In light of the announcement made by Ipeleng Marwane (@_heyipss) on X about the launch of her bursary app (Bursary Baby) for matriculants, undergraduate and postgraduate students who are seeking funding for their studies.
A significant number of X users are upbeat, saying it will be a great help as many students complain about what a hassle it usually is to find information on available bursaries and to secure them online.
omg this is hugeee and so helpful as i was recently trying and struggling to find funding for postgrad studies. congratulations & thank you so much!!
— manon's gf (@iluvmanon) July 22, 2024
Thank you so much for such a great solution to our problems❤
— Sticky🇿🇦 (@StickyVoice) July 22, 2024
Bursary Baby’s User-Friendly Interface eliminates the process of having to switch between multiple websites to find suitable bursaries options. All funding details and options are available at the click of a button.
The app also enables users to keep track of their bursary applications, it assists in writing motivational letters which is often a pain point for applicants, and connects them with past recipients to improve their chances of securing funding.
The app has materials to help students prepare for exams, as well as internship options in different fields for those seeking them.
Even before its launch, the app has managed to get nominated in the 2024 TotalEnergies Startupper of the Year Challenge, which has motivated app Founder, Marwane and her co-founder and best friend to make a real difference in the world.
Marwane says the inspiration for the app stemmed from when she was in first year applying for a bursary and it was such a tireless struggle because there are not a lot of funding options available for students in private institutions.
“So in my frustration, I asked my mom why there aren’t any apps that help students find this. She laughed and said, ‘Maybe you should make one.’ That really stuck with me and I didn’t realise how much it did until God really pushed me to start it”
The X users who raised concerns about whether the app will cater for private institutions and TVET college students, as they are often overlooked, will be pleased to know that it will cater for all students without bias.
“I personally went through the struggle of not receiving any funding in all my 3 years of studies in college so I wouldn’t shut my private institutions’ students out!”, said Marwane.
Students should keep a lookout for the app launch set for November 2024, on BursaryBaby’s social media page on Instagram, and get a head start on applying for funding for 2025, Marwane said.
IOL