Scholarships and bursaries may be given based on a student’s academic performance, family income, or some combination of the two. One can use the funds to offset the cost of daycare, travel, books, equipment, and tuition. Keep reading to learn more about student bursaries.
What are student bursaries?
A student may receive a bursary award, or just a bursary, depending on their academic standing or financial necessity.
Student bursaries offer free money that one does not need to repay. Students who might otherwise find it challenging to finish university studies are presented with bursaries. It does not always imply that financial need is the only consideration when awarding bursaries. Sometimes their goal is to persuade specific student populations to pursue higher education in general or a particular subject.
Although it can be confusing because sometimes one can use the phrases scholarships, grants, and bursaries interchangeably, they are all the free money that one does not need to repay. The word “grant” is used in the dictionary to clarify what the term ‘bursary’ means. Therefore, there is no distinction between the two terms.
What’s the difference between a bursary and a scholarship?
The phrases ‘bursary’ and ‘scholarship’ are synonymous in universities. However, there is usually one distinction-
- Scholarships are likely to be competitive, with affluent benefactors frequently supporting them.
- Bursaries are often automatic, non-competitive, and determined by financial necessity. You can also refer to them as ‘awards.’
Who offers these bursaries?
You can apply for a bursary from the organization providing it, an institution of higher learning, an employer, or even the government.
Universities- Most universities give bursaries to help specific student groups, like students from low-income families or care leavers. Once you’ve decided on an institution, look into the bursaries they provide and see whether you qualify for any of them.
Organizations and trusts- In the UK, over 3,000 charities and trusts provide scholarships and grants for higher education. These are frequently smaller charities founded to aid students from a particular background or region of the nation.
Professional associations- They often offer grants to entice underrepresented groups into a business or profession. Along with these, they also provide student scholarships, job placements, and career guidance.
If you are aware of your field of expertise, research the professional organizations supporting it to see if any scholarships or bursaries are available. Examples of these scholarships are the nursing and social work bursaries provided by the NHS and the teaching bursaries by the government to encourage more teachers to enter the teaching profession.
Read more: Top 8 academic scholarships available today
Eligibility for student bursaries
Your eligibility for a bursary or scholarship will typically depend on the following factors-
- Household income
- Gender
- Nationality (not just for international students – some unis offer scholarships for UK students too)
- Grades
- Sporting or musical talent
- The course or subject
- Particular circumstances include the fact that you are a careleaver or have children.
How much money can you get?
You can get anything between a few hundred and many thousand pounds. The money will often be paid entirely at once or in lump sums each year.
Some universities give out bursaries to all students, while others only give to those with household incomes under £25,000. It’s the mother of all cashback deals, so when you apply, it’s worth looking into.
Tips for your application
When submitting your application, it’s crucial to consider the organization’s rationale for providing these bursaries. It will help you demonstrate how you fit their requirements. Study their needs and tailor your application to them.
Second, keep in mind that they will get a lot of applications. Make an effort to ensure that yours stands out for the right reasons rather than due to grammatical or punctuation errors or improperly completed questions.
Some specific bursaries
- Sports bursaries- Students who show excellence in sport
- Specified subjects- Bursaries that provide an incentive to study specific subjects
- Academic achievement- Funding provided for academic excellence may be competitive, automatic, or restricted to students from low-income families.
Examples of bursaries for students
Royal Television Society bursaries
The Royal Television Society gives prizes to underprivileged students who exhibit talent, potential, and tenacity. While studying TV production and journalism, you must pursue a degree in physics, math, computer science, journalism, or a related field.
Cumbrian Medical Services Bursary
Open to Cumbrian students who have been accepted to attend college to study medicine. You must make less than £50,000 a year in household income.
Additionally, merit-based, the bursaries will be judged based on your statement and a letter of recommendation from your school.
Stand Alone Bursary
Available to estranged students pursuing their education without the help and blessing of a support system from their family who have no touch with them. They need to reapply for money every year.
Teaching Bursaries
The authorities offer these to graduates who enroll in teacher preparation programs for disciplines like biology, chemistry, computing, math, physics, classics, and languages. Additionally, some are accessible to final-year undergraduates pursuing Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
Key takeaways
- One can often confuse the terms bursary and scholarship, but they have a distinguishing feature. Scholarships are competitive, while bursaries are non-competitive.
- Universities, organizational trusts, and professional associations provide student bursaries and give students a chance at a better life and education.
- Household income, gender, nationality, grades, sports, or musical talent are all eligibility criteria for bursaries.
- Stand Alone bursaries, Teaching bursaries, and NHS bursaries are some examples of student bursaries.
Did you find this blog informative? If so, please let us know your thoughts and views in the comments below. Click here to contact us for more information on student bursaries. We would be happy to assist you with your queries.
Liked this blog? Read next: All you need to know about Legacy Scholarships
FAQs
Q1. When can you start applying for bursaries?
Answer- To apply for a bursary, you do not need to wait till you have received your matric results. Some organizations base their decision on your Grade 11 or even Grade 10 scores as to whether you will receive a bursary.
Q2. How often is a bursary paid?
Answer- If you are qualified for a bursary, you will receive your entire award in three terms, divided into equal payments. The income-assessed items will often be paid at the same time as part of your termly payments if you are a postgraduate student who is eligible for the award.
Q3. What is a 16-19 bursary?
Answer- A government-funded program called the 16-19 Bursary Fund aims to assist young people who face the most extensive financial obstacles to continuing their education or training after turning 16 by providing financial support.
