Are you looking for government bursaries offered for students? Studying is very expensive in South Africa and a first-year at a tertiary institution could cost you around R40k to R70k. No wonder why bursaries are such a big deal in South Africa. Luckily there are many Government departments in SA offering bursaries for students.
What do Government Bursaries Cover?
A Bursary offered by a local municipality or Province will work in the same way as other bursaries. They will over fees for:
Registration
Tuition
Accommodation
Living costs
Books and other materials
However, you will notice that most bursaries are capped by value. This means that they will only pay a certain amount of money for your study and most likely this will not be enough to cover everything. These bursaries are a great help but you will often need to pay a bit out of your own pockets or try to get work beside your study
Work for the Government
Although you don’t have to pay back a bursary, the institution offering the bursary will often ask for payback in the form of service. After you finished your education you will need to pay with service for the number of years you received the bursary. Make sure to read the small letters on the bursary contract.
How to find local Bursary Opportunities?
Finding bursaries offered by local municipalities and Provinces is not always straightforward. They are hard to find online and often the ones you can find online are outdated. Therefore it is always a smart thing to contact your local Municipality or Province to see if there are bursaries available.
Government Bursaries Offered in SA By Province
There are a lot of bursaries offered by local municipalities or provinces. They are often offered to the students living in those areas.
Candidates wanting to follow any of these fields of study will need to have the following to qualify for a bursary. Each government department also has their own additional requirements.
Basic Requirements for Government Bursaries
Candidates must be a South African citizen with a valid ID Book / ID Card.
Candidates must be able to prove their need for financial aid.
Candidates must have outstanding academic records with proof of acceptance at a higher learning institute.
Candidates must prove that they are from a previously disadvantaged background.
With these fields of study available, the doors to South Africa and the world is open to successful students. There are many local and international companies one could consider when looking at any of the fields accessible although candidates have to confirm ahead of time with the departments if there will be a work-back period.
