by the TEVET Bursaries Committee. The bursary is a grant and does not need to be paid back. It covers 100% of the tuition fees, boarding fees and examination fees all of which are paid to the institution directly. Once you are awarded this bursary, all you would need to pay for by yourself are just school requirements such as books, workshop attire and other personal needs. 

To be eligible for this bursary you need to meet the following requirements: 

1. Must be Zambian with Green National Registration Cards (NRC); 

2. Must possess an Admission or Acceptance letter from any of the TEVET institutions under Ministry of Technology and Science 

3. Must possess any of the following qualifications: 

1. Grade 12 School Certificate or GCE five O-levels or equivalent for those applying for (Craft/Certificate, Technician/ Advanced Certificate, Technologist/ Diploma and Degree Programmes) 

2. Grade 9 Certificate or Grade 7 Certificate for those applying for Trade Test Programmes 

4. Must be assessed by social welfare officers in the district where you live and meet the vulnerability criteria to obtain a copy of an electronic social welfare vulnerability status report. 

5. Must be 25 years old or younger or; 35 years or below for differently abled persons. 

The call to apply for these bursaries is usually made around November – December each year. This means that if you want to apply for the bursary, it’s better to have all the requirements ready by October. To start with, you need to apply for admission at a TEVET institution and obtain an acceptance or admission letter. Thereafter, you need to collect a bursary application form from the same school where you have been accepted. After this, you will need to go to your district social welfare department where they will assess you and give you a social welfare report. You can also prepare other documents that support your vulnerability such as death certificates of deceased parents of guardians or letter from local leadership (e.g., headman or church leader). 

The actual bursary application is done online on the MoTS website. Once the announcement is made that they are receiving applications, you can log into the application portal make your application. You will need to attach the electronic copy of your social welfare report, plus scanned pdf copies of your NRC, results, acceptance letter and any other supporting documents. The bursary application form collected from the school needs to be filled-in and submitted back to the school along with copies of your NRC, results, and social welfare report. The school will submit these documents on your behalf to the MoTS Bursaries Committee. 

You need to be on the lookout for the announcement that bursary applications are open so that you do not miss the deadlines for application. This announcement is usually made on the MoTS website, Teveta website, and in newspapers. So, we recommend that you periodically visit those two websites especially towards around September – November so that you can know in good time when you need to apply. 

We wish you all the very best on your journey to success. 

Want to learn more about scholarships, student loans, CDF bursaries and other types of college and university sponsorship available in Zambia? Check out our other blogs right here on Zeyuni. 

References 

1. MoTS TEVET Bursary System: https://tevetbursary.mots.gov.zm/ 

2. TEVETA: https://www.teveta.org.zm/  

Any program that a person wishes to study has got an organization that controls or regulates the workings of that program. In the health field, that organization is the Health Professionals Council of Zambia (HPCZ). Therefore, someone wishing to study any health program (except nursing and midwifery) needs to know about HPCZ; what they do and what they require of the students, graduates or workers in the field of health. HPCZ has several functions. Here below, we are going to highlight on some of those functions that are important to know for someone who wants to study a health program.  

1. Student indexing – this is simply the listing and registration of all students studying health programs both locally and abroad who intend on working in Zambia after they complete. This indexing makes sure that all students studying health programs in universities or colleges have passed their grade 12 with 5 O’level credits or better. It also allows HPCZ to know if the health training schools are adhering to the standard student-lecturer ratio. Having a record of all health students allows for HPCZ to plan for licensure exams (LEX) and employment of health workers. HPCZ advises students to get indexed within 1 month of starting the health program.  

• The documents needed to index are (1) a filled in Student Indexing form, (2) an acceptance letter from the training institution, (3) certified copy of the Grade 12 certificate/GCE or its equivalent, (4) a photocopy of the National Registration Card for Zambians or valid immigration and passport documents for non-Zambians, (5) one passport size photograph, (6) proof of payment of student indexing fee, (7) Acceptance letter to the training institution or Covering letter  from the head of the institution/department indicating that the student had been accepted and enrolled for a particular health program.  
• At the time of writing this blog, the indexing fees were K250 for a degree program, K220 for diploma and K190 for a certificate. 
• Some training institutions carry out the entire process of student indexing on behalf of their students in which case the above documents should be submitted to the institution and the indexing fee given to them to be paid to HPCZ. 
• Other institutions do not carry out indexing on behalf of their students. This is especially the case for training institutions abroad. In such a case, the student must submit the documents required for indexing by themselves to HPCZ. The student indexing form can be downloaded and printed out from the HPCZ website. The indexing fee can be deposited in a bank account that is indicated on the indexing form. 
• After the verification and validation of the indexing documents, each qualified applicant will be assigned a unique HPCZ identifier (Index Number) which will be linked to the student examination number (see LEX below). A list of indexed students will be forwarded to the respective training institutions. 

2. Training and Examination – the training and examination unit of HPCZ is responsible for:  

1. Accreditation of health training institutions. This simply means HPCZ gives approval to offer health training to institutions that are eligible. If someone undergoes health training at an institution that is not approved by HPCZ, that means they cannot get a license to practice in Zambia, let alone abroad. It is therefore very important to check before you enrol for health training whether the institution you want to go to is approved by HPCZ. Even some big universities and colleges have at times been found to not be approved HPCZ which becomes a waste of time and money for students training at those institutions. For more information about accreditation and what it is, read our blog on “Who says your degree is a degree?”. 

