Bursary

A bursary is a form of financial assistance awarded to students to help meet education-related costs. Unlike loans, bursaries do not have to be repaid, though some may be contingent on maintaining certain conditions. The term is commonly used in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and is often associated with grants or need-based awards.

Funding for bursaries comes from universities and colleges, government bodies, charities, and private donors. Some bursaries are targeted toward students entering particular programs, pursuing specific careers, or belonging to designated groups, such as low-income households, mature students, or ethnic minorities. Eligibility typically requires enrollment in an approved degree or diploma program and evidence of financial need, which may involve income data, household circumstances, or demonstrated hardship. Residency or nationality requirements can also apply in some programs.

Applications for bursaries usually involve providing financial information, and sometimes a budget, personal statement, or letters of support. Some awards are allocated automatically from existing records; others require a separate application with supporting documents. Awards are often disbursed directly to the student or to the institution to cover tuition and living costs, and may be one-time or renewable for multiple years, subject to ongoing eligibility and satisfactory academic progress.

Impact and limitations: bursaries can reduce financial barriers and enable continued study, particularly for students from low-income backgrounds. They are typically non-repayable and do not require work commitments, unlike loans. However, bursaries may be limited in amount, tightly targeted, or highly competitive, and definitions and administration vary by institution and country.

In practice, the term is most closely associated with non-repayable, need-based awards in the UK and other Commonwealth countries, while similar funds in North America are more often labeled as grants or need-based scholarships.