In my career assessing talent and running graduate programs, I’ve seen many, many careers defined by the way they managed through serious setbacks rather than by their achievements. Experiencing an academic failure bursary, failing a course or year while receiving a bursary is not just an academic problem; it is also your first real professional crisis.
It puts your ability to bounce back, your accountability, and your problem-solving abilities to the test under extreme stress. As far as a recruiter is concerned, the way you manage this problem is an excellent indicator of your professional character.
Don’t look at this as a student who has failed a course. Look at this as a professional who has experienced a breach of contract and needs to develop a recovery plan.
Immediate Action: Establish a Crisis Management Procedure
You cannot afford to freeze or hide. The first 72 hours are going to determine your immediate response to the crisis.
Confirm the Problem: Confirm your grades before you panic. An administrative mistake is extremely rare but possible. Once you have confirmed, you need to shift from an emotional to a strategic response. The failure is now a data point, and your response is the variable factor that matters.
Review the Contract: Read your bursary contract from a completely cold and analytical viewpoint. Specifically review the “Academic Performance” and “Termination” sections. The reason and purpose of this exercise is to know the exact rules of your current predicament. What is the minimum passing grade? What are the progression requirements? What are the direct consequences of failing?
Communicate Proactively: Communicating proactively is the most important step here. Don’t wait for the funder to contact you; contact them first. If you are hiding, then you are indicating you are dishonest and/or unaccountable. Demonstrating proactive behavior indicates you are mature and willing to resolve your issues.
Understanding the Strategic Landscapes of Various Types of Funders:
Your recovery strategy is based directly on the type of funder you are working with. The motivation behind each funder determines the type of response they will give to your failure.
Government Bursaries (NSFAS, Funza Lushaka):
Recruiter’s View: Funders such as NSFAS and Funza Lushaka are motivated by public policy and social investment. Their objective is to create graduates, not to penalize students. Funders such as these will often have a formal process for dealing with students who fail, including processes for academic probation and appeals. Funders such as NSFAS and Funza Lushaka anticipate that a certain percentage of the very large number of students they fund will have difficulties in their academic pursuits.
Strategic Approach: Funders such as NSFAS and Funza Lushaka tend to be the most receptive to a well-documented appeal that clearly outlines why you failed and what steps you intend to take to avoid similar failures in the future. The focus of your appeal should be to demonstrate how your appeal relates to their mission of creating equal opportunity for education and developing a skilled workforce.
Corporate Bursaries (Sasol, MTN, Banks)
Recruiter’s View: To a corporation, a bursary represents a high-risk/high-reward investment. A bursary represents a significant investment in your future productivity. Corporate funders view your failure to meet the requirements of the bursary as an indication of potential risk. Therefore, corporate funders tend to be more restrictive in their funding policies.
Strategic Approach: In order to succeed in communicating with corporate funders, you need to communicate in a manner that is consistent with the business world. Describe your academic year as a project where you did not achieve the deliverables as described in the project plan.
Clearly describe how you identified the root cause of your failure to meet the deliverables and present a new plan with clear Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for your next academic year. Presenting a “performance contract” that describes your deliverables, metrics, and timelines demonstrates that you understand their language.
University and Private Bursaries
Recruiter’s View: University bursars can be more flexible in their decision-making when it comes to providing funding to students who are experiencing difficulties. Private donors can be more unpredictable in their responses to requests for funding.
Ultimately, the response of a private donor will depend on the type of relationship between the student and the donor and the specific conditions that were outlined in the original agreement for funding.
Strategic Approach: When appealing to university funders, use the resources available to you at the university, specifically your academic advisors and faculty. When appealing to private donors, describe your appeal as a heartfelt request that aligns with the mission of the donor.
Appeal Strategy: Your Formal Business Plan to Recover
An appeal is not a pleading; it is a formal business plan for another chance. Your appeal must be structured, evidence-based, and focused on the future.
Three-Step Process to Develop a Strong Appeal:
Admit Unconditionally: Admit unconditionally and directly to your failure to meet the academic requirements of your bursary. “My academic performance in [course(s)] fell short of the academic performance requirements outlined in our agreement and also fell short of my own expectations.”
By admitting unconditionally, you establish credibility and demonstrate your maturity. Avoid making excuses.
Provide an Objective Analysis of the Contributing Factors: Provide an objective analysis of the factors that contributed to your failure. “Over the semester, I experienced a significant challenge related to [health issue, family emergency, etc.], but I recognize that my failure to seek additional academic support earlier was the primary reason for my failure to meet the requirements of our agreement.”
Providing an objective analysis of the contributing factors demonstrates your ability to analyze a situation without emotion.
Develop a Concrete Recovery Plan: The Recovery Plan must be Specific, Measurable, and Actionable.
Academic Remediation: “I am currently attending weekly tutoring sessions for [subject] through the university’s academic development center, and I have scheduled biweekly meetings with my course instructor to ensure I stay on track.”
Time Management and Productivity: “I have reduced my hours of employment to 10 per week, and I have implemented a structured time management plan to help me achieve my goals.”
Metrics for Success: “I commit to maintaining an average of 60% or higher for the remainder of the semester, and I will provide you with a written report of my progress every six weeks.”
Contingency Planning: Developing a Plan B
True strategists always have a Plan B.
If funding is terminated: Identify alternative ways to fund your education for the next year. Will you need to obtain a student loan? Are there any part-time or vacation job opportunities available to help you finance your education until you can reapply for a bursary? Demonstrating your willingness to find alternative solutions to continue your education demonstrates your resilience.
If you get academically excluded, make use of your time off to gain the necessary work experience in your field. Gaining practical experience in your field will give you valuable insights into your chosen career and will demonstrate your continued commitment to your career path. Your experience can be used to enhance your readmission application.
Long-Term Perspective: Recovering from a Setback and Emerging Stronger Than Ever
One failure, if properly managed, can be a solid addition to your professional profile. Students who fail, assume full responsibility for their failure, develop a robust recovery plan, and ultimately succeed are often viewed as more successful than those students who have never experienced failure. They have demonstrated that they can overcome adversity.
The lessons learned from experiencing a setback are the same lessons you will learn throughout your professional life: the importance of understanding your contractual commitments, the value of proactive communication during times of crisis, and the discipline needed to implement a recovery plan. These are the qualities of a resilient professional.
Your response to this crisis is a test. Pass this test, and you will have demonstrated a quality of professionalism that will serve you well for the remainder of your career.
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