2. Conducting professional licensure exams commonly called LEX. 

• LEX is a test for competency and knowledge of people who have completed health training. No certificate is given after passing this exam, instead those that pass become eligible to apply for a license to practice their profession in Zambia. LEX consists of two components; a written and practical examination. A student is expected to pass both components to be eligible for licensing by HPCZ. 
• The documents required when applying to sit for LEX are: (1) one passport sized photograph, (2) photocopy of the qualification (degree, diploma or certificate) or a detailed results transcript issued by the Health training institution, (3) LEX application form provided by HPCZ, (4) certified copy of passport/ NRC, (5) Proof of payment for LEX, (6) ZAQA certification of the qualification for those that trained abroad. 
• To apply for LEX, you need to have a valid indexing number that you will indicate on the application form. 
• At the time of writing of this post, the fees for LEX were, for Zambians, K1, 100 for certificate/diploma and K1, 500 for degree programs and for non-Zambians, K2, 200 for certificate/diploma and K3, 000 for degree programs. 

3. Health Practitioners Registration – the council carries out registration of health workers at different levels. They also give licenses to practice for the practitioners whom they have registered. Without a license, someone cannot practice in the health field in Zambia. To apply for a licence as a fresh graduate, someone needs to first pass the licensure exam (LEX). After which they can then apply for provisional registration (and provisional license) which is valid for one year (except for medical doctors for whom it is 1 year and 6 months). With a provisional license, one has to work under supervision. After completing the period, full registration is given.  

For more information about HPCZ and to download some of the forms needed for indexing or registration, visit www.hpcz.org.zm  

LEARN WHO SAYS YOUR DEGREE IS A DEGREE IN ZAMBIA 

Getting academic qualifications these days is relatively simple because of an increase in the number of colleges and universities compared to a long time ago when there were only a few. With this many schools available now, it begs the question of who says that the “degree” they give you is actually a degree? Whose stamp of approval is required for our diplomas, degrees or master’s to be recognized?  

To answer these questions, we first need to understand what accreditation is. Accreditation is simply defined as a process that trade schools, colleges, universities or other education institutions including their study programs or courses must go through to confirm that they meet and maintain strict recognized standards. It should quickly be stated that a qualification (e.g., a diploma or degree) that is obtained from an unaccredited institution or program cannot be recognized, respected or trusted by employers or other institutions. An example of a situation when other institutions reject qualifications is when someone is trying to upgrade from a diploma to degree but the diploma they have is from a college that is not accredited. 

Accreditation is very important because it ensures quality so that learners are equipped with the very best knowledge and skills. When these institutions and their study programs are up to standard, they also attract funding from the government and other organizations. This means that getting a scholarship is usually only possible or easier if you are coming from an accredited institution. The employment sector can also put trust in people getting qualifications from such institutions. Additionally, for the person who wants to go to a college or a university, accreditation makes it possible to choose a quality school just by looking at which agencies accredit that school. 

Accreditation is the responsibility of organizations that are called accreditation agencies or bodies. These organizations can be broadly classified into regional, national and professional/specialised bodies. The regional bodies are those that carry out accreditation in a particular world region e.g., Southern Africa or Europe. A national accrediting body is one that is responsible in standardizing education institutions within a country. In Zambia, the national accrediting bodies are the Zambia Qualifications Authority (ZAQA) and the Higher Education Authority (HEA). The other type of accrediting agencies are the professional or specialized bodies which only accredit specific schools or study programs such as in health, law, accounting or engineering. Examples of professional accrediting bodies in Zambia include the General Nursing and Midwifery Council of Zambia (GNMCZ), Health Professionals Council of Zambia (HPCZ), or Teaching Council of Zambia (TCZ). 

In this blog, we will only focus on the national accrediting bodies (HEA and ZAQA). For information of professional accrediting agencies such as HPCZ, look out for our coming blogs. 

Higher Education Authority (HEA) has a number of functions including making policies for making new public higher education institutions (HEIs) and registering private HEIs. Higher education institutions include universities, colleges and other schools that provide tertiary education. HEA also regulates all HEIs by checking on quality of education and monitoring facilities such as libraries, laboratories and hostels. In simpler terms, HEA accredits institutions as a whole and includes things in its assessment that not only focus on what is being taught (the study programs themselves) but also other affairs that may impact student welfare and performance such as hostels, classroom facilities, lecturer to student ratio etc. 

Zambia Qualifications Authority (ZAQA) on the other hand, concentrates on educational standards, that being mostly on what is being taught (curriculum, course content, lecturing staff etc.). They make policies for accreditation, accredit study programs offered locally and make sure that these are up to international standards. Additionally, ZAQA checks the genuineness of any qualifications that were obtained from outside the country.  

As stated above, being accredited means a qualification can be trusted. This means that all HEIs and study programs in Zambia that are not registered/accredited to HEA and ZAQA may have very low standards of education. Someone who completes their education at an unaccredited HEI will get a qualification that is not recognized or respected. 

So as you search for a school how can you know whether the school and program you want is accredited or not? The accreditation status of a school or program can be verified by visiting either the website of a national accrediting body like ZAQA or HEA or the website of a specialized accrediting body like GNMCZ or TCZ. Usually on the websites, you can find a list of schools they have accredited and the programs those schools are accredited to offer. If you cannot find the institution or program on the accredited list then you can call or physically visit the offices of the accreditation body. If you find that the school is not accredited then it would be better to look for a school that is accredited to the appropriate agency so that you are assured of a quality education.  

Since the educational standards of an institution change from time to time, so does accreditation. This is because the accreditation agencies pass through institutions at regular intervals (e.g. every year) to inspect for these standards of education. Because of this, it is possible to find that a school or program that was initially accredited by an agency is no longer accredited. In this case, it is up to students and all concerned parties to force the institution to improve the education standards so as to be accredited and benefit from the advantages of accreditation. If that fails, you are left with no choice but to leave that unaccredited school so that you do not waste anymore time and money.  

Below is a list of accreditation agencies and their websites. This is not a complete list of all the accreditation bodies associated to Zambian education. Some of these websites may have documents that include a list of accredited institutions for easy verification of accreditation status.  

