In general, a bursary is intended to provide financial assistance to cover specific educational expenses such as tuition fees, books, accommodation, or other related costs. The primary purpose of a bursary is to support a student’s education and alleviate the financial burden associated with their studies.
While some bursaries may include additional allowances or stipends to cover living expenses or pocket money, this is not always the case. The availability of pocket money or additional financial support beyond the specified educational expenses varies depending on the bursary program and the organization offering it.
When researching and applying for bursaries, it is essential to carefully review the details provided by the bursary provider. They will typically outline what expenses the bursary covers and any additional allowances or stipends included, if applicable. If pocket money or living allowances are not mentioned, it is likely that the bursary is primarily focused on covering educational expenses rather than providing additional financial support for day-to-day expenses.
For a example NSFAS provides its successful applicants with the following:
TVET students will receive the following funding:
- Accommodation of no more than R24 000 per year in an urban area/ no more than R18 900 per year in a peri-urban area/ no more than R15 750 per year in a rural area
- Transport of no more than R7 350 per year
- Incidental/ personal care allowance of no more than R2 900 per year