> What is the difference between a scholarship & a bursary?
The funds offered were traditionally called bursaries due to the emphasis on financial need, but in this context the two words are now interchangeable.
> I have received other scholarships or awards. Am I eligible to apply for AFUW-SA scholarships?
Yes, you may apply if you have received other awards or scholarships.
> Do I have to be a member of AFUW in order to apply for these bursaries?
> Where can I get advice about completing my application?
This website and the scholarship application forms should provide you with all the information you need. Should you require further assistance with the preparation of your application, we encourage you to contact your university’s Scholarship Office.
> What if I can’t gather all material for my application before the closing date?
In some cases you may be unable to obtain official documentation, such as a copy of enrolment confirmation, or extension of a visa, in time to send with your application. In these cases you must submit the application with all available documentation and a list of material missing from your application by the closing date. These missing items must be submitted as soon as possible. If the missing material has not been received by the time the selection committees meet to decide on the winners (any time between early May and early June) you will not be eligible to win a bursary.
> What is a Certified Copy?
Take a photocopy and the original document to be certified to a Police Station, Post Office, University Administration or other authorised person equivalent to a Justice of the Peace. They will stamp and sign every page of the copy to certify that it is identical to the original. Only one certified copy is required. Please note that original documents will not be returned. Click here for a further list of authorised persons.
> How are the winners decided?
Applications are first screened by the bursary administrators to ensure that all requirements are met. Complete applications are then submitted to selection panels of four academically-qualified examiners who assess the applications against the selection criteria and recommend winners to the trustees of The AFUW-SA Inc. Trust Fund.
> When will I know the outcome of my application?
Receipt of all applications will be acknowledged by letter. In the normal course of events the successful applicants will be notified by the last day of June in the year of the award. Subsequently, all applicants will be advised of the outcome of their application by letter. The list of winners is posted on this website in early July. The decision of the selection committee will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
> What if I need the money before the bursaries are awarded?
The bursaries are awarded by the end of June and are to be spent by the end of June in the following year. In some cases, you may need to spend money for an important purpose (eg. to go on a research trip, purchase equipment) prior to the bursaries being awarded in June. This need not deter you from applying for a bursary. Successful applicants have previously used the bursary to repay loans they took out in order to fund such expenditure. However, you should be aware that the bursary selection process is very competitive, so you should not assume that your application will be successful when you commit to such expenditure.
> Where can I find out about other AFUW scholarships?
Scholarships are also awarded by other AFUW State and Territory Associations and IFUW and other national associations affiliated with the IFUW. You may need to be a member of AFUW or IFUW in order to apply for bursaries offered by other state or territory organisations of AFUW and internationally by IFUW.