this post was submitted on 07 Jun 2026
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me_irl
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That’s because they are awarded based on academic performance, not by financial need, for anyone else wondering. Honoring academic performance is the whole point of them.
The fact that the world’s initial reaction is “they don’t deserve it because they don’t need the money” is more of an indictment of the cost of higher education than it is of how scholarships are awarded.
Also, they have “scholarships” based on financial need, they are called Bursaries.
I wouldn't say honour is the whole point. I think its a way to ensure young people are able to afford the opportunity, and to convince talented students to attend that particular school.
But, yeah, they're for academic achievement, not academic achievement _and_having poor parents.
Better to fight for free education than against young people getting awarded for doing well in school.
Yes, but social aspects will often still factor in to some extent, and universities also have a lot of freedom in how they select their recipients. I highly doubt that these kids are academically so exceptionally gifted that there aren't any other kids who would deserve it more and would make better use of this type of support. Scholarships don't have to function like bursaries, but there's a fair argument to limit them to kids whose parents aren't literal millionaires.