The University of Pretoria invites qualifying senior students (3^rd year and above) as well as members of staff (at junior lecturer status, must be 25 years or younger at the start of the tour) to apply for the above-mentioned travel bursary.

The Abe Bailey Trust and the Travel Bursary was established in terms of the Will of Sir Abe Bailey who died in 1940.  The Trustees of the Abe Bailey Trust make funds available for travel bursaries known as the Abe Bailey Travel Bursaries.  These Travel Bursaries give selected university students and university staff of junior Lecturer status an opportunity to visit the United Kingdom. This year the travel bursary will be for the period 25 November to 18 December 2024.

The focus of the Abe Bailey Trust is leadership development and the Trustees wish the bursaries to be awarded to persons who are academically strong and have shown exceptional qualities of leadership and service, with a good track record not only on campus but also in a wider social context and who are able to function as part of a select and highly skilled group.

Application process

Applicants must follow the link below to complete the application form:
https://forms.gle/cL7iMa2BVy926n2t8

Applicants must attach the following required documents and submit them by email at: [email protected] 

1. Valid South African Identity Document.
2. Valid South African passport.
3. Academic record/Latest results.
4. Recent letters from two referees reporting on your character, leadership and personality.
5. Personal letter of motivation indicating why you are applying for this Travel Bursary and how you will meet its objectives (this is essential). These include 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 for selection as an Abe Bailey Travel Bursar.
6. CV
7. Copies of university merit or achievement certificates.

Closing date 3 May 2024 at 16h00. Late applications will not be considered.

The objective of the Travel Bursary is to broaden the views of young South Africans by enabling outstanding South African students who show exceptional leadership qualities and a strong service ethic: to effect greater understanding and co-operation among those with various language and cultural backgrounds; to encourage leadership that demonstrates open debate and mutual respect of others; to experience British culture and participate in an interactive programme, and examine its significance in the context of South African history; to foster enterprise, commitment and effective participation in a common future; and to promote South African unity.

Applications must understand that this is a Travel Bursary which demands a different skill set from the criteria of a normal bursary. The Trustees are looking for applications who have an ability to listen, to express and opinion, possess and enquiring mind, want to broaden their horizons and above all wish to keep learning. Successful bursars need to enjoy working with people, to exude a positivity and enthusiasm which raises the energy levels of those around them.

These Travel Bursaries are awarded every year and cover the cost of an all expenses paid educational tour of England and Scotland. Included in the cost are tourist class return air fares between Cape Town and London as well as travel between inland university centres and Cape Town.  It covers the cost of carrying out the Tour and all excursions according to the approved programme.  In addition, funds will be made available, at the discretion of the Tour Leader, to cover out of pocket expenses in the United Kingdom.

The host in the United Kingdom is the Goodenough College in London. The selected bursars will be expected to remain in the company of the other bursars, to participate in all organised activities and to carry out the whole of the approved programme.

Abe Bailey Fellowship

All bursars become a member of the Abe Bailey Fellowship comprising past bursars since the tour’s inception in 1951. Past bursars are kept in touch by way of the Fellowship Newsletter and an annual updated address list.

More information is contained in the documents below.