Bursary Vs Scholarship: Definitions, Types and Benefits
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Difference between a Scholarship and a Bursary: Studying abroad comes with a very high cost which some students cannot afford by themselves. Hence, scholarships, grants and bursaries are provided to selected students to ease their burden so that they can actively focus on their studies.
Both bursaries and scholarships are amounts of money granted to students to complete their higher education abroad. These amounts are non-repayable provided under different conditions and follow different selection parameters. This way, both scholarships and bursaries are similar and dissimilar in some extent.
This article contains in-depth details on the differences between the scholarships and bursaries. We will also cover similar topics such as bursary vs. scholarship vs. grant, types of scholarships and bursaries and how bursaries work. But first, we will read about what are scholarships and bursaries.
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Also Read: Scholarship Interview Questions with Answers to Study Abroad
What is a Scholarship?
Scholarships are financial aid awarded to students with proven extraordinary academic performance. Typically offered either by a college/university, government or external organisations, the scholarship amounts are non-repayable which means that you do not have to repay any amount of scholarship upon the completion of your studies.
Types of Scholarships
Based on the amount of funds provided, there are two types of scholarships - partially-funded and fully-funded scholarships. The partially funded scholarships provide financial aid towards the cost of tuition of students and other expenses of their education, such as books and other miscellaneous costs. The funds awarded toward the tuition fee may just be sufficient to cover the full tuition fee or some parts of it, it depends entirely on the scholarship’s policies and the awarding committee.
The fully-funded scholarships along with covering the complete tuition fees of the students also provide funds towards the living expenses of students.
Check the complete list of study-abroad scholarships here.
What is a Bursary and How Does it Work?
“What does a bursary mean?” remains a common question among students willing to pursue their higher education abroad. A bursary is any financial aid provided to students who would otherwise not be able to support the cost of their education.
Bursaries are non-repayable and are allocated based on the financial need and/or merit of the applicant. Just like some full-funded scholarships, a bursary covers the living expenses, cost of studying and miscellaneous costs.
The bursaries are awarded either by the government, universities/colleges or private organisations to support the students from economically weaker sections.
Difference Between Scholarship and Bursary
The differences between bursary and scholarship are given below.
| Bursary Vs Scholarship |
||
|---|---|---|
| Particulars |
Scholarships |
Bursaries |
| Payment |
The scholarship fund is auto-deducted for the payment of tuition fees. |
Funds are provided enough to cover the educational costs or one-time payments. |
| Other Benefits |
May provide discounts on certain one-time payments or living expenses. |
No benefits or discounts are provided. Enough funds are provided to cover the whole cost of studying and associated costs of living. |
| Nature |
Competitive |
Non-competitive, often called as “awards” |
| Offering Body |
colleges/ universities, government bodies, external organisations |
colleges/ universities, government bodies, external organisations |
| Types |
|
|
| Courses |
UG, PG, PhD and Professional Courses |
UG, PG, PhD and Professional Courses |
| Eligibility Criteria |
Academic Excellence |
Proven Financial Need and/or Merit basis |
| Amount |
Varies according to the type of scholarship |
Covers the studying and living costs of studying abroad |
| Duration |
Varies, can last from a year to the entire length of your program. |
Initially for a short period (6 months to a year or for a semester), can be renewed if the financial need remains. |
| Repayable/Non-repayable |
Non-repayable |
Non-repayable |
| Application Mode |
By direct/indirect application through online official scholarship and university portals. |
By direct/indirect application through online official bursary portals. |
Also Read: Fully-Funded Scholarships in Ireland
This was all about bursary vs scholarship. If you have any doubts, feel free to drop your queries in the comments below.
