Scholarships and bursaries are awarded for different reasons. Below, we break down the main distinctions that can help you decide which one is for you.
Bursary
- Bursaries are awarded to students based on financial need
- Some bursaries require students to meet set minimum academic requirements in order to qualify
- Recipients of bursaries are often required to repay the bursary by working for the company/institution that offered the bursary. Employment is usually for the same period that the bursary was awarded for.
Scholarship
- Scholarships are awarded based on academic excellence
- Scholarship recipients must continue to achieve outstanding academic results
- Scholarships can be very competitive, as only top academic achievers are considered
- Recipients of scholarships are not always expected to repay or work off their scholarship