Making Your Academic Dream a Reality: What a Bursary Can Do For You!

It’s done! You have sent through your application form to study at the NWU, and now the only thing pending is the message informing you that you have been accepted. But while knowing what you want to study, you are now left with another decision. How to pay for your academic future…

Group of Surprised Students looking at Laptop

This can seem like a stop in the road to your successful life as the CEO of your own business, becoming the next Steve Jobs, or being hailed as the scientist who finds the cure for cancer; but we are here to tell you that this is not true!

Bursaries and loans were created with the simple aim of providing financial aid to academically deserving students who dream of studying at tertiary institutions but cannot afford the full costs.

In South Africa, there are quite a few options available, but finding the bursary that best suits you and your studies, as well as an option that is accredited by the University of your choice, can be stressful…

Fear not! The NWU has compiled a list of all bursaries and loans schemes that are accepted, as well as our very own bursaries and loans that we have in place to help get you to graduation!

#MyNWU bursaries and loans:

  • First-Year Academic Merit Bursary: – All full-time first-year students are automatically awarded this bursary. You have to meet specific academic criteria though and complete the degree within the expected time.

  • Family Discount – Do you have an older brother or sister who is studying at the NWU? Well, thanks to them, you can apply for family discount! See as much as 15% (and more, depending which sibling in the family you are) discounted for your studies! Finally, a positive side to having an older sibling!

  • Leadership Bursary – That head boy/head girl title you had in Grade 12 still has a few tricks up its sleeve, it seems! Apply for this once-off bursary and see a nice chunk of fees deducted from your first-year tuition fees.

  • Arts and Culture Bursary – More of an artsy type? Well, if you showed exceptional achievements in arts and culture activities during your high school career, you could apply. Keep in mind that these bursaries have very specific requirements, as evaluations are done by the Department of Arts & Culture!

  • Support Bursary – The NWU also offers bursaries to help students who are physically disabled, orphaned or living in foster care. You only need to apply once in your first year and make sure you attach the necessary documents.

  • Sports Bursary – At the NWU you can make your sports dream come true while also becoming the world’s smartest person! Want to know more about which sports we cater for and how to apply? Visit here.

External bursaries:

  • NSFAS – With over 3 million students assisted since its establishment, NSFAS provides financial aid to qualifying students from poor and working-class families to study at public Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges and universities. You can apply online OR drop off an application form at your nearest National Youth Development Agency (NYDA). To know more about what you will need when applying, or how to apply, you can visit their site.
  • Funza Lushaka teaching bursary ( http://www.funzalushaka.doe.gov.za/ ). You can find the requirements and apply for both online. 

Who knew there were so many different bursaries available? For a full list of the bursaries and loans available from each campus, you can look here!

Now that you know how to get your slice of the bursary pie, be sure to complete and submit the forms before their deadlines pass! And of course… see you next year!