A bursary is a kind of scholarship that you get on the basis of financial need. The basic difference between a bursary and a scholarship is that a scholarship is awarded on merit for different achievements, mostly academic.. Scholarships usually need to be repaid while bursaries do not. A bursary is given normally issued on the basis of insufficient income and it is supposed to complement other funding sources or even act as a total source of funding for graduate and undergraduate education.

Here are some important things you need to do in order to get a bursary:

1. Fill in an application form that gives details of the financial circumstances of your parents.

2. Include details and documentary evidence, capital assets. Make the application as complete as possible. Do not leave out anything because a committee will use this information to determine if you will get the bursary or not.

3. Study each bursary policy and try to match your application to the requirements.

4. Submit your application in time every time. Delayed applications will not be accepted and will not be taken into consideration.

5. Also apply for government student financial assistance if you can as receiving this kind of help will also
improve your chances of getting a bursary as it proves a greater financial need. The bursary is given to the student who demonstrates the biggest financial need.

6. Make a realistic budget. You will need to say for what you need the money. Include essential expenses like accommodation, food, books, courses, etc. Putting in costs like entertainment and the like will lower your chances of getting the bursary.

7. Include the resources. You also need to include the existing resources that you already have, even if they are low, putting in $0 will seem like you submitted an incomplete application and this will lower your chances of getting the bursary.

8. Track down the best bursaries. Bursaries are given by various institutions and each bursary has different requirements, deadlines and policies. Independent schools, universities, institutions, private individuals and even companies will offer bursaries.

9. Make sure you also have good results and that you pass your examinations. Some institutions award the bursaries also based on performance in exams that precede getting into and university or college.

10. Prepare for evaluation. Most institutions that offer bursaries will assess the bursaries given out every year to see if the conditions have remained the same.

11. Apply to as many bursaries as you can. You will not be able to get some bursaries so, in order to make sure that in the end your costs for education will be covered you need to apply to many bursaries. The more applications you have the greater the chances of getting a bursary.

12. Have a back-up plan. Be confident, but don`t rely solely on bursaries. There are many people who apply and you might not have the best chances so you need a back-up plan in case you need to manage on your own.

The best advice we can give is to take action right now. Locate the best bursaries and start applying
today!

Links to useful bursaries :

African Scholars’ Fund (FET College)

http://www.asf.org.za/documents/ASF%20College%20application%20form.doc

 

Agricultural Research Council (ARC)

http://www.arc.agric.za/Documents/BannerPdfs/MINI%20SYMPOSIUM%2027%20August%202015.pdf

 

Allan Gray Fellowship Programme

http://www.allangrayorbis.org/fellowship-programme/how-to-apply/

 

Allan Gray Fellowship Programme (High School)

http://www.allangrayorbis.org/scholarship-programme/how-to-apply/

 

Anglo American Bursaries – for 2nd and 3rd years – Anglo American

http://angloamerican.gradx.net/

 

Anglo American Bursary Programme 2015

http://angloamerican.gradx.net/

 

Anglo Coal – BCom or Business Science

http://www.careerwise.co.za/index.php?pg=application_forms

 

Arcelor Mittal Bursary for Artisans

http://www.arcelormittalsa.com/NewsUpdates2012/ArcelorMittalSouthAfricaoffersstudentbursary.aspx

 

Arup (Pty) Ltd

http://www.arupedutrust.org.za/applications.html

 

Athlone Institute Bursary Project Fund

http://athlonebursaries.yolasite.com/bursary-applications.php

 

Australian National University (ANU) Scholarship

http://www.australianuniversities.com.au/scholarships/

 

AVI Degree Bursary for Comm and Eng (Study Trust)

http://www.studytrust.org.za/index.php/bursaries/bursary-categories/sponsored-bursaries/the-avi-bursary-programme

 

AVI FET Bursary Eng

http://www.studytrust.org.za/index.php/bursaries/bursary-categories/sponsored-bursaries/the-avi-bursary-programme

 

Basil Read Bursary (Civil Engineering)

http://www.basilread.co.za/downloads/BasilReadBursaryApplicationForm.pdf

 

Bigen Africa Services

http://www.bigenafrica.com/careers/bursary-application-2015/

 

British American Tobacco SA

http://bat.gradx.net/

 

CETA Bursary Programme

http://www.ceta.org.za/core-business/project-management/policies/bursary-policy/

 

CIDA City Campus Scholarship – Bachelor of Business Administration

http://www.cidacitycampus.co.za/content/item/view/admissions-academic-entry-requirement

 

City of Johannesburg

http://www.joburg.org.za/pdfs/volunteer.pdf

 

