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11 August 2023

4 ways to pay your way through University

By Nicky Bartlett

4 ways to pay your way through University

There is nothing more depressing and demoralising when you want to further your education, only to realise you don't actually have the resources to do it. Of course you could take a gap year to work and save, but there are ways that you can pay your way through university, without delaying it.

 

1. Apply for funding

 

Believe it or not, but you will find that there is a lot of funding on offer for students to further their education. You just need to know where to look for the following:

Scholarships and bursaries: Scholarships and bursaries are often recommended as a smart way to pay for education because it’s basically free money!

These are two types of financial help given out by universities and academic departments based on need and merit, that normally don't need repayment. A scholarship is a financial award given to a student in recognition of their outstanding performance either in academics or on the sports field. A bursary is a financial award given to a student based on their level of financial need.

If you know which university you want to go to, you can contact their student advisor office or you can visit http://eduweb.partnerprod.co.za/Suppliers/Bursaries to view our list of available bursaries.

Government funding: The South African government is made up of several departments, such as Basic Education, Health, Home Affairs, Labour, Public Works, Trade and Industry, and more. Many of these departments offer bursaries for studies relating to their industry.

Students who meet the minimal admission requirements listed below are typically qualified to apply for these bursaries, however please note that each bursary award may have different eligibility requirements:

• You must be a citizen of South Africa
• You must either be a current Matric student who has received good academic results thus far OR a Matric graduate who received good academic results
• You need to be enrolled in classes or accepted to a certain programme of study (usually skill shortage fields)

National Student Financial Aid Scheme funding: A student loan and bursary programme called NSFAS is run and sponsored by the Department of Higher Education and Training in South Africa.

The money is used to pay for things like tuition, books, accommodation, meals, and travel expenses. After graduating from college or university and beginning a stable job with a minimum annual wage of R30,000, NSFAS loans must be repaid. Students at TVET Colleges are not obligated to repay their loans; instead, they are treated as bursaries.

Private organisations: There are quite a few companies in South Africa that offer scholarships based on any number of factors. In order to get these awards, students typically need to "earn back" the bursary money by accepting a job, once they graduate, with the organisation who funded them.

2. Appeal to your employer

If you already have a job and think obtaining a graduate degree will benefit your company, then consider inquiring about tuition reimbursement or assistance with your Manager or Human Resources  Department. This means your company will pay a portion of the costs towards your education, but remember that in exchange for tuition reimbursement, a company may want you to commit to a certain amount of years with them.

 

Similarly, you could also approach your employer about helping you to pay off your student loan. 

 

3. Study or work parttime

Consider splitting your time between work and studying. You can either work fulltime and study after hours, or visa versa. It all depends on your financial needs and what you are studying.

These are some of your options:

Internships: You can get practical experience and have the freedom to balance your course load by working as an intern in the industry that you are hoping to work in, after graduation. Additionally, internships can provide you with the knowledge and connections you need to find employment in the future.

Work study: Investigate opportunities where you can be a working student. This means that part of your financial package includes the option to further your studies in the same field that you were hired for.  You could also apply for a casual job like waitering at night so that you can study and attend classes during the day.

Teaching and research assistants: Some universities have a need for teaching or research assistants. Since these jobs are usually created with students in mind, they might provide you with the necessary flexibility to enable you to concentrate on your studies. Plus, you will already be on campus!

 

4. Investigate online degrees

 

Even though they are often provided by the same university, studying a degree online may be less expensive than studying at the physical institution. Additionally, continuing to work while you are enrolled may be simpler if you study online.

 

Other benefits of online studies include schedule flexibility and access to courses at institutions that are far away. Financial aid may be accepted and provided by online institutions as well.

 

View a list of bursaries that eduweb.africa has put together just for you!

http://eduweb.partnerprod.co.za/Suppliers/Bursaries

 

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