South Africa offers ample opportunities for graduates, professionals, and students who want to advance their learning and career. Scholarships and learnerships form an important part of this journey.
Education can be expensive, and scholarships help lower the financial load. On the other hand, learnerships are a powerful tool for bridging the gap between gainful employment and classroom learning.
Those looking to advance their careers must be aware of scholarships and learnerships. This article will inform you about the difference between scholarships and learnerships,along with other related details.
Table of Contents
What is a Scholarship?
A scholarship is financial support awarded to students to help pay for their education. Typically, they are awarded based on several factors. These include departmental and community involvement, academic achievement, areas of study, financial need and employment experience.
There are different types of scholarships, with the most common ones being need-based and merit-based.
The department or donor who funds the scholarship lays down the criteria for selecting recipients.
The grantor of scholarship opportunities particularly defines the way the money needs to be applied. The funds from a scholarship can be used to cover various costs. These include the costs of books, tuition, room, and other expenses directly related to a student’s education through the institution.
Know How to Set Education Goals for the New Year?
What is a Learnership?
Learnerships are work-based training programmes through which students learn practical job skills and earn a monthly stipend. Every learnership helps you earn a nationally recognised and SAQA-registered qualification.
The Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) fund the learnerships. Learnerships help close the skills gap and allow individuals shift to real employment from learning.
Learnership opportunities help gain both experience and education. This combination is valued in the job market. Many employers look for candidates who have worked in real conditions. Several graduates struggle to gain their first experience. Learnerships prove to be helpful for such cases.
Read: What is a Graduate Degree? A Simple Guide for South African Students
A Look at the Difference Between Scholarships and Learnerships
While both learnerships and scholarships are beneficial for students, there exist differences between the two. Knowing the difference between scholarships and learnerships can help gain more clarity and set career goals going forward.
Have a look at the difference between scholarships and learnerships below:
Scholarships | Learnerships |
Scholarships refer to financial support awarded to students to help pay for their education. | Learnerships are work-based training programmes through which students gain practical job skills and earn a monthly stipend. |
These help reduce the financial load for the students | These help bridge the skills gap and allow individuals shift to real employment from learning |
Also read: What Is Undergraduate Education? Understanding Its Role in Career Development
Which One Should You Choose?
While choosing between learnerships and scholarships, you should go for the one that aligns with your requirements.
You should look forward to scholarships if you need help paying for tuition and other expenses associated with attending an institution. On the other hand, you should look forward to learnerships if you want to earn a nationally recognised and SAQA-registered qualification through a work-based training programme.
Irrespective of the option that you go for, you must check whether there are any specific scholarship or learnership requirements that you need to meet to apply or qualify.
Know How to Choose a Career That is Right For You?
Explore Our Other Programmes
Conclusion
The terms scholarship and learnership can be confusing for some individuals. Now that you know the difference between scholarships and learnerships, you should be able to choose the right one as per your needs.
Besides these, if you are looking for a reputable institution to pursue a programme that will provide you with skills that can set you apart from the competition, consider Regenesys Education. It offers an array of internationally recognised programmes.
Visit the website and check the programmes today.
FAQs
Is it possible to apply for multiple learnerships simultaneously?
Yes, it is possible to apply for multiple learnerships simultaneously. But you must customise every application for the particular company and role.
Do scholarships guarantee employment after graduation?
No scholarships do not guarantee employment after graduation.
Are scholarships only for academic merit, or can they be need-based as well?
Scholarships can be both need-based and merit-based. You must note that there can be scholarship requirements that you may have to meet to apply or qualify for them.
How long do learnership programmes usually last?
The duration of learnership programmes varies, but on average, they span around 18 months.
How do I decide whether a scholarship or a learnership suits me best?
To decide between a scholarship and a learnership, you should consider your individual requirements. You can consider scholarships if you need help paying for your education expenses at an institution. On the other hand, you can consider learnerships if you want to earn a nationally recognised and SAQA-registered qualification via a work-based training programme.
How to apply for scholarships?
All scholarships have their own application processes. These can include submitting an online application, writing essays, or submitting test scores. Ensure to check this process with the official sources.
How to apply for learnerships?
The process of applying for learnerships generally involves a few steps, starting with researching opportunities that match your interests and skills. The further steps can include gathering the necessary documents, completing the application, and submitting it by the deadline.