1. Zambia Qualifications authority – www.zaqa.gov.zm  

2. Higher Education Authority – www.hea.org.zm  

3. Health Professionals Council of Zambia – www.hpcz.org.zm  

4. Nursing and Midwifery Council of Zambia – www.gnc.org.zm  

5. Engineering Institute of Zambia – www.eiz.org.zm  

6. Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Authority Zambia (TEVETA) – www.teveta.org.zm  

7. Teaching Council of Zambia – www.tcz.ac.zm  

8. Law association of Zambia – www.laz.org.zm  

CDF BURSARIES: WHO GETS THEM AND HOW? 

Most of us have heard about the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). But did you know that CDF was introduced in 1995? Well, it goes that far back, and it has changed a lot through the years. This government initiative was brought to deliver public goods and services to help development in local communities. This means that the members of parliament and their people have the chance to make choices and carry out projects to improve their own lives in that constituency.  

What is interesting is that there is an amount set apart for bursaries for secondary boarding schools and for skills development at TEVET institutions. We will focus more on the skills development bursaries. To start with, the skills we are talking about include tailoring and design, sheet and metal fabrication, general agriculture, carpentry and joinery, plastering and bricklaying, mechanical technology, electrical technology, automotive technology, refrigeration and air conditioning, heavy equipment among others. The duration of study for these courses is dependent the qualification level as follows; 1 year for Trade-test level, 2 years for certificate, 2 year 6 months for Advanced certificate and 3 years for diploma. 

You might have asked yourself if this CDF bursary can cover a course like medicine or any other degree program like mechanical engineering or law. The answer is that government sponsorship for such courses is catered for under the student loans scheme offered by the higher education loans and scholarships board (HELSB) and under the TEVET bursary scheme offered by the Ministry of Technology and Science. For more on information student loans see ‘’How do GRZ student loans work in Zambia?’’ right here on Zeyuni.  

Every year, the CDF committee of each constituency together with some local authorities invite people to apply for these CDF bursaries. These applications are put into action in the following year. Advertising for these applications is done in many ways such as posters in schools, churches and clinics as well as on websites and social media platforms. However, if you are interested in applying for this bursary, we advise that you check from time to time at your local town council or councillor’s office to find out if they have started receiving applications just in case you missed the advert. 

Do you qualify to get this bursary? To be eligible you must:   

1. Be a Zambian citizen with a green NRC, who stays in the constituency where you are applying for the CDF bursary 

2. Have stayed in the constituency for more than 6 (six) months 

3. Have an acceptance or admission letter from any of the public TEVET schools or the Zambia National Service (ZNS) 

4. Be aged between 16 and 35 years 

5. In some cases, be an entrepreneur out of school that needs improving your skill or redoing your skill 

The application procedure is simple and straightforward. First you need a bursary application form that you can get for free from local authorities like the council, TEVET offices or from the local authority websites e.g., a city council website. Then the application form can be filled out by typing or in a clear handwriting. The filled-in application form should be signed by the ward development committee (WDC) chairperson. 

There are a few documents that should be submitted together with your application form for the bursary. Among these should be an acceptance or admission letter from any TEVETA accredited institution or ZNS, and a photocopy of your NRC.  You can also attach some supportive documents that can give you more chances of being given the bursary such as; 

1. Disability card or letter from the hospital that shows that you are disabled  

2. Recommendation letters from the church/chief/headman/head teacher of your previous school 

3. Full grade 12 school certificate or GCE with 5 (five) O-levels or a grade 9 or 7 certificate. 

You should know that even if you dropped out of school for any reason or have never been to school at all, you will be considered for these bursaries. Also, persons living with disability are prioritised.   

Once you have prepared all the necessary and supporting documents, you can then submit your application to the WDC’s office. The offices of the WDC are in each ward and so you must ask around if you don’t know where they are or better still, you can ask at the civic centre or from your ward councillor to direct you. The WDC then submits a list of names of all those who applied to the CDF committee who then choose which applicants are successful. The CDF committee then submits this final list of successful candidates to the local authority for processing of payments after the approval from the minister of local government and rural development.   

CDF bursaries are usually awarded as 100% bursaries. This means that the funds are paid in full to the institution and you don’t have to pay anything. Also, there are some allowances that are given for day-to-day expenses such as meals and books while at school. Just like any other bursary, your application may not be successful, but it is possible for it to go through if you tried to apply in the following year. Also, your bursary can be taken away for reasons such as failing in the courses you apply for or general bad behaviour at the institution. Therefore, seriousness with schoolwork and good behaviour are very important.  

Degrees at Government TEVET Institutions

Traditionally there had been clear-cut differences in terms of the levels of training offered at the different kinds of tertiary learning institutions in Zambia. TEVET institutions offered trades and craft certificates, colleges offered certificates and diplomas, while universities offered mainly degrees and master’s degrees. In the recent past, however, some TEVET institutions and colleges have been upgraded to allow them to offer certain diplomas, degrees and, in some cases, even master’s degrees.

This blog is going to highlight some of the degree programs that are now being offered at government TEVET institutions. This is important because government TEVET institutions have more favourable entry requirements, are generally more affordable and students here can apply for GRZ bursaries either under Constituency Development Fund (CDF) or TEVETA. This makes TEVET institutions a suitable alternative for you if you want to study for a degree but cannot enrol at a university for various reasons. 

A question you may have at this point is ‘what is TEVETA and what are TEVET institutions?’. Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Authority (TEVETA) is a body under the ministry of technology and science that regulates, monitors and coordinates technical education, vocational and entrepreneurship training in Zambia. Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training (TEVET) Institutions are simply tertiary schools that are accredited to TEVETA. Many of these schools are skills and trades training institutes but among them are some colleges and institutes of applied sciences, technology, engineering and business. Unlike other tertiary schools which are under the ministry of education, TEVET institutions are under the ministry of technology and science.

