Career Guidance – Getting Into University/College, Getting a Job and Life After University
Welcome to Mindnary Career Guidance – a platform with the most comprehensive list of bursaries, learner-ships, Scholarships and internships in South Africa, updated regularly. Our goal is to find as many bursary opportunities as possible throughout South Africa, and publish it all on one platform, to make them easily accessible for students. If you are looking to further your studies but lack the funding to do so, and you have a strong academic history which you have maintained throughout the year, you may be eligible to apply for a bursary. Bursaries are awarded to students currently in Matric and who will be studying at University or College the following year, as well as current tertiary student who cannot afford to continue paying for their studies.
This page also aims to help graduates and students after they have completed their university studies. Below you will find guidance on topics like “How to apply for bursaries“, “How to write a CV“, “How to write a Cover Letter“, “How to prepare for a Job Interview“, “How to find Learner-ships and Internships” and more.
Bursaries, Scholarships and Student loans
Applying for a bursary may seem daunting – so many documents to compile, a lengthy application to complete, and to top it off, a looming deadline. But not to fear, Mindnary Career Guidance is here to help.
Universities and Colleges
There are 26 Public Universities and 50 registered and accredited public TVET Colleges in South Africa which operate on approximately 364 campuses spread across the rural and urban areas of the country.
Learnerships and Internships
An internship is a work opportunity that is offered by organizations to individuals wanting to gain work experience before permanent employment – these positions can be paid (usually a small stipend) or unpaid.
Recent Posts
- Blog
- Closing Soon
- Learnerships and Internships
- Universities and Colleges
- NSFAS Status Check
Frequently Asked Question About Bursaries
WHO QUALIFIES FOR A BURSARY ?
The requirements are different for each bursary programme, and those requirements will be specified in each bursary listing, but here are some common requirements that are seen across most bursary programmes:
- You must be a South African citizen (some bursaries even fund South African permanent residents)
- You must be either in Matric or have completed Matric
- You must have a strong academic record (in Matric and at tertiary level if currently studying) – depending on your field of study, you may also be required to show strong academic results in Mathematics, Science or languages
- You must be studying or have applied to study at a recognized tertiary institution in South Africa (including public and private institutes – TVET colleges, Universities and Universities of Technology)
- You must be studying or have applied to study for full time studies (part time studies and correspondence studies are sometimes also funded but most bursaries only cover full time studies)
- You must be able to prove financial need
HOW TO APPLY FOR A BURSARY?
On each bursary listing, you will see instructions on how to apply for the specific bursary programme. Some bursaries have an online bursary application, while others require students to download an application form, which will then be submitted via email, fax, post or hand delivery.
Students are always required to submit supporting documentation when applying, and this may include (but is not limited to):
- A certified copy of your South African ID document (or South African permanent residence if applicable)
- A certified copy of your academic records (Matric latest results if currently in Matric, Matric certificate if completed Matric, full academic record if currently studying at tertiary level)
- Proof of tertiary application, registration or acceptance (on the institutions letterhead)
- A motivational letter explaining why you should be selected for the bursary award
- Proof of household income showing financial need (this will include your parents/ guardians proof of income or proof of unemployment)
- Proof of residence – this only applies if the bursary specifies that it only covers students residing in a certain region
WHAT EXPENSES/ FEES DOES A BURSARY COVER?
Bursaries can be either partial or full. A partial bursary means only a certain amount or portion of your study-related expenses will be covered, while full-cover bursaries usually cover all study related expenses, including: tuition fees, examination fees, prescribed books and study materials, meals, accommodation, transport and sometimes a laptop. Some bursary providers also allow students to complete vacation work at the company, which is required for some degree qualifications.
DO I HAVE TO PAY BACK A BURSARY?
No – bursary recipients will NOT be required to pay back their bursary.
Some bursary providers require students to work for their company after graduation, for an equal duration of time as funding received. This is beneficial to both the bursary provider and the bursary recipient, as the student has guaranteed employment after completion of their studies and the chance to gain invaluable work experience.
HOW DO I KNOW IF A BURSARY IS LEGITIMATE OR A SCAM?
At Mindnary Career Guidance, we aim to ensure that every bursary we publish is legitimate. If you are ever asked to pay money to submit a bursary application, this is an indication that the bursary is not legitimate. If the bursary application requires you to send your application forms and documents to a free email account (ie gmail, yahoo, hotmail etc), then it is likely a scam – application emails will always be required to be sent to the companies official email addresses. If you ever have any concern that a bursary could be a scam, please let us know so that we can further investigate this
Preparing for a Bursary Interview
Bursaries are a great opportunity for students to fund their learning. Although they are competitive and applications don’t guarantee an interview, there are still a number of steps applicants can take to ensure that they plan ahead and prepare well for their potential interview.
Firstly, applicants should always do research into the bursary programme they are applying for. They should understand the requirements needed for the application and keep a copy of everything they submit for reference. Application questions for bursary programmes give candidates a great understanding of what they potentially could be asked on the day as well as allow them to review any answers they may need to give the provider in the interview.
The next step applicants should do is research information about the bursary provider. The applicant can do this by visiting the providers’ website and reading their ‘About Us’ section. This will allow the applicant to gain a key understanding of the providers’ priorities, goals, mission, vision, as well as what they are looking for in a successful candidate.
Below are some of the most common questions that are asked in a bursary interview. The applicant can use these questions to prepare for their interview so that their answers are ones that best describe them and show their strongest attributes. The applicant should consider factors such as what the adequate response will be to answer a question in depth. Applicants should ensure that their answers are not vague, and should give responses that are solid and confident.
DISCLAIMER: Unless specified, Mindnary Career Guidance is not in any way affiliated with any of the bursary, internship, apprentice and learnership providers featured in this website and does not recruit or process application for any organization. The material provided is solely for informational purposes only. Visitors are advised to use the information at their own descretion.
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