MORE ABOUT THE GERT-JOHAN COETZEE BURSARY PROGRAMME – EXPENSES COVERED, OBLIGATIONS & SELECTION. The bursary will provide cover for the following expenses: 3 years of tuition fees at the North West School of Design and a Bernette sewing machine – totalling at R204 900.

To obtain such a bursary, it is customary for parents to be asked by the school’s bursar to fill in an application form, giving details of their financial circumstances, supported by documentary evidence, including capital assets. The application will be considered by the school in accordance with its bursary policy. The award will often only remain in force until the pupil has sat the next relevant public examination. Most schools will review bursaries annually to ensure that the justification for an award remains. In Britain any award made before GCSE will not necessarily continue to the A-level stage.

Bursaries are similar to “scholarships” or “prizes“, which are based on performance. These awards are generally given for good performance in the exams preceding university or college entrance in which the student achieves grades above the standard entry. These can be awarded by universities or, sometimes, by companies

THINGS TO KEEP IN MY WHEN APPLYING FOR A BURSARY

A lot of students are usually confused when it comes to scholarship or bursary application. When they have answered the most difficult question of where to start, then the other process becomes seamlessly easy for them. Basically that’s why we have decided to include this post to enable you successfully apply for bursaries especially for this year to aid your academic cause. The following are those important things to note before applying for a bursary.

1. Most bursaries will request for your Latest Academic Record duly signed from your school, your ID document, evidence of tertiary application and most importantly an authentication that you were accepted. Similarly, some bursaries will require you to provide another proof of Guardians or Parent’ source of income and residence. After successfully sorting out these documents, then your next step is to ensure you verify your documents. If you don’t know how to, simply visit any commissioner of oath at a post office, bank or police station.
2. Integrity they say is telling myself the truth while honesty is telling the truth to other people. Honesty is more than not lying. It is truth-telling, truth speaking, truth living, and truth loving. Therefore, you must ensure that whatever information you are providing is the truth and nothing but the truth. Fill all blank spaces with correct data. No legacy is so rich as honesty.
3. A whole lot of students apply for bursaries without having any references at all and in other cases have references that can’t be reached. Most times this is the first step to not getting the bursary you have applied for. If you need the bursary you are applying for and you want it, then go ahead and find references with correct contact addresses.
4. A lot of students also don’t have enough writing skills to win their desired bursary which can prove to be a stone in the neck in the long run. Therefore it is highly advisable that you write a highly convincing and motivational cover letter that will make anyone accessing it believe before he begins to even read it. Things such as why you think you should be awarded the bursary especially more than the other several thousand applying, how you can contribute to society when you have finished your program in school and especially how getting the bursary will be a stepping stone to achieving your dreams and changing your future for good.
5. A lot of students apply for bursaries and go to sleep which is very bad. When you apply for any bursary, ensure you regularly and consistently check your Emails and your phone text messages to be sure you have not or have received a message from those assessing your application.
6. Lastly, ensure you always check for bursary deadlines or closing dates so you can know exactly when to apply.

South African fashion designer, Gert-Johan Coetzee, specialises in red carpet gowns and wedding gowns and is a big name in the fashion industry. Coetzee has dressed many international and local celebrities for red-carpet events, including the likes of Kourtney Kardashian, Kristen Cavallari, Liezel van der Westhuizen, Bonang Matheba, Basetsana Khumalu, Sashi Naidoo, Tatum Keshwar, Louise Carver, Noeleen, Cindy Nell and many more.

FIELDS COVERED & COVERAGE VALUE

Gert-Johan Coetzee will be awarding 2 bursaries to students who wish to make a name for themeselves within the fashion industry:

1) A Fashion Design bursary, which will cover tuition fees and textbooks to the value of R198 000, as well as a sewing machine and an overlocker machine to the value of R32 000 from Bernina South Africa (it excludes transport, accommodation and meals). Students must have their own personal laptops with specifications per the North West School of Design.

2) A Fashion Communication bursary, which will cover tuition fees and textbooks to the value of R173 000, as well as a sewing machine and an overlocker machine to the value of R7 000 from Bernina South Africa (it excludes transport, accommodation and meals). Students must have their own personal laptops with specifications per the North West School of Design.
Bursary recipients will undertake their 3 years of studies at the North West School of Design, based in Klerksdorp. They will also be required to completed at least 2 internship programmes each year at Gert Johan Coetzee’s studio.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

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):

• South African citizen
• Currently in Matric OR have completed Matric
• Fluent in English (reading and writing)
• Be able to commence studies in January 2024 at the North West School of Design
• Willing to stay in Klerksdorp for 3 years while studying at the North West School of Design
• Have a personal laptop which meet the standards of the North West School of Design
• Must have a good attitude with dedication, passion and drive
• Must have a natural fashion instinct
• Willing and able to work hard

HOW TO APPLY FOR THE BURSARIES

Applications must be done online at –
Fashion Design Bursary:
https://www.nwsd.co.za/gert-johan-coetzee-fashion-bursary/

Fashion Communication Bursary:
https://www.nwsd.co.za/gert-johan-coetzee-fashion-communication/

Students should read about the course before applying: https://www.nwsd.co.za/bachelor-of-arts-fashion-design/
Submit clear copies of the following supporting documentation along with your online application form (the submission of these documents is compulsory – if any items are missing, your application be disregarded):

Fashion Design Bursary:

• ID document (certified copy)
• Matric certificate/ most recent academic results (certified copy)
• Motivational letter (explaining who you are and why you should be awarded a bursary)
• 2 x designs (A4 size, full colour, based on a Style Tribe)
• Moodboard (showcasing style tribes)

Fashion Communication Bursary:

• ID document (certified copy)
• Matric certificate/ most recent academic results (certified copy)
• Motivational letter (explaining who you are, why you should be awarded a bursary and how you will contribute to the Gert Johan Coetzee Brand in the future)
• Moodboard (showcasing style tribes)
• Fashion essay (about Style Tribes that are in style for Spring Summer. If using images, add references to where images were found)

SELECTION PROCESS

The selection process will include the following steps:
1) Semi Finalists will be selected (10 for Fashion Design and 7 for Fashion Communication), announcements will be made (on 7 October for Fashion Design and 15 October for Fashion Communication) and students to be contacted via telephone.
2) Semi-finalists will be required to complete an assignment and submit it by 22 October (students will be contacted via email).
3) Finalists will be selected (7 for Fashion Design and 3 for Fashion Communication) and the announcement will be made on the end of October.
4) Finalists will be required to attend the North West School of Design “Platinum Fashion Festival” on 9 November in Klerksdorp.
5) Finalists will be required to attend a personal interview with Gert-Johan Coetzee.
6) Bursary winners will be announced at the North West School of Design “Platinum Fashion Festival” Gala event.

CLOSING DATE

4 October (at 15:00).
(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 the North West School of Design directly:
Tel: 018 462 5149
Email: charles@nwsd.co.za / nwsd@gds.co.za