SAScholar, a Web-based app designed by students to help make it easier for other scholars to find bursaries, has been unveiled.
The app was launched on Monday and within six hours, 100 users had already signed up for the service. It was developed by students who understand the process of finding bursaries is “wearisome and confusing”, states the Web site. The app was designed to make the process easier, with all bursaries and scholarships listed in one, easy-to-navigate place.
The app matches people to funding opportunities, so that students do not have to search for these openings themselves. The service is free and all that is required is an e-mail address and basic personal information to sign up.
Students fill in the field they are interested in getting funding for and at what level they are studying. The app will then list all available bursaries that match the student’s particulars.
The total value of all the funding opportunities available on the app is worth more than R1 billion, according to student and SAScholar operations manager Tafadzwa Kachara.
Once a bursary is saved, students will receive e-mail notifications when the closing date of the bursary is approaching.
There are no international bursaries on the app yet; this option will come with future updates.