You might think that in order for someone to give you money for school you need to have the best results in school and at tests. This is the general opinion of what a scholarship means and it is partly right. Students do get financial help if they prove they are exceptional in a field, but the level of that mastery is oftentimes relative and there is another way, the bursary.

If you are worried about how you are going to pay for your tuition fee you are probably eligible for a bursary. This is a sum of money that is offered not merit-based, but means-tested. This means that you will need to prove that you parents earn a combined income that is under a set threshold and you will get the money you need for school without needing to repay it ever again. But this does not mean that you cannot also get a scholarship, you can get both. They do not exclude one another so the best way is to go for both as that way you will able to pay for your studies in full and still have some money for an occasional pizza.

Merit-based scholarships are awarded to people that are truly talented and who, otherwise, for the lack of money, may slip through the cracks and never get noticed. Very smart people don`t always come from the right socio-economic background and it is not their fault, they need to be helped and often are. Scholarships are a gain to everyone as everybody gains from talent that is not wasted and instead used for something good.

Some organizations measure merit in a more conventional way and offer the money based on the results to conventional tests while others offer them based on the exceptional talent or potential discovered in some fine arts. There are also plenty of contests that you can participate in in order to get a scholarship and you can apply with one of your works or take part in actual contests.

The bottom line is that you could go for both types of financial aids. You should apply for a bursary and at the same time see what scholarships are a right fit for you and how you can apply successfully for them. Trying in several places will mean success in at least one.

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109 Responses to How to figure out if you can get a bursary or a merit scholarship

1. how can i apply for a scholarship?

   • how can i apply for scholarship? I need their aid

2. Hi i would like to know what would be the best time for me to apply for a bursary

3. i real need a bursary to further my studies

4. pls i need a bursary to further my education as an educator. pls give me clue

5. i am already in institution called TSWANE UNIVERSITY TECHNOLOGY am studying human resources management 2nd year, so m doing well exeptional and i am in need of bursary for 2014. Tel me what requirements yu in need of bcoz am majoring in Business Management and Personnel Management,contact m via 0730633327 or whatsapp m on 0810400071 or at facebook mdeva5044@gmail.com

6. Dear sir, I am ready to fulfill all the conditions a scholarship.
   I could go for both types of financial aids.
   Thanks

7. Hello admin, I’m so glad for this platform. I love studies, but financial constraints have halted all the desires of working hard academically. I have a diploma in Information Technology from Nkumba University in Entebbe Uganda. I actually changed my course from bachelors to diploma because of the very constraint. I hope for your kind consideration. we shall be very grateful. Thank you.

8. I sincerely need support of bursury to pay for my tuition, I am 3rd year student at Nairobi University Law school. Kindly advise me way forward.

9. Hello sir/madam
   I would like to be given chance to further my studies and i have hope that your office can do me a favor.
   Otherwise, i really have no way out!!!!
   Thank you.

10. i need scholarship for my further study do you have any scholarship for pg students because of i am studying Mcom now.

11. To th admin
    I am desperately
    in need of financial
    aid to further my
    education for the
    past four years.
    How may I get it
    and when should I
    apply.

12. I want assistance Any organizetion whose help me ,I want to receive BA in law course with out cost fee because I am poor person .

13. I am a communication and management specialist. I would like to pursue a Masters of Arts Degree in Development Studies, but lacking funding. I therefore request for a bursary.

14. am a well wisher who have been mobilizing community well wishers to educate talented students who happens to be extremely poor to an extent of having three meals in day is a luxury.currently that community secondary school has population of 100 students which is overwhelming due to lack of basic education materials.kindly how can i secure scholarship for them to enable them access secondary education.Thanks

15. Please urgently, I need a Scholarship/Bursary for a Post Graduate Diploma in Education starting January 2014, worth $2000 annually for one year. Then a Master’s Science Degree in Agricultural Economics; already Admitted in Makerere in 2009 but failed to raise Tuition fee worth $4000 for two years up to now. I work as part time Lecturer/Teacher earning $80 monthly from which I rent where I stay at $40 and spend the rest on my general well fare. Please any condition for me to earn a scholarship/ Bursary I will fulfill, HELP!

16. I am studying in Mysore University of Maharajas College, 1st year BBM.So i want money as schalorship, plz tell me the details of it.

17. i need a bursary for son to study civil engineering he has excellent marks and is a hard worker as a single mom I really need a bursary he will be a asset to any company

18. name some schemes plz

19. I really need a bursary to further mu studies next year 2014

20. I am ready to fullfil all the condition a scholarship. i could go for both type of financial aid

21. am thankful and ready for both tasks

22. i am so curious to get this support.kindly,how can i get to be the one of the beneficiaries.

