Every year, South African companies, trusts and SETAs open their bursary programmes, and every year the same thing happens. Hundreds, sometimes thousands, of applications arrive by email. CVs, certified copies and results come in as attachments, some complete and many not. Someone has to open every one, check it against the requirements, chase missing documents and keep track of it all in a spreadsheet.
We have seen this from the other side for years. More than 480 000 learners have downloaded the UniApplyForMe app, and around 15 000 use it every day to find bursaries and track their applications. We know how hard it is for learners to apply, and we know how much work it is for funders to receive those applications.
So we built UniApplyForMe Bursaries, bursary management software for the organisations that fund and run bursary programmes.
What UniApplyForMe Bursaries does
UniApplyForMe Bursaries brings the whole bursary cycle into one place, from the first application to the final payment.
- Online bursary applications. Learners apply through a simple form with their documents attached, on their phone or computer. Every application arrives complete and in the same format.
- Automatic eligibility checks. Set your requirements, such as minimum marks or citizenship, and each application is checked as it comes in, so your team can focus on the learners who qualify.
- Review and shortlisting. Your team reviews applications together, adds notes and moves learners through each stage, with every decision recorded.
- Interviews. Hold live interviews, or ask learners to answer questions by video, audio or in writing, and score each answer on the same scorecard.
- Awards and agreements. Send award offers and have bursary agreements signed electronically, including by a parent or guardian when the learner is under 18.
- Tracking after the award. Request results and registration documents each year, see who is on track, and record renewal decisions.
- Payments and reports. Capture invoices from universities and residences, have every payment approved by a second person, and see spend by year, institution and category, ready for your audits and skills development reporting.
Your programme stays yours
UniApplyForMe Bursaries is software, not a bursary administration service. We do not select learners or manage bursaries on anyone's behalf. Your team, or the administrator you already work with, stays in control of every decision. Bursary administrators can use UniApplyForMe Bursaries to run the programmes they manage for their clients, each in its own secure space.
Built with learners in mind
Because UniApplyForMe Bursaries is connected to the UniApplyForMe app, learners can apply with details they have already filled in, track their application, and hear back clearly at every step. We designed every message learners receive to be clear and kind, whether the news is good or not.
Built to protect personal information
Bursary applications contain sensitive personal information, and protecting it is not optional. UniApplyForMe Bursaries was built to meet the requirements of the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA). Learners give their consent before their information is shared with a funder, every staff member signs in with two step verification, each person only sees what they need, bank details are protected, and every change is recorded. UniApplyForMe NPC is registered with the Information Regulator.
Join the founding funder pilot
We are inviting a small group of South African funders to be our founding funders. During the pilot, founding funders use UniApplyForMe Bursaries at no cost, in exchange for their feedback and a short case study.
If your organisation runs a bursary programme, or manages bursaries for others, we would love to hear from you. Apply to join the pilot or learn more about our bursary management software.
Looking for a bursary?
If you are a learner, UniApplyForMe Bursaries is not something you need to sign up for. Keep using the free UniApplyForMe app and our bursary listings to find bursaries that suit you. As more funders join, you will be able to apply for more bursaries directly, without emailing a single attachment.
