Funza Lushaka Bursary

Who can apply

• You must be a South African citizen
• You must be 30 years old or younger on 31 March 2027, if a 1st-year/ first-time applicants
• You must have been accepted into an approved B.Ed. degree programme and for Intermediate, Senior and FET Phases – you must specialise in 2 or more of the priority subject areas as outlined on Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme Implementation Framework
• You must have a strong academic record
• You must be interested in working with young people; be enthusiastic for a professional career in teaching; and be ready to face and surmount difficult challenges with integrity
• You must NOT have already completed a teaching qualification (the bursary does NOT cover extended programmes such as Higher Certificate in Education, Post Graduate Certificate in Education, Honours or Master’s, or Doctoral programmes)
• You must NOT have a criminal record or offence registered against you – all applicants must check the following records: South African Police Services (SAPS) (any police station) – apply for police clearance records (PCR), which is similar to a fingerprint report Department of Justice and Correctional Services (DOJCS) – to confirm that you are not in the National Register for Sexual Offenders (NSRO) Department of Social Development (DSD) – to check if you do not appear on their National Register for Child Offenders (note: if the criminal record or offence is more than 10 years old, you can apply for expungement from the DOJCS, however, if it is less than 10 years old, your application will NOT be accepted)
• You must complete the Teacher Screening form, if you are a first-time applicants from the district-based recruitment (this digitised form will allow for screening and consideration of your application before applying for the bursary) – not for students already enrolled at university.
• You must have been accepted to study at a public university in South Africa
• You must be willing to teach at any school, as selected by the Provincial Education Department (PED)
• You must read the Funza Lushaka Bursary Information before applying
• First time university entrants (excluding students who have studied other degrees or were funded through government funds such as NSFAS): You must have passed Matric with an exemption, endorsement or bachelor degree admission You must have achieved a minimum of level 4 (50%) in Matric for 2 subjects you intend on specialising to teach
• Students who will specialise in Foundation Phase (BEd FP): you must have achieved a minimum level 3 (40%) pass for Mathematics OR a minimum level 4 (50%) pass for Mathematical Literacy AND a minimum of level 4 (50%) pass for your Home Language in Matric
• Students who will specialise in Intermediate Phase (BEd IP): you must have achieved a minimum level 3 (40%) pass for Mathematics OR a minimum level 5 (60%) pass for Mathematical Literacy AND a minimum of level 4 (50%) pass for your Home Language in Matric
• Students who will specialise in Intermediate Phase (BEd IP): you must specialise in 2 of the following: Indigenous South African Language subjects, Natural Science and Technology, if you completed Mathematics in Matric
• Students who will specialise in Intermediate Phase (BEd IP): you must specialise in Indigenous South African Language subject, Natural Science and Technology, if you completed Language, Physical Science and Life Science level 4 pass and level 5 (60%) pass for Mathematics Literacy in Matric
• Students who will specialise in Senior/FET phase: you must have achieved a Matric pass with endorsement/ Grade 12 pass with bachelor’s, with a minimum pass of level 4 (50%) in two priority subject areas
• Students who will specialise in Senior/FET phase, in the teaching of Technical subjects, including Computer Applications Technology (CAT): you must have achieved a minimum of level 4 pass in Mathematics or Technical Mathematics in Matric Note: if the tertiary institution’s entry requirements are higher than the bursary requirement, or vice versa, the higher requirement will apply.
• Students pursuing the Bachelor of Education Degree in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) at the University of Pretoria: you must have achieved a bachelor’s pass in Matric National Senior Certificate (NSC) OR Level 4 National Certificate (Vocational) with endorsement for entry into Bachelor studies, or equivalent, with 28 APS or 55% aggregate of all subjects: a minimum of l level 4 (50%) for home language specifically South African Indigenous languages and a minimum of level 3 (40%) for Mathematics OR a level 4 (50%) for Mathematical Literacy
• South African Police Services (SAPS) (any police station) – apply for police clearance records (PCR), which is similar to a fingerprint report
• Department of Justice and Correctional Services (DOJCS) – to confirm that you are not in the National Register for Sexual Offenders (NSRO)
• Department of Social Development (DSD) – to check if you do not appear on their National Register for Child Offenders
• (note: if the criminal record or offence is more than 10 years old, you can apply for expungement from the DOJCS, however, if it is less than 10 years old, your application will NOT be accepted)
• You must have passed Matric with an exemption, endorsement or bachelor degree admission
• You must have achieved a minimum of level 4 (50%) in Matric for 2 subjects you intend on specialising to teach
• Note: if the tertiary institution’s entry requirements are higher than the bursary requirement, or vice versa, the higher requirement will apply.
• You must have passed all of the modules studied in the year prior to the bursary application at the Higher Education Institution which are Funza Lushaka Priority subjects Areas
• You must have achieved a minimum 55% pass average across all the modules studied in the previous year of study at a Higher Education Institution
• You must have achieved a minimum 66.5% pass average in modules studied in the applicant’s previous year of study at university which relate directly to the priority subject area of teaching specialisation

How to apply

Applications are submitted directly to Funza Lushaka - we do not collect applications. Read the eligibility criteria, prepare your supporting documents, then complete your application on the official page.