The government TEVET institutions offering degree programs that we will look at in this blog are Evelyn Hone College, Kabwe Institute of Technology (KIT), and Technical & Vocational Teachers College (TVTC). You can find a full list of TEVET institutions on the TEVETA website. 

At Evelyn Hone College some of the degree programs offered on full-time are; Industrial Engineering, Purchasing & Supply, Music, Fine Arts, and Fine Arts with education. The other degree programs at that institution are currently only being offered on part-time and distance learning and these are Computer Science, Management of Technology, Business Management, Office Management, Business Administration & Entrepreneurship, and Human Resource Management. These are 4-year programs but if you have a diploma or certificate in a relevant field, you may be exempted from some years making your duration of study shorter. 

Technical and Vocational Teachers College (TVTC) mainly offers teacher and tutor training in the fields of science, technology and vocations. Hence, the degree programs offered here are all with education. They offer degrees in TEVET, Business Studies Teacher Education, Design & Technology Teacher Education, Sciences (Mathematics/Physics/Chemistry/Biology) with Education, English language with Education, Civic Education and Special Education. The programs are offered on full-time and distance learning. They are 4-year programs but if you have a diploma or certificate in a relevant field, you may be exempted from some years. 

Kabwe Institute of Technology offers fewer degree programs compared to the other two institutions and these are Design & Technology with Education, ICT with Education, Commerce with Education and Business & Office Management. 

The specific programs being offered on distance or fulltime at any school may change from year-to-year. So, it is better for you to check the institution’s website to find out what programs they have and the modes of study available for the academic year you want to enrol in. 

To get accepted in a degree program at TEVET institutions, you only need to have grade 6 or better in five subjects at grade 12 for school leavers. The less stringent entry requirements are because of lower competition for places in these institutions and not because of lower standards. The qualifications obtained are accredited by TEVETA and are recognised by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and Zambia Qualifications Authority (ZAQA) the same as in every other tertiary institution. In most cases, the degrees offered in these institutions are underwritten by universities such as CBU, UNZA or Mulungushi. Meaning that even though you studied for your degree at a TEVET institution, the degree certificate you will receive will be from a university. 

Studying for your degree at a TEVET institution is usually cheaper than going to non-TEVET institutions. In addition, at a government TEVET institution you can apply for government bursary. Bursaries are a sort of grant and do not require to be paid back. For more information on this sponsorship, read our blog on GRZ TEVET bursaries

Entry Requirements and Cut-off points at University or College

The first step on your journey to obtaining a higher education qualification is gaining admission into a tertiary institution. Even before you decide on a program (or course) to study and where you would like to study, you need to know and understand the entry requirements, cut-off points and what influences them. When applying for admission, you will be required to pay an application fee and so it would be pointless for you to waste your time and money applying for a program where you will not be accepted.

Most programs of study can be classified into two categories namely Sciences and Humanities & Arts. Programs such as engineering, medicine, mining and agriculture are science based. On the other hand, law, political science, demography and psychology are humanities and arts-based. It is crucial for you to understand this classification because it plays a big role in determining general entry requirements and cut-off points.

Entry Requirements

General entry requirements are the minimum grades you should have for you to be eligible to be accepted into an institution. Being eligible does not mean you will be accepted. In Zambia, the general entry requirements for school leavers who want to go to any college or university are five O’ levels. The only difference is in the O’ level subjects that are required for science-based programs and those for humanities and arts-based programs.

Science-based programs require you to have five O’ level credits (grade 6) or better in

1. English language,
2. Mathematics
3. Science (Physics and Chemistry) and/or Biology or Agricultural Science,
4. Plus any other two subjects.

This simply means you need to have passed English language and Mathematics; plus, one or two science subjects; and any other two subjects to make a total of five subjects. For those who took pure sciences, a credit or better in physics and chemistry will be count as passes in two science subjects. Life sciences-based programs may only require you to pass either one of Biology or Agric or Science. Physical sciences-based programs may consider only Science and not Biology or Agric.

In humanities and arts, the general entry requirements are a credit (grade 6) or better in English language; plus, any 3 subjects from among the social sciences (e.g., History, Geography, RE, Civic Education) or business studies (e.g., Commerce, Accounts) or arts & crafts (e.g., Food and Nutrition, Art, Music, Woodwork, GMD); and any other subject to make a total of five subjects. The subjects listed here are only examples and do not represent a full list of subjects that will be considered.

General entry requirements are standard and do not change unless in special circumstances. An example of such a special circumstance is in the case of a course that is so mathematically inclined that an institution requires a minimum of a merit (grade 4) or better in Mathematics for you to be accepted.

Cut-off Points

Before we discuss cut-off points, let us first understand how points for school leavers are calculated at colleges and universities. To come up with the points each applicant has, a sum of the grades from their best 5 subjects at grade 12 is made, putting into consideration the general entry requirements for the desired program. Take for example a school leaver Chibwe, who has the following results English 1; Maths 4; Science 3; Biology 3; Geography 1; History 1; Woodwork 1; and Commerce 1. Chibwe has 5 points from his best 5 subjects (English, Geography, History, Woodwork and Commerce). However, if he was to apply for a science-based program, English, Maths and Science will be included amongst his best 5 subjects in order to satisfy the general entry requirements. In this case, Stan Chibwe actually has 10 points from he’s best 5 subjects (English, Maths, Science, Geography, History).

Cut-off point is the minimum score that you need to have to be accepted into a study program. Cut-off points may change from year to year and from program to program within the same institution. They are determined among other things by gender, mode of study and the demand for the program. Females are generally subjected to lower cut-off points than males. This is done to encourage more females to access higher education especially in male dominated fields. Mode of study also affects cut-off point with full-time study having higher cut-off points than part-time, distance or online. Read our article on How to earn a degree or diploma without stepping in class for more information on modes of study.

