Top NSFAS Bursary Alternatives to Fund your Education

By Klnam Kurt •  Updated: 01/11/25 •  5 min read

One problem that has stopped many people from pursuing their tertiary education is money. Many people haven’t had any funds to further their education, and that has hindered their ability to enroll in public universities or TVET colleges.

NSFAS is one of the largest bursary organisations in South Africa. This financial institution has supported students in paying their fees and other expenses since 2000. The main objective of NSFAS is to fund students

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looking to study at university or TVET colleges. Funding is a requirement in all universities, whether public or private, but as to who funds your tertiary education is noted for bursary criteria.

Certainly, not only NSFAS provides financial support for tertiary institutions; there are other institutions doing good work across South Africa. There are other bursary alternatives to fund your education in South Africa by following a set of instructions. There are requirements that every applicant must follow to get the needed bursary to pursue their tertiary education. 

What is a bursary in South Africa?

What comes into your mind when you hear bursary in South Africa? Well, bursaries are not only found in South Africa. In this article, we will be sharing mainly with you what bursary is in south Africa.

A bursary is money given to someone to help the person study at the TVET colleges or universities. This is a grant awarded to someone who needs financial support for his expenses in university or TVET colleges, including the payment of full tuition.

If you want to study in a university or college and can not afford the full tuition, bursaries are awarded to provide the necessary financial support. Similarly, bursaries are like scholarships that organizations or firms award to individuals across South Africa. This makes the full tuition affordable for students enrolling in the university or colleges. 

It is one of the biggest investments you can ever have. The cost of a university education can really be high. Therefore bursary gives individuals the chance to have access to good education. 

There are certain requirements that normally come with the awarding of a bursary. Either you complete a project or provide information that convinces the organisation that you need the necessary support. The requirements that come with the bursary differ accordingly. One unique thing about the bursary is that your overall academic performance should reflect accordingly.

The requirements and the documentation that the organisation requires for the bursary purposes is a benchmark used to get people to for the bursary. Bursaries are free money given to qualified individuals who have been enrolled in the university or TVET. The terms and conditions of a bursary are stated during the application process. These requirements tend to confirm if you can not afford tertiary education and still need support. You do not need to pay back the bursary; you only need to meet the necessary criteria throughout your study in the TVET colleges. 

List of NSFAS Bursary Alternatives
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There are a number of bursaries in South Africa. The government of Ghana is the largest bursary in South Africa. It anchors many organisations in terms of grants or funds to create bursary opportunities for individuals. 

Everyone knows NSFAS to be the largest organisation offering bursary in South Africa. This has to do with enrollment and the staff size within the various NSFAS offices. The national student financial aid scheme provides bursary opportunities for over 100,000 students.

If you are looking for funding and were rejected by NSFAS, you should know there are other bursary alternatives available for you. You should also know that there are other funding opportunities available which include Loans, grants, subsidies, endowments, stipends, financial aid, awards, and many more. 

There are also bursary categories that have to do with the field of study. The course one chooses to study in the university or TVET colleges can be categorised as a bursary. These categories of bursary include; Accounting Bursary, Commerce Bursary, Art Bursary, Computer science and IT bursary, education bursary, Engineering bursary, government bursary, general bursary, MBA bursary, postgraduate bursary, medical bursary, law bursary, science bursary, business management bursary and many more.

 NSFAS is not the only institution that offers bursaries. There are over 300 bursaries in South Africa, but we will be looking at a number of the top bursaries available. Obviously, the bursaries may not be compared to NSFAS, but they are other options that any individual seeking bursary can look out for. We will provide you with other Bursary alternatives to fund your education based on our research and a few queries. And in this article, we will share with you a list of NSFAS bursary alternatives available in South Africa that can fund your education, whether degree, postgraduate, or doctorate. 

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