Funza Lushaka Bursary

Fields of study

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

Who can't apply

• 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).

Who can apply

• Be a South African citizen
• Be 30 years old or younger on 31 March 2027, if a 1st-year/ first-time applicants
• 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
• Have a strong academic record
• 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
• 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)
• 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)
• 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
• Have been accepted to study at a public university in South Africa
• Be willing to teach at any school, as selected by the Provincial Education Department (PED)
• 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)
  • Have passed Matric with an exemption, endorsement or bachelor degree admission
  • 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

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

• 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
• Have achieved a minimum 55% pass average across all the modules studied in the previous year of study at a Higher Education Institution
• 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

What the bursary covers

• Tuition fees
• Books
• Learning materials
• Accommodation
• Meals
• Teaching practice
• If possible
• A small allowance for monthly living expenses depending on the cost of tuition

Documents you will need

• Students must have a valid student number when applying (this will be received after you have been accepted or provisionally accepted at university).

Full bursary documents checklist

How to apply

1. Check the requirements

   Make sure you meet every requirement listed above. Applications that miss one are usually rejected automatically.

2. Prepare your documents

   Scan clear copies of everything the provider asks for, certified where required.

3. Apply through the official channel
   • e-Government Portal
   • Register an account
   • Login
   • Funza Lushaka Bursary Information

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

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

4. Submit before the closing date

   Closes 31 January 2027. 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). Late applications are almost never accepted.

Genuine bursaries never charge an application fee. How to spot bursary scams

Contact the bursary provider

• Email [email protected]
• Phone 012 357 3000

Contact the provider only with questions about this bursary. StudentBursaries.co.za does not process applications.

About Funza Lushaka

The Department of Basic Education (DBE) oversees public schooling from Grade R to Grade 12 and runs the Funza Lushaka teacher bursary programme.