Program demand plays the biggest role in the determination of cut-off points. In Zambia, programs on highest demand in universities are Health-related, Engineering and other Natural Science programs. Because of this high demand, entry into the School of Natural Sciences in public universities has cut-off points as high as 6 points in 5 subjects in some years. Public universities have a many applicants with only limited places available making the competition stiff, hence the high cut-off points. In private institutions where competition is less stiff, you may only need to meet the general entry requirements for you to be admitted to the same programs. High cut-off point does not necessarily mean a better degree/diploma or better chances of employment. It only indicates the level of competition during the admission process at a particular institution. Qualifications obtained after completion of studies are the same.

Some universities e.g., UNZA and CBU do not allow direct entry into specific programs such as law, economics, engineering and medicine to mention a few. Students who wish to pursue such programs are admitted to a non-quota (NQ) program where they learn the foundation subjects. The students branch off into their desired programs in second year. This is again dependent on whether the student has met the cut-off point for that program determined from the first year results. The NQ program you need to apply to if you wish to pursue a non-direct entry program is the Bachelor of Science NQ (for science-based) or Bachelor of Arts NQ (for humanities and arts-based). Some programs which are non-direct entry at one institution may be direct entry at another. Other institutions do not have the NQ system but rather admit all students to specific programs. It is best to check with the university before applying whether the program you want is direct entry or not.

Though cut-off points for the same program are different from year to year, they do not vary much. If the cut-off point from the previous year was 9 points, in the current year it may be 8 points or 10 points or it can stay the same. It is therefore advisable to try and find out the previous year’s cut-off point before applying to know if you stand a realistic chance of being selected. Information on the previous year’s cut-off points may be requested from the institution’s admissions office.

How do University and College Assessments Work? 

Assessments form a major part of university and college life. Anyone who wishes or is about to go to such institutions needs to know about the types of these assessments. This is because they will spend a great deal of time studying for tests that come in many forms. And moreover, passing these assessments is what makes one progress from one year to another. The number and types of assessments may differ from one university or college to another and from program to program within the same institution. In general, a student will have continuous assessments (CA) and an end of year or end of semester assessment (final examination) in every course he/she takes. 

Before we go on discussing assessments, let us first clarify the meanings of program and course. A program is a combination of courses that you do leading to a degree or diploma. Courses can be thought of as the subjects or classes that you take whilst pursuing your degree/diploma (program). An example of a program is Civil engineering. Hydraulics, engineering mathematics and fluid mechanics, are examples of courses (subjects) that you take whilst studying for a civil engineering degree. 

The CAs are tests that are given to the students throughout the year i.e., they will be given during each term or semester. In most institutions, CAs contribute 40% to the final mark. The CA is made by adding all the marks scored from all the assessments given to a student throughout the academic year or semester excluding the final exam. All these marks earned are then compiled so that they account for 40% of the final mark. Institutions that have an academic calendar split into terms administer the final exam at the end of the academic year whereas those with semesters have a final exam at the end of each semester. The final exam contributes 60% of the final mark, if the CA contributed 40%. One should therefore know that the final mark is a sum of the continuous assessment and the final examination with the percentage contribution of each adding up to 100%. 

The following list includes some of the forms in which assessments come in universities and colleges. 

1. Written tests which include multiple choice questions (MCQs), short answer questions (SAQs), extended matching questions (EMQs) and essays. There are also small tests called quizzes which can be given just after a lesson or would have been planned for in the future. 

2. Oral examinations which are also called viva voce or simply vivas are exactly like tests but instead of writing a student must respond by word of mouth to a lecturer upon being asked a question. They are usually done at the end of the term or at the end of the year. 

3. Practical work depends on the program being done and the course. For example, those doing nursing may need to do some medical procedure and those in electrical engineering may need to make a specific circuit connection. These can be done individually or as a group depending on the instructions given. 

4. Assignments are usually written as long essays either done individually or as a group. These require a student to write about a topic using formal writing formats without plagiarising and as such one needs to have referenced work in their essay. Plagiarism is presenting someone else’s work or ideas as your own without their consent. Students, mostly do this unknowingly when they use someone else’s text in an assignment without fully acknowledging the author. Referencing means acknowledging the original source or sources. Plagiarism is a serious offence in academia and can have serious consequences including being failed in a particular course. 

5. Oral presentations are presentations that a student must make in front of an audience that may include his/her classmates, lecturers or invited guests. Most of the times one has to make a PowerPoint presentation to be submitted to the lecturer.  

6. Field reports are done when students have an experience outside the classroom and are required to write about their experiences. So, for a public health student this may include a report about a trip to a local clinic regarding their vaccination program or students of general agriculture may write a report about their visit to a farm about dairy production. 

7. Dissertations or theses, research and research proposals are usually done in the latter years (usually in the last year or the second last year) of the program. A dissertation/thesis can be defined as a formal writing that a student writes to complete the requirements of a degree. This thesis can be in the form of a research paper. Research proposals are written to summarise the question or problem one wants to research on and the plan they have to carry out that research. The proposals are marked by lecturers and taken for ethical approval by the students. After that, research can be done, and its results published. 

8. Projects are similar to dissertations as they are also done in the latter years. The major difference is that they are in most cases practical. As an example, a student in the school of the built environment may choose to make a model of a building with a proposed plumbing system while another student in the civil engineering program may make a computer model of football stadium. 

It is worth noting that these assessments are either formative or summative. Formative assessments are those that do not add to your final mark while summative assessments are those that add to the final mark. Either way a student must be serious in all assessments as a test that in the first place was formative may be added to the final mark when a lecturer sees it fit. 

