NSFAS is the biggest source of student funding in South Africa, but it is not the only one. Companies, government departments, municipalities, SETAs and foundations all fund students, and many of them fund learners whose household income is above the NSFAS limit, or who study at private institutions NSFAS does not cover. If you only apply to NSFAS, you are leaving money on the table.

This guide covers where bursaries come from, when to look, what they ask for, and how to write the one document that decides most of them: the motivation letter.

The three kinds of bursary

Knowing which kind you are applying for changes how you write your application.

  • Company bursaries. A company pays for your studies, often in fields it hires from: engineering, accounting, actuarial science, IT, mining, health. Many come with a work-back agreement: you work for the company for a set number of years after you graduate. Read that clause before you sign. It is usually a good deal, but it is a commitment.
  • Merit bursaries. These reward strong marks. Some look at your Grade 11 results and your Grade 12 June results, because your final marks are not out yet when they close.
  • Need-based bursaries. These fund learners who could not study otherwise. They ask for proof of household income, and the panel reads your motivation letter closely.

Many bursaries are a mix: good marks, a field the funder cares about, and financial need.

Start earlier than you think

Most learners start looking for bursaries after they get their matric results. By then, many company bursaries have already closed. A lot of them open in the middle of Grade 12, or even in Grade 11, and close before the final exams.

A simple plan:

  1. In Grade 11: make a list of the fields you are considering and the companies and departments that hire in those fields.
  2. From the start of Grade 12: check those funders' career or bursary pages every month. Note each closing date the day you find it.
  3. With your June results: apply. Your Grade 11 and June marks are what most early bursaries use.

Always check the closing date on the funder's own website. Dates change from year to year, and listing sites are often out of date.

The document pack

Almost every bursary asks for the same things. Prepare them once and keep them in one folder:

  • A certified copy of your ID or birth certificate
  • Your latest school report (Grade 11 final and Grade 12 June, or your NSC statement if you have finished)
  • Proof of household income: payslips, a SASSA letter, or an affidavit if nobody in the household earns a salary
  • Certified ID copies of your parents or guardians
  • Your university or college application, or the acceptance letter if you have one
  • A short CV and your motivation letter

Our guide to certified copies and the document pack explains the three-month rule for certification and how to photograph documents so they are accepted.

The motivation letter: one page that panels actually read

A bursary panel may read hundreds of letters. Most of them say the same thing: "I am passionate and hardworking and I come from a poor background." That is true for many applicants, so it does not set you apart. What sets you apart is being specific.

Use this structure, and keep it to one page:

  1. Who you are, in two sentences. Your name, your school, your town, and what you want to study.
  2. Why this field. One real moment that pointed you here. Not "I have always loved science", but the time you fixed the neighbour's phone, ran the class budget, or nursed a grandparent.
  3. Proof you can do it. Your marks in the subjects that matter for this course, and anything you did beyond class: a leadership role, a job, caring for siblings, a project.
  4. Why this funder. One sentence that shows you know what they do and why their field suits you. If there is a work-back clause, say you are glad to work for them.
  5. What the money changes. Plainly and without exaggeration: what would happen without funding, and what you will do with the qualification.

Then check it: read it out loud, fix every spelling mistake, and make sure the funder's name is spelled correctly. Sending a letter addressed to the wrong company is the fastest way to be rejected.

A specific, honest one-page letter beats three pages of general statements every time.

Scams to walk away from

Real bursaries never charge you to apply. Walk away from anyone who:

  • asks for an "application", "processing" or "admin" fee to submit a bursary application
  • promises a bursary is "guaranteed" or "already approved" before you have applied
  • contacts you on WhatsApp or social media from a personal number, claiming to be from a company
  • asks for your banking PIN, passwords or one-time codes

If in doubt, find the funder's official website yourself and contact them there.

Apply to more than one

Bursaries are competitive, and a rejection is not a judgement on you. Apply to several that fit your field, and apply to NSFAS as well if your household income qualifies. You can turn down funding you do not need later. You cannot apply after the closing date.

How Scenda helps

A Scenda package includes three bursary applications alongside your university, college, NSFAS and accommodation applications, all from one profile, with a specialist checking each one before it is sent. Start with the free APS checker to see what you qualify for, then create your profile.