bursary
C1Formal
Definition
Meaning
A monetary grant awarded to a student, typically based on financial need or merit.
The office or treasury of a bursar (especially in older, institutional contexts); an endowment fund from which such grants are paid.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily denotes a grant for education. It often implies a formal, institutional award process. Unlike a 'loan', a bursary typically does not need to be repaid.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word is standard in UK, Irish, Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand English for a need-based educational grant. In US English, 'bursary' is rare; 'scholarship' (merit-based) or 'grant' (need-based) are far more common.
Connotations
In the UK, it has a formal, official connotation linked to universities, colleges, and professional bodies. In the US, it may sound archaic or specifically British.
Frequency
High frequency in UK academic/administrative contexts; very low frequency in general US English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to award a bursary to [someone]to receive a bursary for [studies/course]to be eligible for a bursaryVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To be on a bursary”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare; used only if a company has a specific educational sponsorship program for employees.
Academic
Primary context. Used by universities, colleges, and educational charities to describe non-repayable financial awards.
Everyday
Used by students and parents discussing university funding, particularly in the UK.
Technical
Used in university finance and administration; also in the constitutions of ancient universities and livery companies.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The college agreed to bursary the student for the full three years.
American English
- (Rare; would likely use 'fund' or 'grant') The foundation decided to grant the student full funding.
adjective
British English
- She submitted her bursary application before the deadline.
- The bursary committee meets next week.
American English
- (Rare; would use 'scholarship' or 'grant') She submitted her grant application before the deadline.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She got a bursary to help pay for her university course.
- You need to apply for the bursary online.
- The engineering faculty offers several bursaries to students from low-income households.
- His bursary covered tuition fees but not living expenses.
- The prestigious bursary is awarded on the basis of both academic excellence and demonstrable financial need.
- She was appointed to the board that administers the university's central bursary fund.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'BURSAry' helps BURy financial Stress for Students. (BURS = purse, i.e., money).
Conceptual Metaphor
EDUCATION IS A COMMODITY (that a bursary helps you purchase); A BURSARY IS A KEY (that unlocks the door to education).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать со 'стипендией' (stipendiya), которая обычно является regular payment for good grades. Bursary чаще всего — разовый или ежегодный грант, часто на основе need, а не только merit.
- Не является синонимом 'зарплаты' или 'пособия по безработице'.
- В русском языке близкого однословного эквивалента нет; чаще переводят как 'грант' или 'целевая стипендия'.
Common Mistakes
- Pronouncing it as /bərˈsɛə.ri/ (incorrect stress).
- Using it to mean any type of scholarship (in US contexts, this is atypical).
- Spelling: 'bursery', 'bursary'.
Practice
Quiz
In which variety of English is the word 'bursary' MOST commonly used for a student grant?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
While often used interchangeably, a bursary is typically awarded based primarily on financial need, sometimes with academic criteria. A scholarship is typically awarded primarily for academic, athletic, or artistic merit, though need may also be considered.
No, a bursary is a grant, not a loan. It is a gift of financial aid that does not need to be repaid, provided any attached conditions (e.g., maintaining a certain grade) are met.
Historically, yes. It can refer to the treasury or office of a bursar (a financial officer, e.g., in a university or monastery). However, in modern usage, the student funding sense is overwhelmingly dominant.
Yes, it belongs to a formal, administrative register. In informal conversation, especially in the US, people are more likely to say 'grant' or 'scholarship'.
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