Full details

Funza Lushaka Bursary South Africa 2027

WHAT FIELDS OF STUDY DOES THE FUNZA LUSHAKA BURSARY COVER?

The Department of Education is inviting students to apply for the Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme, for the 2027 academic year.

Bursaries will be awarded for studies towards a Teaching qualification, specifically the following qualifications:

Undergraduate studies:

• 4-year Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Care and Education (B. Ed. ECCE) for ECD Grade RR- R - 3rd years of University of Pretoria ONLY who are part of the project.
• 4-year Bachelor of Education degree (B.Ed.), specialising in one of the following: Foundation Phase (Grade R - 3) Intermediate Phase (Grade 4 - 6) Senior and Further Education and Training Teaching (Grade 7-12)

The following will NOT be funded:

• Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) will not be funded.
• The Funza Lushaka Bursary will NOT fund the following subjects: History, Geography, Accounting, Economics, Business Studies, EMS, Life Orientation and Physical Education (these are in the DBE unemployment database and are regarded as being in oversupply).
• The Funza Lushaka Bursary will fund mainly fund South African Indigenous Languages and Afrikaans in selected provinces (Western Cape, Northern Cape, Free State and Eastern Cape), while a small portion of English prospective teachers will be funded as well.
• The Funza Lushaka Bursary will NOT fund subjects with low uptake in schools: Religious Studies, Music, Dance, Art.
• Combinations of 2 Languages will not be funded - these disadvantage schools during timetabling (the teacher can only teach one language subject and a content subject).

WHAT EXPENSES DOES THE FUNZA LUSHAKA BURSARY COVER?

The bursary will provide cover for the following expenses: tuition fees, books and learning materials, accommodation, meals, teaching practice and if possible, and a small allowance for monthly living expenses depending on the cost of tuition.

Bursaries are awarded for 1 academic year at a time and students are required to reapply for funding each year. Renewal of the bursary is NOT guaranteed, but is dependent on students academic performance.

After graduation, bursary recipients must apply for teaching positions in public schools after qualifying, within 6 months after graduating. Students must teach for 1 year for each year of funding received.

WHAT ARE THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR THE FUNZA LUSHAKA BURSARY?

Applicants must satisfy the following minimum entry criteria before applying (please note that failure to satisfy all the requirements will lead to your application not being considered):

Currently funded students, already studying at university (2nd, 3rd or 4th year):

HOW CAN I APPLY FOR THE FUNZA LUSHAKA BURSARY?

Applications must be submitted online at: Funza Lushaka Bursary Application 2027

Applicants must follow these steps to submit their bursary application:

1. Visit the e-Government Portal website
2. Register an account by filling in your required personal details (after ticking the boxes to agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy of the e-Gov portal)
3. Login using your selected username and password
4. Select the “Funza Lushaka Bursary Scheme” on the e-Services Menu
5. Insert the OTP you received
6. Read and accept the Terms and Conditions
7. Click on the “2026 application” button on the dashboard
8. Fill in the required information
9. Read and accept the declaration to confirm your information

Enter “www.zabursaries.co.za” in the field asking how you heard about the Funza Lushaka Bursary.

Note: only online applications will be accepted - NO hard copy applications will be accepted.

APPLICATION NOTES FOR THE FUNZA LUSHAKA BURSARY

• Students must read the Funza Lushaka Bursary Information before applying.
• Students must have a valid student number when applying (this will be received after you have been accepted or provisionally accepted at university).
• Ensure that your information submitted is correct - you will be able to access your online application to make any changes before final submission.
• Ensure that your priority subject areas on your application for are the ones you will specialise in.
• Academic year of study means the level you are studying (B Ed 1 is 1st year, B Ed 2 is 2nd year etc).
• You are not allowed to change institutions after applying for the bursary.
• Applying for the bursary does NOT automatically guarantee you will receive it.
• Supporting documents must be submitted to your university’s Funza Lushaka office.

WHEN IS THE CLOSING DATE FOR THE FUNZA LUSHAKA BURSARY?

• 30 November 2026 (returning bursary recipients who are currently receiving the Funza Lushaka bursary).
• 31 January 2027 (new applicants who have not applied for the Funza Lushaka bursary before).

(Applications submitted after these dates will not be accepted - please apply before the closing date to ensure your application is considered.)

HOW CAN I CONTACT THE BURSARY PROVIDER?

For any queries related to this bursary programme, please contact your University Funza Lushaka academic and administrative co-ordinators directly (do NOT contact the Department of Basic Education, the Department of Higher Education and Training or NSFAS for queries regarding the bursary, please also do not come in person to the DBE).

Before you make an enquiry, please read the Funza Lushaka Bursary FAQ’s.

• Alternatively, you may contact the Department of Basic Education here:
• Tel: 012 357 3000
• Email: [email protected]

WHAT DOES THE DEPARTMENT OF BASIC EDUCATION DO?

The Department of Basic Education deals with schools throughout South Africa, from Grade R to 12 and adult literacy programmes. The DBE was formerly part of the National Department of Education before it split into two: the DBE (Department of Basic Education) and DHE (Department of Higher Education)

The departments goal is to create a sustainable South African education system for the 21st century - one where all learners have access to learning, training and education. Their vision is that the education system will improve the quality of life for all South Africans and create a peaceful, prosperous and democratic country.

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Frequently asked questions

Sources

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