Costs are another thing that come with assessments. There are costs incurred for completing typed work such as essays, field reports, dissertations and research proposals. These costs include printing, photocopying, binding and in some cases laminating. Projects and research work in the final years cost a lot and for students this can be very financially stressful. Although, for students in some institutions under government sponsorship or any other sponsorship may receive some allowances for this cause. 

After the all the assessments for the academic year or semester are completed and compiled, they are then graded usually A through to F. Grading systems differ from institution to institution and so do the pass marks. In some institutions the pass mark is set at 40% whereas in others it maybe be as high as 70%. At UNZA, the pass mark for most programs is at 40% and at CBU it is 50%. 

How can I get a scholarship to study abroad?

Many Zambian school leavers dream of obtaining a scholarship to pursue their university or college education abroad. Getting a scholarship to study abroad not only gives someone a chance to have the costs of their education paid for, but also affords a scholar the chance to attain a qualification that is internationally recognised. The process of obtaining an international scholarship comes with some dangers, and many people have been swindled into paying large amounts of money to people who claim they can get them a scholarship to study in a foreign country. In this blog, we will discuss how a Zambian school leaver may obtain an international scholarship through;

1. HELSB
2. NGOs
3. Agencies
4. Directly from foreign governments
5. Directly from universities abroad

We have also included the contact details of some NGOs and agencies that may be of help.

 

Scholarships from International Governments through HELSB

 

The higher education loans and scholarships board (HELSB) administers scholarships on behalf of the governments of countries such as Algeria, China, Cuba, Czech Republic, Egypt, India, Morocco, Russia, and Turkey among others. HELSB also administers scholarships from the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission to study in the United Kingdom at Masters and PhD levels. These scholarships are based on academic merit. This simply means that vulnerability and level of need play only a minimal role in selecting of candidates. What is mainly considered is the academic performance and only those that have scored very good grades may be selected. These scholarships are very competitive and, in some cases, they may only consider candidates who did pure sciences and/or scored distinctions in every subject they sat for at grade 12. It should be noted though that merely having good grades is not enough to be awarded a scholarship. Many of the applicants have good grades, so an applicant must prove why they stand out through the quality of their study plan or synopsis (essay) and also through their CV and recommendations.

To be eligible for these scholarships, you need to be a Zambian citizen with a green NRC. Undergraduate applicants need to have completed grade 12 within the three years prior to when the scholarship is being offered, Master’s applicants should hold a relevant bachelor’s degree whereas PhD applicants need to hold a relevant Master’s degree. Undergraduate applicants must have a maximum age of 24, Master’s applicants must be 34 years or younger, while PhD applicants must not be older than 39 years.

HELSB periodically advertises on their social media platforms and in newspapers when the scholarships are on offer. Those interested are encouraged to be on the lookout for such adverts in order not to miss deadlines. The specific documents that need to be submitted differ for each scholarship but are specified in the adverts. Generally, an applicant needs to have a passport. Therefore, if you have plans to apply for these scholarships you need to obtain a passport well in advance because the process may take a while and if done at the last minute, it may result in missing the deadline for submission. Another arrear that applicants need to prepare for is the writing of an essay of summarised details of the preferred course and how the intended course will enhance one’s contribution to Zambia’s development. Many applicants struggle with essay therefore it is advisable to put some thought into it even before the scholarship is advertised.

Scholarships Offered Directly by Foreign Governments

Some foreign governments select international students to sponsor directly through their embassies, consulates or diplomatic missions. Applications are made through the embassy in the applicant’s country and the preliminary assessment and selection is made by that embassy. A good example of such in Zambia, is the Japanese government MEXT scholarships for undergraduate, master’s and PhD students. In the case of the MEXT scholarships, applications are sent to the embassy of Japan in Zambia. Shortlisted candidates are then called in for further screening e.g., through written exams, interviews etc.

The screening process in these kinds of scholarships is very meticulous. Applicants are required to pay particular attention to the instructions given. Simple things such as not arranging documents in the particular order they require may cost you the chance of being selected.

Such scholarships when on offer are typically only announced on the embassy’s website or may be advertised in newspapers. It is advised that interested individuals should keep a close eye on embassy websites of countries they are interested in studying in for any possible scholarship adverts. Preferably, you can even contact the embassies through email or phone call to find out if and when they offer scholarships.

Scholarships Offered Directly by Universities Abroad

Another way of obtaining a scholarship to study abroad is by gaining admission into a foreign university that offers scholarships to international students. Universities around the world offer scholarships to students especially from developing countries to provide assistance and also to promote cultural exchange. A simple google search can help one find such universities but it is best to counter check the credibility of those institutions at the embassy located in the applicant’s home country.

The most involving part with these scholarships is gaining admission into the university. Universities abroad may have different entry requirements from those in Zambia. For instance, universities in the USA require their undergraduate students to have passed the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or the American College Testing (ACT) which are the standardised tests used for college admissions in the United States. In the UK, students are required to have passed A’ levels. It is also a requirement in English-speaking universities that applicants who are non-native speakers of English need to have passed either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). All these tests may prove to be challenging and require months of preparation before you can attempt to sit for them. They are also quite costly and all this is done before you even begin the process of application which also has costs associated to it. After passing the standardised tests, one can then proceed to apply for admission into the university of choice and if admitted can subsequently apply for a scholarship if they are on offer

Take note that not all of these scholarships are full scholarships (covering tuition fee, transportation from home country to the university, accommodation and living stipend/allowance). A 100% tuition scholarship means that it only covers the tuition fee, nothing more. Attention should be paid to understanding what the scholarship really covers before getting your hopes up. Many of these scholarships will only cover 25, 50 or 75% of your tuition fee and at times only for a single academic year or semester. Leaving you to cater for everything else including visa applications, air tickets, room and board. Only a full scholarship will cover all the costs associated with your studies.