Bursary Vs Scholarship FAQs
Q. What is the difference between bursary vs. scholarship vs. grant?
A. The differences between bursary, scholarship and grant on the basis of award and the requirement for the repayment of award are given below.
| Type of Financial Aid |
Basis for Award |
Repayment Required |
|---|---|---|
| Bursary |
Financial need |
No |
| Scholarship |
Merit (academic achievement, skills) or financial need, or both |
No |
| Grant |
Specific purpose (research, study abroad program) |
Usually no, but depends on the grant |
Q. Who is eligible to get a bursary to study abroad?
A. Bursaries for studying abroad are typically awarded based on financial need. This means that the main factor in determining eligibility is your ability to demonstrate that you would not be able to afford the study abroad program without financial assistance.
Below are some general points of eligibility for getting a bursary to study abroad:
- Students with limited financial means: This includes students from low-income families or those who do not have access to family support for funding their studies abroad.
- Students with high program costs: Even students from middle-income backgrounds might be eligible if the specific study abroad program has high costs associated with tuition, living expenses, or travel.
- Students with documented financial hardship: Some bursary programs might consider factors like unexpected medical bills, dependent care costs, or other circumstances that create financial strain.
Q. Is a bursary meant to be paid back?
A. No, unlike student loans, a bursary is typically not meant to be paid back. Bursaries are a form of financial aid awarded based on financial need to help students cover the costs of education, including studying abroad. Since their purpose is to bridge the financial gap, they function differently from student loans.
Q. How to apply for a bursary for college?
A. Below are the steps to get a bursary to fund your study abroad dream:
- Search for a suitable bursary program, read about the funding body and the benefits and terms of conditions involved.
- Check your eligibility. Bursary awarding bodies describe the maximum amount of funds that must be with the applicant to prove their inability to fund their own education.
- Prepare a strong application, gather the required documents and craft a compelling SOP.
- Submit your application before the deadline.
Q. What are the differences between scholarships, bursaries and awards?
A. Scholarships and bursaries are both non-repayable. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic performance such as by analysing the applicant’s grades or participation in some co-curricular or extra-curricular activities.
However, bursaries are allocated to one based on their financial needs. Academic grades and achievements are not the deciding parameters when deciding whom to grant a bursary.
Awards on the other hand are given on the basis of merit (academic performance) and financial need of a student.
Q: Is university of West of Scotland good for international students?
The University of the West of Scotland has five modern and diverse campuses in United Kingdom. The University has welcomed more than 3,000 international students which are representing 1/3 of the globe. They also have 130 European partners who are actively in global study and exchange options through the Commonwealth universities programmes. The University also offers study abroad opportunities for UWS who are eligible for the same and also have more than 20 transnational education partners worldwide which helps them deliver UWS Bachelors and Masters Degrees around the world.
Q: How can I get admission in the University of Manchester?
The application process at the University of Manchester may vary depending on the course and level of study. However, here is the application process for UG and PG courses:
The Undergraduate Application Process:
Step 1: You can apply through the UCAS common application portal.
Step 2: Go to the website and select the course you are interested in.
Step 3: Ensure you meet the Entry requirements (Academic qualifications, English proficiency, etc.
Step 4: Once you decide on the course, submit documents such as SOP, Transcripts and personal statements.
Check out: tips to improve your SOP.
Step 5: You can track the application's progress through your given credentials by UCAS.
Step 6: Once the applicant submits the application to UCAS, it forwards to the University, and the admission teams carefully analyse the application document.
Step 7: The university will send you an offer letter once selected. Hence keep checking your UCAS portal for your application status.
The Postgraduate application process:
Step 1: Select the postgraduate course you are interested in from the University of Manchester.\
Step 2: Ensure you meet the entry requirements for the chosen program, as they vary depending on the course.
Step 3: Complete the online application by providing your personal information.
Step 4: Upload the required documents, such as Academic transcripts and proof of English language proficiency ( TOEFL/ IELTS). experience in your fields and references (depending on the course). You also may require Two LORs depending on the course.
To make your admission better, check out the following: How Admission Officers Evaluate your application.
Step 5: If your application is successful, you will receive an offer from the University of Manchester.
Q: Does the University of Essex require IELTS?
