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Understanding Scholarships & Bursaries for Private Education

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Private schools often offer scholarships and bursaries for parents looking to make things more cost-effective for them, while gaining the full benefits of an independent school education. It allows schools to bring in students from all kinds of backgrounds that can still bring out the best in talent and academic prowess.

If you’re considering applying for a scholarship or a bursary, such as the ones on offer at this boarding school in Kent, then here are some key pointers as to what are the requirements of these financial options.

What Is A Scholarship?

A scholarship is usually given to students that apply for subject-specific support. Successful applicants normally receive cash gifts or vouchers towards the subject they’ve applied for. As an example, art supply vouchers could be given to a student that applied for the art scholarship, or exclusive tuition for acting and singing lessons for drama and theatre scholarships.

They vary slightly from a bursary in that schools provide students with extra support and smaller cash incentives as opposed to discounts on school fees. It helps students who are particularly invested in these subjects in order to help them further in their studies.

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What Is A Bursary?

A bursary enables children to attend a private school with all or some of their fees waived. This is exclusively catered to families who are less well-off and wouldn’t be able to afford the fees of the private school ordinarily. Bursaries can sometimes be up to 100% of the school’s fees, but it’s worth asking the schools you are applying for to get clarification as to what’s on offer. Bursaries are almost always means-tested, which means that your family’s finances are assessed to see if you are eligible.

How Do You Apply For A Scholarship Or Bursary?

You will have a good opportunity to apply for a private school’s bursaries or scholarships, but you will have to be quick. These applications can go fast if you’re not on the ball with it and that means missing out on your child’s chance to attend an independent school or receive a unique scholarship. It’s always worth having a backup plan if this happens, or consider applying for a few school scholarships or bursaries if that is the route you want to go down.

Looking For More Ways To Support Your Child’s Education?

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