Scholarships from NGOs

Non-governmental non-profit organisations including Churches are among the institutions that provide students with scholarships to study abroad. Scholarships from NGOs rely a lot on availability of funds sourced mostly through goodwill hence, there is little consistency. A particular NGO may be offering scholarships in one year, but the following year the same scholarships may not be on offer. Unlike merit-based scholarships that we have already discussed, these scholarships tend to lean more on selecting scholars from among the disadvantaged. These include the underprivileged, the girl child and the physically challenged. However, scholars must still demonstrate an academic capability to successfully pursue their studies abroad. Below is a list of some NGOs that are known to offer both international and local scholarships.

1. Forum for African Women Educationalists of Zambia (FAWEZA) Facebook: Forum for African Women Educationalists of Zambia (FAWEZA) Tel: 0975 028344 Email: admin.office@faweza.org.zm Website: faweza.org.zm
2. Masomo Education Foundation Website: masomoeducation.org Email: contact@masomoeducation.org Tel: (613) 232-6349
3. The Beit Trust Website: beittrust.org.uk/beit-trust-scholarships Email: scholarships@beittrust.org.uk / africa@beittrust.org.uk

Agencies

Agencies or agents do not themselves offer scholarships but because they can help get you admitted to a university where you stand a good chance of getting a scholarship, they are worth mentioning in this article.

Getting a scholarship through an agency is quite similar to getting a scholarship directly from a foreign university (kindly read the section under Scholarships Offered Directly by Universities Abroad to fully understand this section). Agencies operate as the middlemen between a prospective student and a university of choice as they know and understand the admission requirements and application process better. Some agencies have specific universities that they work with and those are the ones they can help you gain admission into. In a typical scenario, the agency will recommend universities that you can get admitted to depending on your budget, results, preferred programme of study and whether or not you want a scholarship. They will then make the application on your behalf and process your travel documents for you. All this is done at a fee and in some instances all payments to the university will be made through the agency. It is not guaranteed that you will be awarded a scholarship, and even if you do gain admission, you may find that you are not on any scholarship. As with other scholarships offered by international universities, not all are full scholarships and not all will cover your entire duration of study.

Extra precaution needs to be taken when it comes to agents. Agents work in the same manner as agencies, the major difference being that agents work independently as individuals. Many have been swindled out of large amounts of money under the promise of a full scholarship only to realise once they arrive at the university that they do not have a scholarship or that their scholarship was just for one semester. When dealing with an agent, we advise that you only work with one that has been recommended to you by a person that you trust. Preferably someone who has utilised their services and can confirm that they are legitimate. Some agencies that we believe to be credible are listed below.

1. Group of Russian State Universities RACUS Website: zambia.racus.ru Tel: +260 211 231 369
2. Punzila Website: www.punzila.com Tel: +260 975 083 509 Facebook: Punzila

Making a successful application for admission into a tertiary institution is a skill that can be learnt. Many times, applicants end up not being accepted not because they do not qualify, but because they did not make a proper application. It is therefore important that you know about the different ways of applying, and how to carry out such applications. Even if you qualify, your application can be rejected if the information you have provided is not complete or clear.  

Applications into colleges and universities generally come in two forms. The application can either be done online (via the internet using a phone or a computer) or using an application form bought at the university or another place authorised by the university. With both kinds of applications, there is an application fee that is required for the application to be processed. This is usually deposited into the institution’s bank account and the copy of the deposit slip is attached to the application documents or it is paid in cash upon purchasing of an application form. 

 Online applications have the advantage that they can be done from anywhere without travelling to buy or submit a form. They can be filled in easily from anywhere provided there is internet connection. Also, the system is automatic and any information that is not entered correctly or any documents not submitted will not allow an applicant to complete the application. The system therefore ensures that the application is done correctly, and all applications submitted are thus valid and will be considered. The other advantage is that since they are automated, there is no chance that could choose a program that the university does not offer or will not be offering any more. The application fee is deposited into the institution’s account and a scanned copy of the deposit slip is uploaded into the system along with scanned copies of other required documents such as NRC, statement of results/certificate and passport size photos. 

Physical applications (hard copy) are made using printed application forms. These can either be bought from the institution or downloaded from the institution’s website and printed out. In a case where the form is downloaded and printed out, the application fee is paid into a bank account and a photocopy of the deposit slip should be attached to the application form. The applicant needs to fill out the application form with the information required accordingly. Additional documents such as photocopies of results, NRC / birth certificate, passport size photos etc, depending on what is required, need to be attached to the application form. Attaching of documents should always be done with paper clips and not by stapling. The filled in application form should then be mailed to (sent via post office or express mail) or physically handed in at the institution. We do not recommend using post office mail because it can delay in arrival causing you to miss the deadline.  We advise using express mail services (e.g., DHL, Mercury, FedEx and EMS) when sending any application. 

Some universities do not allow grade 12 school leavers direct entry into specific programs such as law, economics, engineering and medicine to mention a few. These are known as non-direct entry programs. School leavers who wish to study non-direct entry programs are first admitted to a non-quota (NQ) program where they learn the foundation subjects in the first year. They branch off into their desired programs in the second year. You therefore should not apply directly for non-direct enty programs but should apply for the appropriate NQ program. Examples of NQ programs are: Bachelor of Science NQ (for engineering, medicine, etc.), Bachelor of Arts NQ (for law, economics, etc.), Pre-medicine/Medical Foundation Program (for medicine and other health-related programs). Check with the university before applying to find out whether the program you want is direct entry or not because this varies from institution to institution. 

Here below, you will find a sample of a physical application form with comments on how to fill in each section written below each page. You will also find a sample of an online application also with comments on how it should be completed. 

