A bursary is a type of financial aid awarded to students to help them cover the costs of their education. One of the main benefits of a bursary is that the money received by a student does not need to be repaid.
Bursaries can cover a range of costs associated with a student's education. Some bursaries will only cover a percentage of a student's tuition fees while others can be comprehensive and provide students with money for tuition, learning materials, books, living expenses, transport expenses and accommodation expenses.
There is a wide range of bursaries available to students in South Africa. Bursaries are provided by various government departments, businesses, private companies and educational institutions.
Students can apply for bursaries using several different methods. The method they use to apply for a specific bursary will depend on what the person/entity is awarding the bursary.
Different Ways To Apply For A Bursary
Online Application
Some bursary applications can only be submitted online through an official application portal. The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) uses an online portal for bursary applications.
These application portals will normally be available on the website of the person awarding the bursary.
Email Application
Some organisations will require a bursary applicant to submit their application to a specific email address.
Physical Application
Several bursary providers will require applicants to submit their applications with documents that have been printed.
A bursary applicant must follow the application procedure set out by the bursary provider. This as many will not consider an application that was submitted using the incorrect application method.
What's Needed For A Bursary Application.
Some bursaries are awarded based on an applicant's academic merit while others are based on the student’s financial need.
Students will be required to submit information and documents based on the requirements of the bursary they are applying for. This may include proof of identification, academic transcripts, proof of registration and household income information.
Students must submit all information and documentation required by the bursary provider for their application to be considered and potentially approved. They must ensure they apply for the bursary within the prescribed application period, as many bursary providers will not consider late applications.
