Frequently Asked Questions About Bursaries
I’ve Seen Bursaries And Scholarships. What’s The Difference?
Whether you are looking for scholarships or a bursary for university, the trick here may be to not to worry too much about the terminology. Although these typ4es of funding can differ, some companies or universities might use the terms interchangeably.
In a nutshell, if you are awarded a scholarship, this is often funding that you have been offered because an institution wants to reward your strong academic achievement and have you study with them. The scholarship will be awarded if you wouldn’t have had the economic means to fund the study yourself.
As well as academic achievements, scholarships are also awarded to people who have demonstrated talent in a particular area. This can be the arts such as dance, music or drama. Or it could be a sport such as athletics.
Bursaries are often awarded to students who might need help with finances either due to their economic background or they could be offered by companies and institutions looking to attract young people into their sector. To achieve some qualifications, for example, some students may be put off because many years of study is involved. A bursary can help to fund this and make it possible.
If a company or an institution offers a bursary, it gives you the opportunity to consider a career path that you might not have considered or that you might not have thought possible.
How Much Bursary Will I Get At College Or University?
There is no set bursary fund that is uniform across all institutions and organisations. Each will differ depending on the bursary funds they have available and the type of course you are doing.
The key thing to be aware of is that however much bursary fuınd you are awarded, you will be responsible for managing your own money.
How Do Bursaries Work?
As with the amount of money in the pot for your bursary fund, bursaries differ between institutions, organisations and companies.
For some bursaries, you may be awarded a lump sum each year and you will need to manage that so that it funds your studies and any other extras you need to do your studies or training.
Other bursaries will be awarded in stages. You might be given specific amounts for particulars such as living costs, travel costs, tuition fees, extra courses or any specialist equipment you might need to purchase, for example.
How Do I Get A Bursary?
If you aren’t sure about the line of work you would like to do once you have graduated from university but you still really want to go to university, you might qualify for a bursary due to your economic status. This will help to fund your studies and doesn’t need to be paid back.
You will need to apply to your institution and the amount you are awarded will depend on the university’s bursary fund.
There are also other ways of getting a bursary. If you are keen to go into a particular field once you graduate from university and your degree is geared towards working in that field, you can sometimes get a bursary for your studies. Study for some careers, for example, can involve direct work experience in that field. Bursaries will cover your costs for this.
What Can I Study For With A Bursary?
If you are applying for a bursary from your university to help top up your funds for study, you can study for any degree.
For some types of bursary, however, such as an NHS bursary or an RAF bursary, you will need to be studying towards a particular qualification so that you can then go on to pursue a career in that field.
