Financial Aid and Bursaries in South Africa
In today’s economy, work and jobs are scarce and skilled workers are in great demand. Bursaries are offered across all industries to students to further their studies after completing a high school diploma and obtain a higher education qualification at a local college or university providing them with better opportunities and future career.
What is a Bursary?
A bursary is a program that provided financial assistance to students by personal individuals or companies. This means that students who qualify for a bursary will receive funds in order to further their education. Most important, bursaries are for those students who require financial assistance. The student will receive money to cover their studies and gain a higher qualification.
Most bursaries do have terms and conditions attached, and some require students to work for the companies that offer them bursaries to pay back the loans after they have completed their studies. Some bursaries aim to complete pay for a students tuition, while some supplement the student fees.
How do bursaries work?
In order to follow a professional career you need an education. However, for some individuals this is not possible due to financial strains. This is when a bursary is the answer. Take note that a bursary is not the same as a scholarship. Scholarships only cover tuition fees and is based on merit, wile bursaries cover tuition as well as book fees, living allowances, pocket money and in some cases a guarantee of work after successful completion of studies.
Do you qualify for a bursary?
In most cases bursaries are offered to those students who are in need of financial aid, and show a dedication to further their education. It is not recommended to apply for any and all bursaries available, but rather for those that you qualify for. If you choose to apply for a bursary make sure that you qualify and meet all requirements as specified in the bursary application. Before applying for any bursary make sure you do a thorough before applying and compare different bursaries and what they offer so that one applies to a suitable bursary. A candidate must make sure that all criteria is met for the requirements as not to waste their and the companies time.
Before applying for a bursary
Before applying for any bursary, you need to decide on a career and professional working career to want to follow. Most bursaries have specific terms and conditions that need to be met so you should look at the companies that offers bursaries in your chosen career path and see if you are a fit for their needs.
Where to find bursaries?
To a find a bursary that is right for you, simply do a Google search for bursaries in South Africa. To help you get started, here is a short list of websites where you can find a bursary that fits your career dreams:
Bursaries SA
Khetha
SA Bursaries
NSFAS
Other articles to read with more bursary opportunities:
South African Institutions and Companies offering Bursaries Part 1
South African Institutions and Companies offering Bursaries Part 2
South African Institutions and Companies offering Bursaries Part 3