The Abe Bailey Trust and the Travel Bursary were established in terms of the Will of Sir Abe Bailey, who passed away in 1940. Each year, the Trustees of the Abe Bailey Trust award travel bursaries to selected university students and university staff of junior lecturer status, to allow them the opportunity to visit the United Kingdom.
ABOUT THE ABE BAILEY TRAVEL BURSARY PROGRAMME
The Abe Bailey Trust is inviting candidates to apply for the annual Abe Bailey Travel Bursary. The Bursary allows for South African students to visit Britain and meet its Objectives, on a 3 week educational tour, and is open to students of any South African university and academic staff member with junior lecturer status.
Bursary recipients will be hosted by Goodenough College in London, UK. Bursars will remain in the company of the other Bursars, and jointly participate in all organised activities and carry out the approved programme, however they will also have limited short time periods where they will be free to arrange their own activities.
The Abe Bailey Bursary is focused on leadership development and scholars will be selected based on a strong academic record, as well as leadership and service qualities and a good track record.
ABOUT THE ABE BAILEY TRAVEL BURSARY PROGRAMME – EXPENSES COVERED
The bursary will provide full cover for a 3 week educational tour of England and Scotland, including: economy class return air fares between Cape Town and London, travel between inland university centres and Cape Town, all excursions according to the approved programme, as well as out of pocket expenses in the United Kingdom (at the discretion of the Trustees).
DATE TIMELINE OF THE ABE BAILEY TRAVEL BURSARY
- March 2024: The Abe Bailey Trust invites universities to submit nominees for the bursary award.
- April/ May 2024: Universities invite students to apply, shortlist candidates for interviews, conduct interviews and select 3 nominees to submit to the Abe Bailey Trust.
- June/ July 2024: The Abe Bailey Trust selects bursary recipients and sends their names to the relevant universities, universities then inform applicants.
- August 2024: Successful bursary recipients complete the declaration of acceptance and information sheet and send this to the Abe Bailey Trust.
- August to October 2024: The Abe Bailey Fellowship Secretary, Tour Manager and Travel Agent contact the successful bursary recipients.
- 22 November 2024: Bursary recipients will gather in Cape Town for a 3 day orientation, Farewell Dinner and then depart for the United Kingdom.
- 17 December 2024: The tour will end in London and bursars will arrive in South Africa the following day.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ABE BAILEY TRAVEL BURSARY
Applicants must satisfy the following minimum entry criteria before applying (please note that failure to satisfy all the requirements will lead to your application not being considered):
- You must be a South African citizen
- You must have a valid South African passport (or be able to obtain one)
- You must have no impediments to obtaining a UK visa
- You must be 25 years old or younger when starting the Tour
- You must be a registered full-time student at a university in South Africa, in your 3rd year or above OR you must be an academic staff member with junior lecturer status at a university in South Africa
- You must accept the Objectives of the Travel Bursary (to broaden the views of young South Africans)
- You must have a strong academic record
- You must have a proven record of community participation/ public service ethic
- You must be proficient in the English language
- You must be physically fit (to partake in walking tours and cope with the intensive programme of activities)
- You must be able to function as part of a group, as well as add value to the group experience and engage effectively with significant people and organisations
- You must be willing to listen and to understand other people’s viewpoints, as well as express an opinion
- You must have an enquiring mind and be keen to broaden your horizons and keep learning
- You must enjoy working with people
- You must have a positive attitude and be enthusiastic
HOW TO APPLY FOR THE ABE BAILEY TRAVEL BURSARY
Applications must be submitted to your university, by their specified closing date. The list of supporting documents may differ between universities, but they generally include the documents stated below.
- University of KwaZulu-Natal
- Tshwane University of Technology
- Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University
- University of the Western Cape
- University of Venda
- University of Limpopo
- Stellenbosch University
- Nelson Mandela University
- University of Fort Hare
- University of the Free State
Note: if your university is not listed above, please contact their financial aid office for an application form.
Applications must include the following information:
- Personal information: full name, date of birth, nationality, address
- Education information: school/s attended, extra-curricular activities at university, university degree/ diploma completed, courses and results
- Leadership: information about leadership roles and social and community service
- Travel history: brief outline of dates and purposes of any previous trips to the UK, if applicable
Submit clear copies of the following supporting documentation along with your application (the submission of these documents is compulsory – if any items are missing, your application may be disqualified):
- South African passport, if available (copy only)
- ID Document (copy only)
- Curriculum Vitae
- Matric certificate (copy only)
- University degree/diploma certificate (copy only)
- Covid-19 Vaccination certificate (copy only)
- 2 reference letters outline the academic, leadership and community service record of the nominee, and suitability in terms of the Objectives of this Travel Bursary
- Personal motivational letter stating why you are applying for this Travel Bursary and how you will meet the Objectives (includes experiencing and understanding different cultures, meeting different people and broadening the mind on the issues of the day. A proven ability to
- listen as well as to have the confidence to formulate and express an opinion is an essential prerequisite to selection as an Abe Bailey Travel Bursar)
NOTES ABOUT THE ABE BAILEY TRUST
- Applicants who are married may be nominated, but must note that their spouse may not accompany them on the trip.
- The Vice-Chancellor, Registrar or other high level representative(s) of the university will conduct interviews with the final nominees to ensure that they are aware of their responsibilities towards the Tour, and of the stipulations, which include: travel bursars may not join the tour
- late, travel bursars may not interrupt the Tour, travel bursars must participate in the Tour for the full duration and partake in all programmed activities, and applicants must not apply if they intend on applying for other bursaries/ scholarships whose selection interview dates that will clash with the Tour dates.
- Each university forms their own selection committee, which receives applications, interviews applicants, and thereafter nominates 3 names in order of preference to the Abe Bailey Trustees.
- The Abe Bailey Trust and Trustees reserve the right to make changes to the terms and conditions of the bursary, at their discretion.
- Final selection/ decisions will be made by the Trustees of the Abe Bailey Trust.
- The Abe Bailey Trust will only be liable for the amount of the Travel Bursary and expenses of the programmed Tour – any other activities outside of the organised programme will not be covered.
- All bursary recipients become members of the Abe Bailey Fellowship, which is made up of previous Travel Bursars since the Tour was established in 1951, now including more than 900 fellows. Previous bursars are kept updated by the Fellowship Newsletter and an annual updated address list.
CLOSING DATE FOR THE ABE BAILEY TRAVEL BURSARY
Differs between universities:
- University of KwaZulu-Natal: 6 May 2024.
- Tshwane University of Technology: 6 May 2024.
- Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University: 6 May 2024.
- University of the Western Cape: 10 May 2024.
- University of Venda: 13 May 2024.
- University of Limpopo: 13 May 2024.
- Stellenbosch University: 20 May 2024.
- Nelson Mandela University: end May 2024.
- University of Fort Hare: 31 May 2024 (at 16:30).
- University of the Free State: not disclosed.
(Applications submitted after this date will not be accepted – please apply before the closing date to ensure your application is considered.)
CONTACT THE BURSARY PROVIDER
For any queries related to this bursary programme, please contact your university vice-chancellor’s office or to the officer indicated by the V-C’s office directly.