Effective date: 4 November 2026
Last updated: 4 November 2026
This Privacy Policy explains how Bursary Alerts (“we”, “us” or “our”) collects, uses and protects information when you visit https://bursaryalerts.co.za. We publish educational guides about bursaries, study funding and career opportunities in South Africa. We respect your privacy, and we wrote this policy in plain language so you can see exactly what happens to your information.
By using this website, you agree to the practices described below. If you disagree with any part, please stop using the site.
Who We Are
Bursary Alearts is an independent information website. We are not a bursary provider, a university, a government department or a funding administrator. We do not process bursary applications, and we never ask you for payment, ID numbers, banking details or passwords. If any page or message claiming to come from us asks for these, it is not genuine.
You can contact us at info@bursaryalerts.com with any privacy question.
Information We Collect
We collect two kinds of information.
Information You Give Us
You share information with us only when you choose to. This happens if you email us, fill in our contact form or leave a comment. That information may include your name, email address and the message you write. We use it to answer you and nothing else.
Information Collected Automatically
When you browse the site, your browser and device send us technical details. These include your IP address, browser type, device type, operating system, the pages you open, the time you spend on them and the website that referred you. This data does not name you personally. It helps us understand which guides readers find useful and which pages need improving.
How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect to run and improve the website. That includes responding to your messages, fixing technical problems, understanding how readers use our content and deciding which topics to cover next. We also use it to keep the site secure and to show advertising that helps cover our costs.
We do not sell your personal information. We do not use it to make automated decisions that affect you.
Cookies and Similar Technologies
Cookies are small text files that a website stores on your device. They remember your preferences and help sites work properly. We and our partners use cookies and similar tools such as pixels and local storage on this website.
You can control cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers let you block or delete them. If you block all cookies, some parts of the site may not work as expected, and you may still see ads, though they may be less relevant to you.
Advertising and Google AdSense
We use Google AdSense to display ads on this website. Google and its partners are third party vendors, and they use cookies to serve ads based on your visits to this site and other sites on the internet.
Google’s use of advertising cookies allows it and its partners to show ads to you based on your browsing history. You can opt out of personalised advertising by visiting Google Ads Settings at https://adssettings.google.com. You can also visit https://www.aboutads.info to opt out of many third party vendors that use cookies for personalised advertising.
To learn how Google uses information from sites that use its services, read Google’s explanation at https://policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites.
If you live in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom or Switzerland, you will see a consent message before personalised ads or non essential cookies load. You can change your choice at any time using the privacy settings link on the site.
We do not control the cookies that advertisers place, and we do not have access to them. Each advertiser’s own privacy policy governs how it uses that data.
Analytics
We use analytics tools such as Google Analytics to measure traffic and understand how readers move through the site. These tools collect information like pages viewed, session length and approximate location. The data is aggregated, so it describes groups of visitors rather than named individuals. You can block Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics Opt out Browser Add on.
Third Party Links
Our guides often link to official bursary pages, university websites and government portals. Once you click a link, you leave our site and our policy no longer applies. Those sites have their own privacy practices, and we encourage you to read them before sharing any personal details. We cannot control what they collect.
When you apply for a bursary, always use the provider’s official application page. Never pay anyone who offers to guarantee funding.
How Long We Keep Information
We keep contact messages only as long as needed to answer you and handle any follow up. Analytics data is kept for the period set in our analytics account, which is usually between 14 and 26 months. We delete or anonymise personal information when we no longer need it, unless the law requires us to keep it.
How We Protect Your Information
We take reasonable steps to protect information from loss, misuse and unauthorised access. These include secure hosting, HTTPS encryption and limited access to any messages you send us. No method of transmission over the internet is completely secure, so we cannot promise absolute protection. If a breach affects your personal information, we will notify you and the Information Regulator as the law requires.
Your Rights
Your rights depend on where you live.
South Africa (POPIA)
Under the Protection of Personal Information Act, you may ask us to confirm what personal information we hold about you, correct inaccurate details, delete information we no longer need and object to how we process it. You may also complain to the Information Regulator of South Africa at https://inforegulator.org.za if you believe we have mishandled your data.
European Economic Area and United Kingdom (GDPR)
You may access, correct, delete or restrict the use of your personal data. You may also object to processing, withdraw consent at any time and request a copy of your data in a portable format. You can complain to your local data protection authority.
California (CCPA)
California residents may request details about the personal information we collect, ask for its deletion and opt out of any sale or sharing of personal information. We do not sell personal information for money.
To use any of these rights, email [your email address]. We may ask you to confirm your identity before we act, and we will reply within a reasonable time.
Children’s Privacy
This website is written for students, matriculants and job seekers, and some readers are under 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without parental consent. If you are a parent and believe your child has sent us personal information, contact us and we will delete it. Younger readers should ask a parent or guardian before submitting anything through the site.
International Data Transfers
Some of our service providers, including Google, store or process data on servers outside South Africa. When this happens, we rely on providers that apply reasonable safeguards for your information, in line with the law that applies to you.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy when our practices, our tools or the law change. We will post the new version on this page and change the “last updated” date at the top. Please check back from time to time. Continued use of the site after an update means you accept the revised policy.
FAQs
Do you sell my personal information?
No. We do not sell personal information to anyone.
Does the site collect my ID number or bank details?
No. We never ask for these, and neither should anyone claiming to represent us. Only enter sensitive details on a bursary provider’s official application platform.
Why do I see ads on this website?
Ads help us keep our guides free. Google AdSense serves them, and you can adjust ad personalisation in your Google Ads Settings.
How can I stop tracking cookies?
Change your browser settings to block or delete cookies, and use the consent tool on our site where it appears. You can also use the opt out links in the advertising section above.
How do I ask you to delete my data?
Email [your email address] with your request and the email address you used to contact us. We will respond and act as the law requires.
Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or want to use your rights, contact us at: