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Bursaries: get the money flow right before February
Who pays what, when, and the evidence your verification file needs.
Bursary points are won or lost on paperwork, and the paperwork follows the money. Under the generic Codes, bursaries for Black students at higher education institutions count towards a target of 2.5% of your leviable amount (broadly, the payroll you pay the skills levy on), worth 4 points. QSE scorecards and sector codes may set different targets. To claim the points, your file has to show what was paid, to whom and for which qualification.
Two things decide whether that file holds up. The first is the terms of the bursary. Spend on a recoverable or conditional bursary is not recognised, unless the only conditions are that the student completes the studies on time, or works back for no longer than the study period. Check your bursary agreements against that before the year starts, not when the agency reads them.
The second is timing. Universities register students for the new academic year early in the year, so confirm your bursary holders, their qualifications and your budget before registration opens.
How we structure the payments
When we run a bursary programme for you, we keep each kind of payment on its own path, so that every rand can be matched to a student and a document:
- Tuition and university residence fees go from you directly to each university. They never pass through us.
- Stipends, private accommodation and book allowances come from a once-off contribution you pay to BS Vision in advance. We pay them out and record every payment per student.
- Extras such as a private tutor, a laptop or a cellphone are agreed upfront and reported the same way.
If you are planning bursaries for the coming year, tell us the qualifications and budget you have in mind.
Sources
Talk to BS Vision. We are B-BBEE and transformation consultants in Johannesburg, serving clients across South Africa.
Email sales@bsvision.co.za More articles