How to tailor your CV for a bursary application

Read the ad as a checklist

Bursary ads are short, and almost every line in them is a requirement. Before you touch your CV, list each one: the field of study, the year of study, the minimum average, any citizenship rule, whether the bursary considers financial need, and the qualities the funder says it looks for, such as leadership or an interest in its industry.

Then split the list in two. Hard rules decide whether you can apply at all. Your CV can't change them, so check them first and spend your time on bursaries you qualify for. Qualities are where tailoring helps: each one is a question your CV should answer clearly.

Lead with your course, year and marks

For most bursaries, academic results are the first thing checked, so make them easy to find. Put your degree, year of study and current average at the top, in a two-line profile or straight under your name.

• In first year, or if the ad asks for them, give your NSC results and the subjects that matter for the course, such as Mathematics and Physical Sciences.
• Once you have university results, lead with your average and name modules that relate to the funder's field.
• Give the real figure. Don't round 64% up to 65%: funders ask for your academic record and compare.

Show leadership with evidence

When a bursary ad asks for leadership, it usually means responsibility you took on: a society or residence committee, class representative, tutoring, sports captaincy, organising an event, or responsibilities at home or in a part-time job. All of these count.

Give each role a line that says what you did, and add a number where you have a true one: the budget you managed, the students you tutored, the members you led. "Treasurer, Engineering Students' Council" says less than "Managed a R180 000 budget across 14 societies".

Match the funder's field, in the ad's words

A mining company wants to see an interest in mining, a bank wants numeracy, and an engineering firm wants practical exposure. Move the vac work, projects, modules and site visits that relate to the funder's work higher up your CV.

Where the ad uses a specific term, use it too, as long as it's true for you. If you took a module called "Safety in chemical plants" and the ad says "process safety", describe it in the ad's words. Screeners, and the software some large companies use to sort applications, look for those terms. Never add one for something you haven't done: a panel can ask you about any line on your CV in an interview.

Keep personal details lean and the layout plain

• Contact details: your name, cellphone number, email address and the town or city you live in.
• Leave off your ID number, date of birth, marital status, religion and a photo, unless the ad asks for them. The application form and certified copies cover what the funder needs.
• Layout: one column, clear headings, no tables, text boxes or graphics, saved as a PDF. One to two pages is plenty.

Send everything the application asks for

A bursary application is usually more than a CV. Check the ad for the full list well before the closing date. It often includes:

• a certified copy of your ID;
• your academic record or matric results;
• proof of registration or acceptance at your university;
• proof of household income, for bursaries that consider financial need; and
• a cover letter or motivational letter (see how to write a cover letter for a bursary).

Read the bursary terms too. Many company bursaries come with a work-back agreement: you work for the funder after you graduate, often for as long as it paid for your studies. Make sure you're happy with that before you sign.