Social Work Bursaries for the future Social Worker

Consider social work as a future career and use social worker bursaries to help pay for your college education. Here’s why. Social work is a category that generally attracts students of a passionate disposition. Unfortunately there never seems to be enough people interested in entering this field, and as such several social worker bursary programs have been established in an attempt to encourage students to end up in social work as a career. There are programs offered through a number of social work bursaries which will help pay for a good deal of a student’s education and are often offered nationally through government bursaries.

Various social work bursary programs are going to have different standards of eligibility, but getting access to the offered financial support is normally fairly simple if you are a citizen of the country and have the passion to enter the field. In the United Kingdom, the NHS Social Work Bursary and the Step Up to Social Work program are two great places to start looking.

Multiple bursary programs are offered in Canada depending on what province you reside in and what college you are attending, so it’s always best to start looking at your local bursary office. South Africa’s National Department of Social Department offers bursaries for social work to those students who demonstrate financial need and is definitely a first stop for students in that country.

The United Kingdom offers several social worker bursaries relevant to those students intending to wind up in the social work profession. Two of their larger ones are offered by the National Health Service (NHS) and the Children’s Workforce Development Council (CWDC). The National Health Service offers a bursary program independent of financial need for legal residents of the country. This social work bursary offers 575 pounds for full time undergraduates and 862.50 pounds for full time graduates students. This amount decreases for students who are enrolling part time in eligible courses. Students are allowed to use the award in any manner they deem necessary, making this a useful bursary award for students who need to fill a gap between funding for school and other specific need. The deadline for this social work bursary is March 31, 2011.

Advancing students looking for massive funding may want to look into the CWDC Step Up to Social Work bursary which is aimed at giving aid to those seeking a Masters degree in the field. Qualifying for this program requires students to have previous experience working with families and children, providing 15,000 pounds for educational advancement in social work. Awards for the 2010/11 academic year have already been issued, but students interested in beginning their classes in September 2011 should keep their eyes on the CWDC website for the next year’s deadline.

Canada, which separates their bursary programs by province, has a large number of potential social work bursaries available for students depending on their locale. For instance, Ryerson University in Ontario offers a $1,000 social work bursary for students attending that school. Students attending Ryerson automatically apply for this SW bursary when filling out their bursary application forms while preparing to begin school. It requires good grades and proof of financial need for residents of Ontario attending Ryerson. It is available for students in their second or third year of undergraduate education.

Students in South Africa should start their social work bursary search with the National Department of Social Development which offers a program covering 100% of tuition, meals, accommodations, registration and the occasional need for books. Applicants must be South African citizens who have passed their matric examinations and are preparing to join or are already in a social work program. Any student receiving this bursary is required to work for the National Department of Social Development for the same number of years for which they were sponsored by the group. Applications must be submitted before October 31 of 2011.

As one can easily see, looking for and finding social work bursaries is not very difficult, and there are an exceptional number of programs available to fund entirely or part of a future social worker’s education.

Teaching Bursaries for future Teachers

34 thoughts on “Social Work Bursaries for the future Social Worker”

    1. dineo,

      you must apply to any bursary you see before you can receive a bursary. I would talk to the FinAids office at u.j m to see what student aid options you have. there may be other programs which you qualify for and don’t know about it.

    1. mofenyi,

      apply to any and all social work bursaries you run across.Have you visited your FinAids office to see what latest social worker bursary programs they are offering now?

  1. I am completing my Diploma in Youth Development this year in UNISA.my other interest is in Social Work,so i have already have two modules registered as NDP modules in Social Work in UNISA.please help me to obtain bursary to further my education, or to find a job.i am willing to do any job available.

  2. I am the Skills Development manager at Ngwathe Local Municipality. I need information about the Social Workers’ bursaries. The unemployed youth is interested in registering for the course.Kindly send me the forms so that I distribute them around our municipality

    1. Phindiwe,

      go to the links in the article which takes you to the social work bursary and see how to apply. Many bursaries you may have to apply online. Every bursary sponsor handles this differently – but most you can apply online.