Civil Engineering Education, Training & Development Foundation (CEET&DF)

Address
CEITS
Regional Training Manager
P O Box 644
Bedfordview
2008

 

Civil Engineering Industry Training Scheme Bursary (CEITS)

Address
CEITS
Regional Training Manager
P O Box 644
Bedfordview
2008

 

Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr (Tim Mills Memorial Bursary)

http://www.apply4law.co.za/apply/bursaries.html

 

Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr (Undergraduates)

http://www.apply4law.co.za/apply/bursaries.html

 

de Beers – Engineering: Mining, Electrical (Heavy Current), Chemical, Metallurgical,

http://www.debeersgroup.com/

 

de Beers Ltd

http://www.careerwise.co.za/index.php?pg=application_forms

 

Department of Health Bursary KwaZulu-Natal

http://www.kznhealth.gov.za/bursaries.htm

 

Department of Health Western Cape

https://www.westerncape.gov.za/service/bursaries-health

 

Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport (Part-time)

http://www.publicworks.gov.za/PDFs/documents/Forms/EXTERNAL_bursary_application_form.pdf

 

Department of Transport and Public Works (Full-time)

http://www.nwpg.gov.za/Public%20Works/Documents/PolicyDoc/BURSARY%20POLICY.pdf

 

Dr McIntosh Trust

http://doctors-hospitals-medical-cape-town-south-africa.blaauwberg.net/medical_bursaries_south_africa/bursaries_for_medicine_dr_mcintosh_trust

 

East Rand Youth Trust (Residents of Ekurhuleni only)

Address
The Trust Administrator
East Rand Youth Trust
P O Box 965
Kempton Park
1620

 

Epilepsy SA

http://www.epilepsy.org.za/edu/index.php

 

ETDP SETA Education Bursary (Matric)

http://www.etdpseta.org.za/live/index.php/portfolio/etdp-seta-learnerships

 

FAK Music Bursary

http://www.fak.org.za/beurse/musiek/

 

First Rand Trust (Graduate Development Programme)

https://www.fnb.co.za//graduates/graduate-programme.html

 

Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education

http://www.mm3admin.co.za/documents/docmanager/3C53E82B-24F2-49E1-B997-5A35803BE10A/00082917.pdf

 

Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme (DoE)

http://www.funzalushaka.doe.gov.za/application/application.jsp

 

Gauteng Housing Department

http://www.dhs.gov.za/sites/default/files/vacancies/BURSARY_APPLICATION_FORM_2014.pdf

 

Goldman, Jeanette Trust

http://doctors-hospitals-medical-cape-town-south-africa.blaauwberg.net/medical_bursaries_south_africa/bursaries_for_physiotherapy_hci_hosken_consolidated_investment_foundation_bursary_programme

 

Grahamstown Foundation Scholarships – Gerald Wright Scholarship

http://www.foundation.org.za/index.php?pid=43

 

Grahamstown Foundation Scholarships – Nancy Little Bursary Post-graduate

http://www.foundation.org.za/index.php?pid=43

 

Grahamstown Foundation Scholarships – WJB Slater Scholarship Post-graduate

http://www.foundation.org.za/index.php?pid=43

 

Hansi Pollak Fellowship

Address
Hansi Pollak Fellowship
Secretary: Research
Bursaries
P O Box 6638
Johannesburg
2000

 

Herman Krige

http://www.uj.ac.za/en/studyatuj/studentfinance/bursaries/externalsponsorshipbursaries/documents/external sponsor bursaries and loans.docx

 

Ikapa Elihlumayo Financial Aid Plan (FET)

http://wced.pgwc.gov.za/documents/Financial-Aid/FinancialAid.pdf

 

KPMG (CA Bursary – Financial Need)

http://www.kpmg.com/za/en/careers/careerlevels/bursaries/pages/default.aspx

 

KPMG (Merit Bursary)

http://www.kpmg.com/za/en/careers/careerlevels/bursaries/pages/default.aspx

 

KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health Bursary (Medicine)

http://www.kznhealth.gov.za/bursaries.htm

 

KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health Bursary (Nursing)

http://www.kznhealth.gov.za/bursaries.htm

 

Marga Schulze Scholarship

Tel. (012) 523811
Fax (012) 346 149
e-mail: etna@sancb.org.za

 

Monash (Undergraduate Scholarship)

https://www.msa.ac.za/assets/study/scholarship_application.pdf

 

Monash Bursary

https://www.msa.ac.za/study/apply/

 

Mondi (BSc Forestry)

http://www.mondigroup.com/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-323/79_read-2559/

 

