The income requirement to qualify for a bursary can vary depending on the specific bursary program and the organization or institution offering it. There is no fixed or standard income threshold that applies universally to all bursaries. Each bursary program sets its own eligibility criteria, including income requirements.
In general, bursaries are often intended to provide financial support to students who come from lower-income backgrounds and demonstrate financial need. The income threshold for qualification can vary significantly depending on factors such as the country, the organization or institution providing the bursary, and the specific criteria they have established.
To determine the income requirement for a particular bursary program, it is best to refer to the official guidelines and eligibility criteria provided by the organization offering the bursary. They will usually specify the income thresholds or financial need criteria that applicants must meet to qualify for the bursary. It is important to review the specific requirements of each bursary program you are interested in to determine if you meet their income criteria.
For a example, NSFAS has set these financial requirements for its applicants.
Applicants must ensure that they satisfy the following minimum entry criteria before applying:
- You must be a South African citizen
- You must be studying or intend on studying towards an undergraduate qualification in 2024
- You must be studying or intend on studying a public tertiary institution within South Africa (University or TVET College)
- You must NOT have completed any previous qualifications
- You must fall into at least 1 of these categories:
- 1) you are a SASSA grant recipient
- 2) you have a total combined household income of NOT more than R350 000 per annum
- 3) you are living with a disability AND have a total combined household income NOT more than R600 000 per annum
- 4) you started studying before 2018 and have total combined household income of NOT more than R122 000 per annum