Eskom bursaries for South African students are offered by the Eskom company which is a major provider of power in South Africa. Their energy portfolio ranges from traditional energy systems using natural gas or coal to more non-traditional methods such as nuclear and solar energy generation. Because of their heavy interest in electrical systems it should come as no surprise to bursary seekers that bursaries at Eskom are largely focused on those students intent on finding careers in engineering, though they also accept a limited number of applicants studying accounting, information systems and various sciences such as geohydrology.
Like many private companies in South Africa offering bursary program students who receive an award from an Eskom bursary will be expected to work with the company after graduation until their award amount is roughly paid off. As this is a fairly normal standard amongst South African bursary programs, students should be willing to accept this if they are serious about looking for financial aid. In part because of the amount of money companies like Eskom give out through their bursary programs, working after graduation is really not a lot to ask for in return. While Eskom reserves the right to end an awardees employment after their bursary obligations are repaid through time worked, it does offer a great opportunity for students to build up their resumes in case they must enter the work force.
The Eskom bursary application form is fairly long compared to other bursary schemes, but the extra requirements are in many ways a plus because they allow the student to further expound on their interests creating the potential for a strong application through activity outside of academics.
Eligibility for the Eskom bursary is fairly generic with respect to other major South African bursary programs. Students must be South African citizens graduating from a school inside of the country. Their academic marks must be good with matriculation scores in math, science and English at no lower than the C level. Interested students must have a sincere passion for one of the eligible fields as listed above and they must be entering their first year of college at an accredited South African university.
The Eskom bursary covers all university and related fees such as exams and registration. Further the program also pays for living expenses and meals while also providing monetary support for books and basic spending money. Applicants must have all relevant material submitted no later than August 31 for each academic year. Because of the high amount of money the program offers for financial aid, students should be prepared for heavy competition. The application itself is a great place to talk skills and interests up, so be sure to review it carefully while ensuring the information provided is the best available.
Apart from going over the normal application requirements such as scores or citizenship status, the bursaries at Eskom application form have a decent space for more information regarding an applicant’s life. There is an allotted space for work history, giving students an opportunity to outline their dedication to various employers. Later in the application a section for interests and hobbies will allow a student to further detail their life, indicating to the selection committee honest passions for the field they have chosen. Questions relating to outstanding achievements should be used to indicate community work or academic awards. Cultural activities is a great place to list clubs students have participated in or volunteer experiences they have had in their local community. The hobbies section will certainly provide a moment for those who have picked up amateur electronics to show their real interest in engineering.
Finally, towards the end of the application, students will be able to describe why they are so interested in their chosen field. Use all of these available spaces wisely as they are relatively limited in room. List only those things which indicate your passions, interests or other factors which may make a selection committee look at your application more favorably. This is how to increase your chances of being awarded Eskom bursaries from South Africa.
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