Mondi (National Diploma Forestry)

http://www.mondigroup.com/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-323/79_read-2559/

 

National Treasury (Chartered Accountants Academy)

http://www.treasury.gov.za/graduate/

 

Phalaborwa Mining Company Ltd Bursary

http://www.palabora.com/training_and_development.asp

 

PPS Chairman’s Fund – Bursary Fund

https://www.pps.co.za/pages/csi/scholarships.php

 

Rhodes Trust

http://www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/apply

 

SA Institute of Race Relations (SAIRR) (Eng)

http://irr.org.za/programmes/bursary-programme/online-application

 

SA Institute of Race Relations (SAIRR) (FET)

http://irr.org.za/programmes/bursary-programme/online-application

 

SA Institute of Race Relations (SAIRR) (Law)

http://irr.org.za/programmes/bursary-programme/online-application

 

SA Institute of Race Relations (SAIRR) (Law)-duplicate

http://irr.org.za/programmes/bursary-programme/online-application

 

SA Institute of Race Relations (SAIRR) (Med)

http://irr.org.za/programmes/bursary-programme/online-application

 

SA Institute of Race Relations (SAIRR) (Science)

http://irr.org.za/programmes/bursary-programme/online-application

 

SA Institute of Race Relations (SAIRR) (Soc)

http://irr.org.za/programmes/bursary-programme/online-application

 

SAA Cadet Pilot Training

http://www.flysaa.com/us/en/SAA_Careers/RelatedLinks/CadetPilot.html

 

SAAWG (Awards to Female Undergraduate Students )

http://www.saawg.org/Bursaries.html#undergrad

 

SAAWG (Female Awards for Postgraduate)

http://www.saawg.org/Bursaries.html#undergrad

 

Sappi Bursary Scheme

http://www.sappi.com/regions/sa/careers/Overview/Education/Pages/Funding-and-scholarships.aspx

 

South African Geomatics Institute

http://www.sagi.co.za/

 

South African Society of Music Teachers

http://www.sasmt-savmo.org.za/news/scholarships.php

 

Study Trust Bursaries (Anglo Vaal Industries)

http://www.studytrust.org.za/index.php/bursaries/bursary-applications/online-application-2015

 

Study Trust Bursaries (Coronation Fund Managers)

http://www.studytrust.org.za/index.php/bursaries/bursary-applications/online-application-2015

 

Study Trust Bursaries (FNB)

http://www.studytrust.org.za/index.php/bursaries/bursary-applications/online-application-2015

 

Study Trust Bursaries (Peregrine-Citadel)

http://www.studytrust.org.za/index.php/bursaries/bursary-applications/online-application-2015

 

Study Trust Bursaries (Prudential Portfolio Managers)

http://www.studytrust.org.za/index.php/bursaries/bursary-applications/online-application-2015

 

Study Trust Bursary (School Grades 9 – 12)

http://www.studytrust.org.za/index.php/bursaries/bursary-applications/online-application-2015

 

Study Trust Bursary (University of Technology)

http://www.studytrust.org.za/index.php/bursaries/bursary-applications/online-application-2015

 

Study Trust Bursary (University)

http://www.studytrust.org.za/index.php/bursaries/bursary-applications/online-application-2015

 

Sugar Industries Trust Fund Bursary (Agricultural College)

http://www.sasa.org.za/Files/SASA%20SITFE%20Broc%202014_rev1.pdf

 

Sugar Industries Trust Fund Bursary (Undergraduate)(University)

http://www.sasa.org.za/Files/SASA%20SITFE%20Broc%202014_rev1.pdf

 

Swaziland Government Scholarship

http://www.gov.sz/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=410&Itemid=373

 

The South African Institute of Electrical Engineers (SAIEE) Education and Bursary Fund

http://www.saiee.org.za/DirectoryDisplay/DirectoryCMSPages.aspx?name=Education%20and%20Training#id=1737&dirname=Bursaries%20&dirid=333

 

Transnet (Graduate Programme for CA’s)

http://www.transnet.net/Career/CAT.aspx

 

Transnet Bursary

http://www.transnet.net/Career/Bursaries.aspx

 

UJ Faculty of Law Bursaries

http://www.uj.ac.za/EN/StudyatUJ/StudentEnrolmentCentre/ApplicationProcess/Pages/home.aspx

 

Volkswagen Foundation Scholarship for Postdoctoral Research (Sub-Saharan Africa)

https://portal.volkswagenstiftung.de/vwsantrag/login.do?siteLanguage=en

 

Western Cape Government (Provincial Treasury Bursary)

https://www.westerncape.gov.za/general-publication/bursaries-2011