    • how can i get a chance to apply for a bursary or sholarship ,as i am alreaddy doing my 1st year at university of zululand.

23. how can i get a chance to apply for bursary or sholarship..as i am doing my 1st year in bachelor of education at university of zululand

24. Hiii, Iam a senior high school graduate and seeking for help to continue my education. Iam ready to obey all requirements of any bursary or scholarship available. I’ll be gratefull if anyone can help me secure one.
    Thanks.

25. Hi, thanks for this piece. But where and how can I apply for some of these scholarships.

26. i am ready to fill all the necessary document for the scholarship

27. i pass my matric with bachelors degree and im accepted at tut for IT so i realy realy need a bursary please help

28. Thanks for for your response but may you advice me on when and how to apply.

29. i am interested please how do i go about it even now

30. how can i get it please am in second year and stranded

31. Hello, thanks for the notification, am doing a bacholars degree in conservation forestry at Makerere University in Uganda. So how can i be part of the scholarship cycle?

32. I am studying BDS in government college.
    I m from very poor family. I need a help to continue my study well.How can i apply it?

33. Am seeing any reply I equally nid scholarship

34. I REALLY NEED MONEY AT LEAST KSH.200,000 FOR MY FURTHER STUDIES.THANKYOU

35. I AM Ph.D RESEARCHER SVP UNIVERSITY

36. I want to do teaching is is apropriate for me to apply ffor your bussary and whats the prosidure?

37. pls thanks for this wonderful msg..am in my final year at the university and aiming to further my education with my Master’s programme..how can i apply for this bursary

38. how do i get a scholarship offer

39. How can i apply??

40. show me how to apply.thank you

41. How can i apply?

42. I have applied to one college in South Africa and was accepted, and now i’am lacking financially, i do not have any parent who works and i only have my mother. i’am from The Republic of Namibia. can i be helped please. the college i applied to is BMT College.

43. need money to finish my masters in human resources management from kisii university – kitale campus

44. I would like to know when I should applu for the bursary

45. and when can i apply for it?and which site can i use to apply?

46. I am really ready to further my education but having a limitation of resources. I am ready to try both but how do I get there. Thanks for your care.

47. I am a B.ed II student at WSU Mthatha. Please help me get a bursary. Ensure that Funza approves me in 2014. Help i have been applying since my first year.

48. How can I apply for masters busary. please let me .I would like to know the best time to apply

49. Dear sir, i completed my high school last year on the school’s support and got second grade and my parents failed to pay my tuition fee at the university level due to financial constrain and i would wish to continue and complete my studies for the betterment of my feature. i will be so glad to get the chance of completing my studies.Thank you

50. like everyone else… how can i apply for these scholarships????

51. Thanks alot sir how do i get started with both applications

52. i live and love it,how can i apply for it please?

53. how can one apply for such scholarships?

54. Kindly let me know so that i can avail and get the scholarship positively.

55. Please sir,how can i apply for both bursary aids and scholarship!

56. am doing master of public health(population and reproductive health) at Uganda martyrs university nkozi.i urgently need a scholarship to help me through this course.am always thankful for the aid rendered.

57. hello?
    i would like to pursue my diploma in the field of community development, so i call upon you people to help me achieve this through bursary support.

58. Want to know when can I apply for this bursary

59. I graduated with second class honors (upper division) in economics in 2012 from Kenyatta university and currently seeking a sponsor for my masters as my parents due to their financial problems have nothing to assist me with in financing my masters. currently working as a teacher on BOD but with high ambition to advance my academics in economic related field. any help will be highly appreciated.

60. How can I apply for such a scholarship

61. Thanks for the information.
    i also need both but how can i apply and when ??

62. thank you for contacting me every time. but i would like to ask when am i suppose to apply for both the scholarship and bursary?

63. Thanks very much sir for that brief information. Am a final year student in the University for Development Studies, Nyankpala campus.Am in Agronomy department. Will it be possible for me to gain schoolarship in the Agric field.? What is the best time to apply for this schoolarship or bursaries.?

64. Thank you for the messages you have been sending for me but i just want to find out when am supposed to apply for both scholarship? and bursary and if i may to ask is it for diploma students too?
    Thank you for your help so far

65. i am in need of bursary so help me, i am doing media studies in university of limpopo

66. I want to become a legal advisor and for that i need bursary or scholarship so that after qualifying the exam of CLAT i’ll take admission in any of the NLU .Please expain me the procedure in order to get bursary or scholarship

67. I want to become a legal advisor and for that i need a bursary or a scholarship so that i ‘ll take admission in any of the NLU after cracking the CLAT.Please explained me in order to apply for a bursary or a scholarship.

