Tips to Increase Your Chances of Getting Funded
Written by the SA Bursary Hub Editorial Team · Published on · 6 min read
Practical ways South African students can stand out in a bursary application: applying early, applying widely, writing a specific motivation, and following up properly.
Apply widely, not perfectly to one
Apply for every bursary you genuinely qualify for. Applying to multiple suitable opportunities can increase the options available to you, but there is no guaranteed number of applications that leads to funding. Set aside a fixed slot each week during the season and work through your shortlist.
Submit early in the cycle
Portals slow down badly in the last week before a closing date and uploads fail. Reviewers also work through files as they arrive, so an early, complete file gets a calmer read. Aim to be done a week before the deadline.
Make the motivation specific to that funder
A motivational letter that could be sent to any bursary reads like a form letter. Name the funder, name the qualification, and say what you plan to do with it, ideally in a way that connects to the funder's sector. A mining company funding engineering students wants to read that you want to work in that industry, not a general statement about wanting to help your community.
- Mention the exact bursary and qualification by name
- Give one concrete example from your own life rather than general statements
- Explain your financial situation plainly and without exaggeration
- Keep it to one page and check the spelling
Fix the small things that get files rejected
Certification older than three months, a blurry ID scan, a missing parent affidavit or an unsigned form are the usual reasons a file never reaches a reviewer. Open every file after you upload it and check that it opens and is readable.
Keep your marks up while you wait
Many bursaries confirm an offer only after final results, and almost all of them require a minimum average to keep the funding once you are studying. Your results in the term you apply matter twice: once for selection, and again for renewal.
Follow up politely, then keep going
If a funder gives a reference number, keep it. A short, polite email a few weeks after the closing date to confirm your file was received is fine. Chasing weekly is not. While you wait, keep applying, and apply for NSFAS as well if you qualify so you have a fallback.
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.