  3. i am zanele am 22yrs old. i am registered as a social worker at unisa please help me with the busary i always dream to help my community, am from the rural area.

    1. zanele,

      you must apply to them with an application to see if you are eligible first. Go directly to the bursary sponsors website to apply to anyone you’re a good fit for. Apply first to government bursaries.

  4. Hi! I have a passion 4 Social Work!! But the sad thing is i just saw about the bursary nw. Any information about the next application date for the Social Work bursary?

  5. Hi, my name is andiswa i have an innate desire of helping people esp. children so my career is social working and i realy need a bursary. I really need help!!!!! and i want to study social working. i don’t even know where to start looking for one…. please e.mail me.

    yours in help

    ANDY

  6. im a student @ ukzn howard collage i need a bursary for social worker but my problem is that i dont no who to speak to and where to go and get help

  7. Hi.i wana study social work at unisa this year,but im clueless of how am i gonna pay for my studies

  8. greetings i’m bonga nhlapo currently studying at university of zululand doing b.social work a 4 years course student no 201123425. i don’t have a person who can assist me financial to complete the degree therefore i’m in needy for a bursary as i’m from the limited means(poor) family backround i applied several times to department of social development in mpumalanga that is my province but they keep on promicing since 2010 if i call them they have lot of stories. anyone can help me i’m so ineedy.

  9. I passed my matric in 2009 and since from then i havent studied or gaind any education,im certain that if i just can get a push or get a simple start in terms of funding 2 study i will make the efort worth it.im in need of a bursary to study any studies in social sciences.please help m in al way posible because another year in home would be a waste.

  10. hey im in matric i want busaries offered in social work and advice on the best university i can study at…big ups to the people studying social work lets make the world a better place to live in

  11. My name is antoinette I alway wanted 2 study social worker course but without any help financially I am in pretoria nd I need advice what can I do.

    1. antoinette,

      you must apply to bursaries to see if you qualify for them. We do not offer direct bursary programs but write about those who do. I recommend that you talk with the FinAids manager at the college you attend to see what specific student aid programs you may be eligible for. Your government bursary programs would be a good to look into because most governments offer bursaries for students studying social work.

  12. I would love to apply for bursary for social work, im a unisa student. I failed maths so i was asking that are the chances of get it?

    1. Galeboe,

      you must apply to bursaries to see if you qualify for them. We do not offer direct bursary programs but write about those who do. I recommend that you talk with the FinAids manager at the college you attend to see what specific student aid programs you may be eligible for.

  13. Hi am currently employed as Auxiliary Social worker in North West .My qualifications are Grade 12 , NQF level 4 ,registerd with council.I want to further my studies next year 2013 to have the Degree in Social work .Do i qualify for bursary for part time?

    1. keabetswe,

      you must ask each bursary sponsor in which you apply to, that question. You must apply to bursaries to see if you qualify for them. Go directly to the bursary sponsors website to apply. We do not offer direct bursary programs but write about those who do. I recommend that you talk with the FinAids manager at the college you attend to see what specific student aid programs you may be eligible for

  14. Hi, im Yandiswa , recently staying in johannesburg. Next year i want to study social work but i dont have money, so im looking for a bursary but i dont know where to start. Plz help. Or send me info to yandiengqandu@hotmail.com

    1. Yandiswa,

      the best place to start looking for a college bursary is searching in your government website for them. They are easy to apply to and are need based. This can be done over the internet and you may even apply to them online too. Also visit a college and speak to the FinAids office to see what student aid programs you can apply to with a good chance at getting. They can assist you on this. We do not provide bursary programs her. We just write about them.

  15. Lisa is my name.
    I have B. Social Work degree (honours) and I am currently applying to do Masters next year. I am desperately looking for a bursary to further my studies. Can I get financial assistance in this regard? Pls help.
    I look forward to hear from you.

    1. Lisa,

      we do not offer bursaries but only write about some really good bursary programs. You would have to apply directly to the bursary sponsor’s website to see if you qualify for them.

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