Applying for a matric bursary is one of the most practical ways to fund your next step after Grade 12. South Africa’s bursary landscape can be competitive, and many awards are based on more than just grades—your documentation, motivation, and eligibility details matter. This guide explains what to include in a bursary application so you … Read more
If you’re considering study funding in South Africa, NSFAS and bursaries are two of the most talked-about options. But they work differently—often in terms of eligibility, how funding is structured, and whether you have to repay anything later. This guide explains the key differences between NSFAS vs bursaries, plus practical alternatives you can use when … Read more
If you’re searching for alternatives to NSFAS in South Africa, you’re not alone. Many students need funding due to family income, qualification type, timing issues, or eligibility requirements. The good news is that there are several bursaries, scholarships, loans, and learnership pathways that can help you fund your studies—sometimes even in combination with each other. … Read more
Choosing funding for higher education in South Africa can feel overwhelming—especially when terms like scholarships, bursaries, and NSFAS sound similar but work differently. The right option depends on your goals, eligibility, and whether you need full vs partial funding. In this guide, you’ll learn how scholarships in South Africa compare to bursaries and NSFAS, where … Read more
If you’re looking for education funding in South Africa, you’ve probably compared bursaries and NSFAS. But there’s another option many students overlook: learnerships. Learnerships can fund your studies while building real workplace experience—something bursaries don’t always provide. In this guide, you’ll learn how learnerships work, who they’re for, how they compare to bursaries, and how … Read more
Yes—in many cases, you can apply for a matric bursary before you receive your final results, especially if the bursary opens during your Grade 12 year. However, whether you can be considered before your results depend on the bursary rules, the deadline, and how the funder verifies your eligibility. In South Africa, bursary providers typically … Read more
Taking a gap year after Matric can help you regroup, gain work experience, travel (responsibly), or complete short courses before starting tertiary study. But one of the biggest questions school leavers face is simple: how do you fund it—and how do you keep your future bursary options alive? In South Africa, bursaries and scholarships are … Read more
Starting your first year of study in 2026 is an exciting milestone—but it can also be financially stressful. Bursaries for first-year students are often the difference between enrolling and postponing your studies. In South Africa, these bursaries may come from universities, government departments, corporates, NGOs, and SETAs, with many requiring academic performance and proof of … Read more
Starting tertiary study can be exciting—but for many students from rural areas, the cost of fees, transport, accommodation, books, and living expenses can be overwhelming. This is exactly why matric bursaries and first-year student funding programmes are so important: they help learners transition from school into university or TVET college with less financial pressure. In … Read more
Matric marks are one of the first things bursary funders check when deciding who qualifies. In South Africa, many bursaries for first-year students use minimum academic thresholds (such as a specific pass rate, subject marks, or an overall average) to ensure learners can cope with tertiary coursework. Because requirements vary by institution and field of … Read more