Sasol bursaries are desired by many students today but who is Sasol and how do you really get a Sasol bursary? Sasol is a company in South Africa with operations based around the world. They are considered to be one of the best work environments in the region, and the Sasol Bursary is hotly sought after by many students entering college or returning for post graduate education. Their work largely deals with chemicals, energy and fuel, and as such they employ a lot of people with degrees in engineering, science and commerce. It should not be surprising then, that bursaries at Sasol are designed entirely around students entering these fields, and is available only to those students who have shown strong academic marks in math, science and English. All applicants applying before the end of their Grade 12 year who do not maintain good marks either after application or after being awarded the Sasol Bursary will lose their financial aid.
Bursaries at Sasol offer an amazing opportunity to anybody who is accepted into the program. It pays 100% of all university related fees, room and board, three meals a day and then goes a step further by paying additional money for books and basic living expenses. According to Sasol’s own reporting, they receive upwards of 5000 applications every year and only accept somewhere between 80 to 100 applicants to interview, then even fewer get access to the awards. Sasol carefully decides how many applicants they can accept to the program based on business demand, and as a result the vast majority of applicants will normally be turned away. Because of the high amount of financial aid which the Sasol Bursary provides for, every applicant should be aware that they must put their best foot forward. Amongst the application process are questions regarding current studies and interests which will indicate to the selection committee viability of applicants in particular fields, and certainly their questions regarding these achievements will weigh heavily in their decisions.
Crafting a highly tailored personal letter for the “who are you” section of their Sascol bursaries application will be important in setting yourself apart. Write yourself up and do not skimp on those things which really set define your character. What are your interests and passions? Why are you seeking an education in science, engineering or commerce? As Sasol is a business, they are going to be looking for a return on their investment – why would you be a good choice for their bursary? Consider your achievements in life and make sure you include them in the appropriate section. In this situation, quantity is not necessarily better than quality, so you will want to be sure that your achievements are meaningful with regards to what they are looking for in candidates. Talk about science competitions you have entered, or perhaps engineering projects you have been involved in. The application is your only chance to introduce yourself to the selection committee before they make their interview decisions, so it is important to start early in planning to achieve the Sasol Bursary so that your record reflects a high degree of personal integrity.
All applications for the 2011/12 Sasol bursaries academic year must be submitted by February 28, 2011. Though Sasol prefers the application be completed online, those who are not able to access to Internet readily should contact the Sasol help hotline at 086 010 6235 for assistance in filing their application. All applicants who have been selected for interviews will be notified by March 2011, so the wait between submission and notification is not long at all.
The competitiveness of the bursaries at Sasol cannot be highlighted enough, so applicants should be sure to articulate their interests and academic goals clearly. Postgraduate students interested in getting the Sasol Bursary should review the criteria carefully as the fields which they support are much more specific than the undergraduate opportunities.
*NHS bursaries for health studies.