The struggle for bursaries is real

For many students across the three campuses of the North-West University (NWU), the harsh reality of finding ways to finance their studies is a nightmare. 2022 kicked off on a sour note for some students as they were still in the process of looking for, or awaiting responses from bursary or loan applications, and for some, both.

One such student is Reitumeitsi Mooki*, an NWU postgraduate student in journalism and media studies. She said her applications for two out of three bursaries were declined. She added that only the NWU honours bursary, that covers the registration fee and some modules, accepted her application. “Getting by every month has just been one of the challenges I’ve been facing,” said Mooki. She also added, “I’m still looking for other bursaries and I have family and friends that helps me now and then with finances”.

Students have struggled with bursaries in previous years also. Nqobile Mashazi (24), an NWU postgraduate alumna in sociology, said the biggest challenge for her was finding ways to pay her fees so she could continue with her studies. “In my first year, my mother had to resort to applying for a loan in order to pay for the study fees and accommodation, as well as for me to have food to eat. It was the same at the start of my second year in university,” said Mashazi. 

Many students apply for various bursaries in the hope that they will be eligible and therefore have no worries about their study fees. However, many students do not find solutions. Mashazi said she had applied for three or four bursaries. She received only one response.

Siyabonga Masango (22), an NWU postgraduate alumnus in labour relations management, said he had some initial issues with the National Research Foundation (NRF). “While I had to wait for my bursary to clear me out, it was quite difficult to sustain myself as I was solely and fully dependent on my then-alive grandmother.  All of this had an overwhelming effect on my academic life.”

Masango also stated that he had received responses from two out of his four bursary applications, “while the rest had been quiet”.

According to Marelize de Lange, the director of student finances and financial related systems for the NWU, the university offers various bursaries that eligible students can apply for before the closing dates. These include: “academic merit bursaries, leadership and arts and cultural bursaries, physical disability bursaries, orphan and foster-care bursaries, family discount bursaries, sports bursaries, postgraduate bursaries for honours, masters and doctoral students and postgraduate faculty bursaries (administered by the faculties).”

When asked how many students the NWU has assisted this year to finance their studies, De Lange said, “The NWU is still in the process to finalise the registration process”. 

*Mooki is a journalist at threestreamsmedia.