Place the address of the bursary at the top of your letter. Begin your letter with the name and address of the bursary aligned to the left at the top of the page.
Unless you know the name of the official who will be addressing your inquiry, use a standard business salutation, such as "Dear sir or madam." This salutation starts your letter formally and clearly conveys your professionalism.
The first paragraph should state the purpose for the letter clearly by concisely writing that you are applying for a bursary. Do not overwrite this paragraph; two to three sentences will suffice.
Explain your course of study in the second paragraph. Tell the bursary where and what you will be studying. This paragraph, like the first, need not be extensive. The bursary likely reads many letters of this nature, so they will appreciate a letter that is clear and does not contain extraneous information.
In the final paragraph, compose a one to two sentence paragraph explaining the gratitude you would feel if you received this financial assistance for your education. Do not make grandiose claims of eternal gratitude, but instead simply state that you are appreciative.
Finish with a complimentary closing, such as "Sincerely" or "Yours truly", and a signature. Type your name below your signature so you can be easily identified, and your letter can be connected to your application.