When you’re starting a new year at school, the last thing on your mind is what you are going to do with yourself at the end of it. There are new books to buy, you’ll become engrossed in school and extra-curricular activities, and before you know it the year will have come, seen, and conquered you without a backward glance.
When you’re starting a new year at school, the last thing on your mind is what you are going to do with yourself at the end of it. There are new books to buy, you’ll become engrossed in school and extra-curricular activities, and before you know it the year will have come, seen, and conquered you without a backward glance.
This is quite normal, but if you are nearing your last year of school, it's time to consider how you are going to start working towards your future career. If you want to end up working in a profession that requires a qualification from a tertiary institution, there are bursaries and loans available and it could be worthwhile to start looking into these long before the applications are due.
Bursaries and loans can be acquired to fund studies at a university, college, technikon or other institution of your choice. If you can't pay for further education, and you excel in sport or academic subjects, you could be eligible to receive a bursary or study loan.
Most are available only to South African citizens, and various organisations offer assistance to people wanting to study at particular institutions, or towards specific professions, such as teaching or engineering.
To find out whether you are eligible, enquire at the institution's financial aid office, or ask your school's guidance counsellor where you can get the information. The Department of Education funds study loans through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme.
Through the scheme, the loans can be converted to partial bursaries. Initial loans range from R2 000 to R30 000 and if you pass all of your subjects you are discounted 40% of your study repayment. A number of companies in South Africa also award bursaries to promising students, and a contract bursary with a company will require you to work for the company after graduation.
That will also provide you with a job. Whether your future is mapped out for you, or you are still in denial about the fact that your time to prepare for life after school is running out, just remember that help is available if you know where to look. You have to think ahead to get ahead.
