bursar

American  

[bur-ser, -sahr] / ˈbɜr sər, -sɑr /

noun

1. a treasurer or business officer, especially of a college or university.

2. (in the Middle Ages) a university student.

3. Chiefly Scot. a student attending a university on a scholarship.

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bursar British  

/ ˈbɜːsə /

noun

1. an official in charge of the financial management of a school, college, or university

2. a student holding a bursary

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Other Word Forms

• underbursar noun

Etymology

Origin of bursar

1400–50; < Medieval Latin bursārius a purse-keeper, treasurer ( bursa, -ar ² ); replacing late Middle English bouser, variant of bourser < Anglo-French; Old French borsier

Example Sentences

That individual then took on the role of an inexperienced school bursar - an administrator - who pretended to not know what was going on.

From BBC • May 1, 2025

While her unlikely role as the quiet bursar to anti-immigration organizations has been previously reported, her motivation and engagement in the immigration issue remained largely hidden.

From New York Times • Aug. 14, 2019

O is currently covered under IU student health insurance, which I pay for out of his bursar account.

From Slate • Jan. 8, 2019

Known as Sister Stefanie, she worked as a secretary and bursar of the mission's school for over 50 years.

From US News • Apr. 29, 2015

I couldn’t wait for Monday morning, to march back to school and hand the money directly to the school bursar.

From "I Will Always Write Back" by Caitlin Alifirenka and Martin Ganda