Bursaries

We are inundated on a daily basis from students who need financial assistance to complete their studies.  There a few basic steps to follow and also various options open -

Firstly, applying for a bursary is similar to applying for a student loan or bank loan at a financial institution. You need to have proof of registration, residence, income, bank statement, identity and a surety.

Secondly, be sure to consider your options before deciding how to pay for your studies and apply for any award or bursary for which you’re eligible.

University Financial Aid
If you have already enrolled at a university, or are considering doing so, their financial aid office should be your first stop.

Most universities offer bursaries or grants to students that have excelled in their previous studies or on the sports field.

Check with your university’s financial aid office whether you are eligible for any of these bursaries or awards, and make sure that you apply before the closing date.

National financial aid
If you are a South African citizen you may be eligible for a National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) loan for study at one of the country’s public higher education institutions. The NSFAS, a statutory body funded by the Department of Education, provides study loans to academically able but financially needy students.

Much of an NSFAS loan can be converted into a bursary, which does not then need to be repaid, depending on one’s academic progress. A 100% pass rate would result in a 40% bursary rebate on an NSFAS loan.

The size of the initial NSFAS loan ranges from R2 000 to R30 000. You should apply at your university’s financial aid office.

External bursaries
Many South African companies offer bursaries to promising students.

The terms of these bursaries vary tremendously. Contract bursaries require you to “pay back” the bursary by working at the company once you’ve completed your degree – giving you a job and work experience immediately after your graduation. Many mining and engineering companies, in particular, provide contract bursaries.

The Bursary Register, available at most high schools and at your university’s financial aid office, will provide you with a full list of bursaries available in your particular field.

Student loans
All of South Africa’s major banks offer student loans, both to South Africans and to non-South Africans with valid study permits. Bank loans, unlike NSFAS loans, will also cover studies at a private institution.

When applying for a bank loan, you will have to show proof of registration at an educational institution. You’ll also need somebody, such as a parent or guardian, to sign surety for you.

Although you will only need to start repaying your bank loan once you’ve completed your studies, you will need to keep up the interest payments throughout the term of the loan.

Paying your own way
You can also choose to pay your own way. By taking a year off to work before studying, or by working part-time while pursuing your studies, you can gain valuable work experience while earning to finance your degree.

You’ll have to be disciplined, however, to make sure that you set aside enough time for both your studies and your work, and to make sure that you don’t fall behind in either.