International students whose native language is not English must meet the University of Essex English language requirements to get admission. The university accepts IELTS scores as proof of English language proficiency. Mentioned below are the IELTS scores required for UG and PG admission at the university:
English Language Test | Score |
|---|---|
IELTS | Overall score of 5.5 to 8.0 with minimum of 5.5 to 7.5 in each section |
The university also accepts the score of other English language tests such as TOEFL and PTE for admission to undergraduate and graduate programs:
English Language Test | Score |
TOEFL iBT | Overall score of 72 to 114 |
PTE | Overall score of 59 to 84 with minimum of 59 to 80 in each section |
Also read: Required IELTS Score for UK Universities
Q: How to prepare for UK 10th board exam 2025?
Those who are preparing for the UK Class 10 exam 2025 are recommended to follow the tips below.
- Know the exam pattern
- Make a proper time table as per the syllabus
- Solve previous year question papers
- Make short notes of important formulas and theorems
- Revise regularly
- Figure out weaker areas and learn them well
With proper planning and hard work, students can easily clear the UK 10th board exam.
Q: What is University of Wales, Trinity Saint famous for?
University of Wales, Trinity Saint (UWTSD) was founded in 2010, is a public institution for higher education and research at multiple locations. It was set up under the 1828 royal charter of Lampeter, the institution was the result of the merger between Trinity University College and the University of Wales. The institution merged with the Swansea Metropolitan University in 2013.
- Top Ranked University: The UWTSD is not ranked by any major ranking body, however as per the university ranking given on the official website of the university, it is ranked among:
- #1st in Wales and UK Top 5 Film Production and Photography
- #1st in Wales and UK Top 5 Fashion and Textiles
- #1st in Wales and UK Top 20 Graphic Design
- #1st in Wales and UK Top 5 Education
- #1st in Wales and UK Top 20 Sports Science
- #1st in Wales and UK Top 20 Mechanical Engineering
- #1st in Wales for Fine Arts
- Variety of Courses: UWTSD offers more than 300 programs at various levels including undergraduate, postgraduate degrees as well as multiple online courses.
- Highly distinguished and learned faculties: the faculty at UWTSD is highly learned and distinguished which enables students to be the best in their field of study.
- High Placements: According to Graduate Outcome data 2019-2020 quoted by the UWTSD, more than 95% of its graduates were found to be employed within 15 Months of graduation. The average salary of a graduate is not explicitly released by UWTSD, however, as per some unofficial sources the average salary of the graduates of UWTSD is approximately INR 30-35L. with the highest salary being reported as high as INR 66.5L for jobs in Financial Services.
Q: Why indian students choose to study at Hult International Business School - UK?
Indian students choose to study at Hult International Business School in the UK for several reasons, including its highly ranked programs, global outlook, and career support. Hult offers a range of full-time master’s degrees, immersive bachelor's programs, and MBA options that prepare students to excel in the global job market. The school is the largest and top-ranked global business school, providing students with an incomparable universal outlook. Additionally, Hult's focus on experiential learning, extensive career support, and the opportunity to study at multiple campuses around the world are attractive to Indian students seeking a global business education. Furthermore, the school's emphasis on innovation and meeting the needs of students and employers may also contribute to its appeal to Indian students
Q: What rank is Wolverhampton University in UK?
The University of Wolverhampton is one of the best universities in the United Kingdom. The university is consistently ranked among the best universities nationally and globally. For nearly 200 years, the University of Wolverhampton has been consistently providing a quality of education to students and producing highly skilled graduates. The national rankings of the University of Wolverhampton are given below:
| Ranking Body | Ranking |
|---|---|
| The Guardian University Guide 2024 | #101 |
| The Complete University Guide 2024 | #117 |
Q: How to download UK Board 12th date sheet 2024?
Following are the steps to download the UK 12th date sheet 2024.
- Open the Uttarakhand Board's official website at ubse.uk.gov.in
- Click on 'Examination Scheme' available on the homepage
- A new window will appear on the screen containing a link of the UK Board 12th date sheet 2024
- Click the link and download the Uttarakhand 12th date sheet 2024
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