Editor LauraA bursary is a form of financial aid that helps students pay for tertiary education costs in South Africa. It can be used to help with tuition fees, books, training materials and living costs. In this guide we’ll explore what a bursary is, how you can apply for one and where to find more information on funding your studies in South Africa.
How To Get A Bursary In South Africa
Many students in South Africa receive financial aid from their parents or guardians, but there are also many students who do not have this privilege. If you are one of these people, it might be difficult for you to pursue your studies.
However, there is still hope! A bursary is a grant that covers tuition fees and/or living expenses. These grants can come from different places, such as universities or non-profit organizations.
A bursary is a financial award given to students to help with their tuition fees and other costs, such as accommodation and books. Some institutions also provide travel bursaries.
You can use the money provided by your bursary to cover any expenses you have during your time at university, or you may be asked to provide receipts for some of these items if they are not covered by the institution’s bursary scheme.
Some institutions also offer additional funding through various means such as loans or grants.
These options are more helpful for those who need cash immediately but cannot wait until after graduation to start paying off their debt.
How do you apply for a bursary?
- Check with your employer about their bursary schemes.
- Contact academic institutions to see if they offer any bursaries.
- Contact professional associations and make enquiries about the possibility of obtaining a bursary from them
Check with your employer
It’s not uncommon for employers to offer bursaries to students who work for them, especially if you are studying towards a degree or diploma with practical relevance to the company.
But don’t just ask for money. You should also see what other benefits you can get from working there during your studies, such as accommodation, transport and food allowances.
Contact Academic Institutions
You should ask the institutions you want to study at if they offer any bursaries. If they do, you can also find out what the requirements are and how long it will take to apply for them.
If your institution doesn’t have any bursaries available, try contacting other universities or colleges near you. Some institutions may be able to help with financial aid even if they don’t offer specific bursary programs themselves.
You can also use this method when looking for schools abroad; if your country has an agreement with South Africa, there may be some funding opportunities available through its embassy or consulate in Cape Town (or wherever else).
Check with Professional Associations
- Check with Your Professional Association.
- Check with Your Local Chamber of Commerce.
- Check with Your Local Municipality, Council or Government
Make sure you have the required documents
- You need to have a copy of your ID
- You need to have a copy of your passport
- You need to have a copy of your birth certificate
- You need to have a certified copy of your matric certificate
To submit your application for a bursary, you must first visit the South African Department of Social Development. You will need to bring all your documents with you, including:
- Your identity document (ID)
- Your certificates and results
- Your bank statements or proof of income if self-employed/working as an entrepreneur
If you’re under 18 years old and studying at home, then your parents will also have to come along with their ID’s and proof of residence.
In addition to these documents which are required by law for any form of application in South Africa, there are other requirements which vary from province to province.
For example, in order for someone who wants a bursary from KwaZulu Natal’s department of social development (DSD) it is important that they provide proof that they live in the area so that DSD can verify this information before granting any assistance.
Closing
As you can see, getting a bursary in South Africa is easy. The most important thing is to know where to apply and have the right documents.
You should also make sure that your employer is willing to assist you with this matter as well as contact academic institutions who offer bursaries for their students.