When applying to college or university, most students get very excited about trying to win a scholarship. But, what is a scholarship and how can it help you achieve your academic goals? We’ve done the research so you don’t have to! Here’s everything you need to know about scholarships in South Africa.
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What Are Scholarships?
Scholarships are financial rewards that are granted to students based on outstanding academic achievements, or because they have met all requirements set out by the scholarship sponsor. There are 2 main types of scholarships that you can apply for when it comes to funding:
Full scholarship: A payment that covers all of your tuition and textbook fees. It potentially even provides a monthly stipend to cover your living expenses.
Partial scholarship: This could be a smaller payment that must go towards your studies. The total scholarship amount is often stipulated along with the application requirements.
Scholarships Versus Other Funding Options
Scholarships and other funding options can both provide financial assistance to students. However, there are some differences between scholarships and other funding options that students should consider when deciding which option to pursue.
| Awarded based on: | Payment towards: | Repayment? | Competitive | |
| Scholarships | Outstanding academic achievement or other sponsor requirements |
| No | Yes |
| Student Loans | Financial surety |
| Yes | No |
| Bursaries | Meeting sponsor requirements |
| Sometimes a form of repayment is required. Such as working back the same number of years the company paid for tuition. | No |
| Financial Aid | Financial need |
| Yes | Yes |
| Grants | Strict subject-related requirements (often only at postgraduate level) |
| No | Yes |
Things to Consider Before Applying for a Scholarship
Awarded scholarships are often only awarded for the year of study that you applied for. However, there is often a process which you can follow to re-apply for your scholarship each year. This helps your sponsor determine that you still deserve the scholarship because you still meet their requirements.
Some sponsors may take away your scholarship if you fail to continue to qualify for its requirements.
If you are awarded multiple scholarships and bursaries, there will often be a limit on the total amount of funding that you can accept. This is done so that other students can also be given an opportunity to receive funding.
Who Qualifies for Scholarships?
Most scholarships are awarded based entirely on achieving outstanding academic results, but sponsors are able to add in other requirements that you may also have to meet. Some scholarships are awarded based on on the following criteria:
- Gender
- Religious affiliation
- Socio-economic background
- Voluntary work and social engagement
- Sporting background
- Financial need
- Career path
- Specific subjects/degrees
So, if you don’t specifically have outstanding academic results, don’t give up on applying or looking for scholarships, because there may be others that you can qualify for based on your background and extra-mural activities.
How to Find Scholarships in South Africa
One thing, that you need to keep in mind, is that there are hundreds of scholarships out there! This means that you will have to spend hours researching to find one or two that you qualify for. Don’t let this discourage you, because putting in the time can be the difference between free education and having to pay the tuition fees yourself.
Know Where to Look
Knowing where to look for scholarships will help you find the best one suited to your study needs. The best place to find a scholarship that applies to you is to look at your university’s funding page. This will direct you to any scholarships that apply to most students at your university.
You can also do a general Google search for scholarships that apply to you. For instance, you could search for “Scholarships, SA citizen, BA degree” on Google. This is where you could find scholarships that even your university is unaware of, which could really help you in the long run.
Apply for the Correct Scholarship
Make sure that you read the scholarship’s main information page. This should have an eligibility or requirements section, which will tell you immediately if you qualify or not. This helps to speed up your search because you can focus on those that actually apply to you.
To help you get started, here is a list of some of the biggest websites that can help you find funding for your studies:
Tips for Applying for Scholarships in South Africa
In need of some more assistance? Then check out our top tips for applying for a scholarship below:
- If you don’t get awarded the scholarship in the first year that you apply, don’t give up. You can always reapply the next year or seek out different funding options for your studies.
- Looking for scholarships can get overwhelming and stressful, but don’t get discouraged if you are unable to find funding for your field of study. Just keep going!
- If you have to write an application essay, be sure to get it proofread first to ensure that it sounds professional.
- Use Microsoft Excel, or Google Sheets, to keep a list of all the funders that you’re interested in. These can help keep note of where you can find more information on the scholarships, deadlines as well as what you still need to do for the application process.
Fund Your Education With a Fundi Study Loan
Don’t meet the requirements for a scholarship? Don’t worry, there are still other funding options available that will help you fund your studies and achieve your academic goals.
Fundi is a leading education finance and fund management specialist that offers study loans to students. With a Fundi study loan, you’ll be covered for a range of tertiary education fees, including tuition, accommodation, devices and more!
Eager to find out if you qualify for a Fundi study loan? Then be sure to try out the Fundi Loan Calculator and take the first step toward academic success today!