68. I need the procedures to getting either a bursary or a scholarship to pursue an undergraduate course.

69. How i wish to get scolarship 2 further studies.pls Bursary help to achieve my dream.

70. hi,i wish to get a scholarship after i finish my studies.it might be too early to apply for this, but i am just focusing on my career.

71. how to get a bursary for public finance and accounting
    i reaLY NEED TO FURTHER MY STUDIES

72. I would like to further my studies to a degree level in Information Technology but i don’t have enough money t support myself. How can i get a bursary or a scholarship.

73. thank u but please what are the procedure required to obtain this scholarship.

74. Am an undergraduate and I have not yet joined college,how can I apply for a bursary not based on merit,because my parents can not afford college expenses and I would like to continue with studies.

75. am a graduate from makerere university with a second class lower degree in business administration and looking for a scholarship to study my masters in business administration.

76. how can i apply for the scholarship

77. I completed my Msc 1st year at Makerere university on normal progress but with a tuition debt and have also failed to meet my tuition for 2nd year research. I am requesting for a bursary

78. To whom it may concern.

    My name is Bennedictor Mahlangu, a 21 year old lady studing psychology (3rd year)and would like a bursary to finish off my studies. Therefore may I kindly ask that you to guid me on how to recieve this bursary or scholarship so i can finish my studies and go make a difference out there.

79. how should i get a scholarship to forehead my dream of becoming a good business man on the international Sean?.it is like my family has ended there it can not go on supporting so guys help me

80. how can i apply my scholarship through bursery me

81. Hi, have been admitted to University twice (2012-2013and again 2013-2014) for Development studies but have try with my best to rase my fees but I failed to rase it .I even have the admission later for the two times .How can I get the scholarship for the 2014 study or bursary .

82. hello sir , i m pursuing my msc math hons from delhi university .i also need a scholarship or financial help so that can continue my higher study .is there any scholarship that can help me .

83. please how do i apply for the bursary.

84. am happy for the update but how can i get one

85. am a 3rd year student of bachelor of arts in community development and am really unable to pay the remaining 1year tuition fee to finish my undergraduate please please any help…thank you

86. My dad had a major robbery and this has set us back in a bad way, I am doing my 2nd year BSC Biological Sciences at WITS University with the intention of getting into Medicine. Please assist with a bursary for 2014.
    Thank you.
    Talia

87. Sir,
    Fir my further studies I need a financial support.So please grand me Bursary.

88. I am Second year student doing bachelors degree in human resource management in Makerere university(MUBS) in Uganda but i have not yet completed my tuition for this semester and I even don’t know how i will make it for the other year due to low financial stand.
    Kindly am seeking for help in terms of finances to enable me complete my studies.
    THANK YOU IN ADVANCE

89. I really appreciate your time and effort in bringing such good news to us,please I’m a high school senior currently in Nigeria (a Nigerian).I will be extremely honoured if you can tell me or rather assist me in getting both.I hope its applicable to international students because I really want to school abroad to acquire broad knowledge and in return deliver back to my immediate society ..please I need positive details ….thank you

90. I completed from Busitema university Uganda and I would wish to access a scholarship for masters of science in Physics. Thanks

91. i wish to get one may God help me. thanks Peter

92. peter please how can apply for bursary or scholarship to help me forward m education?please I am very much in need of it.

93. i will be much humbled for the information about bursary or scholarship application form and consideration just between the rocks

94. thanks can i please get the process of applying.

95. yes iam with you

96. Am currently doing a diploma in community health nursing but have defered due to financial constraints.how and when should i apply for the scholarship?

97. Just forgive me if am too desperate but i seriously need one to secure myself a quite bright future

98. Thank you for your work !! please some help, am stranded and am in 2nd year. I need some bursary to accomplish my studies.

99. please can you help me obtain a scholarship

100. I need a scholarship to continue my masters degree .can u help me find a scholarship .thank u

101. Hi BASARY members!I’m currently doing my 2nd year@B-Ed @ University of South Africa,so I’ll like to get a basary because I’m not working,but I don’t know howI must do to get it,thank you:Sizwe.

102. give..me..a..scholarship…please…

103. I am on my last year of my HR Diploma and i really struggle in completing it because of lack of money.may I please be assisted wit bursary or scholarship.anything please.

104. Hey ! I was enlightened by the insight ! Does anyone know where I could possibly locate a blank IRS W-9 form to use ?

105. Good evening,I am in second year at Makerere University,Iam hustling to get my tuition totalling to 1,650,000 thats bachelor in library and information science.I will be glad to get bursary inorder to complete my tution..thank you

106. Good morning I am a freshman student at Starz College Of Science and technology I will be forever grateful if I be given the opportunity to join the bursary. me scholarship I hope and pray that u see reasons to help me

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