What to Do After Applying for a Bursary
Written by the SA Bursary Hub Editorial Team · Published on · 5 min read
The weeks after you submit matter. How to keep records, follow up politely, prepare for selection steps and plan for either outcome.
Save the evidence of your submission
Immediately after submitting, save the confirmation page, the reference number and any confirmation email in one folder, and note the funder's contact address. If a portal later loses your application, that record is what lets you resolve it.
Follow up without pestering
If the funder publishes a decision date, wait for it. If they do not, one short, polite email a few weeks after the closing date is reasonable: give your name, the programme, your reference number and one clear question. Repeated daily messages do not help your case.
Be ready for the next step
Some funders shortlist candidates for interviews, assessments or a home visit for means testing. Keep your phone number and email active, check your spam folder, and keep certified copies ready in case additional documents are requested at short notice.
Keep applying while you wait
A single pending application is not a funding plan. Keep working through other opportunities you qualify for, and keep your NSFAS or institutional financial-aid options open where relevant. If you are declined, ask whether feedback is available and whether you may apply again in the next cycle.
SA Bursary Hub editorial team
This guide is written from the South African application process and reviewed before publication. It is general guidance, not funder policy. How we verify information.