Sample of a Physical Application Form 

COMMENTS 

1. This is the price of each form. 

2. These details will be provided for you when you pay for the form. 

3. Wherever you see the words OFFICIAL USE ONLY, do not write anything in that section. 

4. Indicate the year in which you wish to be admitted. Some forms may also include the intake such as January or July intake. 

5. Make sure you write correctly and clearly your contact details. 
   i) Email address and Phone number: The university will most likely contact you through email or phone. Make sure you indicate a working email address and phone number. If you do not have an email address, you can easily create one with Gmail by simply opening a google account. Google “how to open a google account” for instructions on how to go about this. 
   ii) Postal address: If you do not have one, you can use that of your Church or a nearby school. Just make sure you inform the Church secretary or the school secretary so that they can let you know in case you receive any mail. 
   iii) Residential address: This is the address of where you live. Some townships do not have house numbers. In that case it is okay to just indicate the township name and the name of the district. 

COMMENTS 

6. These are the programmes you are applying for. Make sure you check that your desired programme is available for that year. It is not mandatory to put all three choices; you are free to put one, two or three. 

7. This part is for those who are university or college employees, their spouse or child. Some universities or colleges may have a special arrangement for these people when it comes to payment of fees. 

COMMENTS 

8. Wherever you see the words OFFICIAL USE ONLY, do not write anything in that section. 

Sample of an Online Application 

COMMENTS 

1. Some online application websites will start with this page where you put your NRC or passport number so that even if you don’t finish the process the system will save the data you have entered. The next time you put in your NRC, that data will come back automatically. 

COMMENTS 

2. The tabs shown up here represent sections of the application. You can scroll back and forth through them. To edit the information you provided in a particular section, you can simply click on that section and the system will take you back to the section. 

COMMENTS 

3. Make sure you write correctly and clearly your contact details. 
   i) Email address and Phone number: The university will most likely contact you through email or phone. Make sure you indicate a working email address and phone number. If you do not have an email address, click here to learn how you can open one with Gmail in a few easy steps. 
   ii) Postal address: If you do not have one, you can use that of your Church or a nearby school. Just make sure you inform the Church secretary or the school secretary so that they can let you know in case you receive any mail. 

COMMENTS 

4. This is where you choose which programme you want to be accepted in. It will include the level, category of study, study mode, school and the programme. If you are a school leaver (you just finished your grade 12) then you are an undergraduate. On the study mode some platforms may indicate DAY or FULL TIME or REGULAR. These mean the same thing. 

COMMENTS 

5. Some online platforms may not include this part where you manually put your results. Make sure you put the correct results. Remember that the university or college will still ask you to upload your results. Therefore, this is just a copy for the system. 

COMMENTS 

6. This is the part where you upload your results. Some websites will specify the format in which you are supposed to have this document e.g., PDF, JPEG, or PNG. Where it is not specified, upload in PDF format. 

COMMENTS 

7. These are additional documents that you may be required to upload. On some websites, this section may also include uploading of a scanned copy of the bank slip for your application fee. Where it is not specified, upload photos in JPEG and other documents in PDF format. 

COMMENTS 

8. After you have entered all the necessary information into the system, you can now submit the application. Some websites will give a summary of the application so that you can check the data you entered. If a website doesn’t do so, be sure to check the previous sections (by scrolling through the tabs) so that you make sure the data is correct 

The government has since stopped offering higher education bursaries (grants) but rather offers student loans and scholarships which are administered, granted and recovered by the higher education loans and scholarships board (HELSB), formerly Bursaries Committee (BC). As opposed to bursaries which did not require to be paid back, student loans are required to be paid back upon completion of studies and entry into formal employment.

In order to qualify for a student loan under HELSB, an individual needs to be a Zambian citizen, accepted into a Zambian University/College and completed their secondary school (grade 12) during the last three years prior to admission into university. There is also an age limit of 24 years for school leavers.

The student loan covers tuition fees, accommodation fees, book allowance, research or project allowance and meal allowance. Students are required to specify what they wish the loan to cover and the level of support required, whether 100%, 75%, 50%, or 25%. The specific level of support offered to each individual is determined by HELSB. At the time or writing this, HELSB is currently supporting students at UNZA, CBU, Kapasa Makasa University, Mulungushi University, Mukuba University, Chalimbana University and Kwame Nkuruma University.

HELSB also administers merit-based scholarships to study abroad in countries such as the UK, China, Russia, India, Morocco, Egypt and Algeria. These scholarships are offered at undergraduate, master’s and PhD level in various fields of study. To be eligible, you need to be Zambian citizen with a green NRC. Undergraduate applicants need to have completed grade 12, Master’s applicants should hold a relevant bachelor’s degree whereas PhD applicants need to hold a relevant Master’s degree.

HELSB periodically advertises on their social media platforms and in the print media (newspapers) when the scholarships and student loans are on offer. Those interested are encouraged to be on the look out for such adverts in order not to miss out on any deadlines. Documents needed to be submitted during application are specified in the adverts. In general, for undergraduates these include an application letter, and photocopies of the university admission letter, grade 12 certificate or statement of results, applicant’s NRC, parent’s NRC and passport size photos.

Applicants who are particularly vulnerable and wish to apply for 100% sponsorship are advised to visit their local social welfare offices to obtain appropriate recommendations and should also attach all necessary documents in support of their vulnerability. Such documents maybe death certificate of parent in the case of orphans, medical report in the case of students with disabilities, letter from local leadership etc.

For more information kindly visit HELSB website at http://www.helsb.gov.zm or contact them on +260 211 250726.

References

Student Loans (2020). Retrieved from Higher Education Loans and Scholarships Board-Zambia Website: http://www.helsb.gov.zm