The Funza Lushaka Bursary Scheme Application 2026 Open - Apply Now

5. The link is herein attached for district-based applicants use only; https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MHYXCFQ

6. First-time District-Based recruited applicants, once they are screened to check if they meet the criteria, should ensure that they apply for the bursary online before the closing date as specified on the landing page.

NO ONLINE APPLICATION 2 will mean NO BURSARY

7. If you already have a teaching qualification, you do not qualify for Funza Lushaka Bursary. Funza Lushaka bursary does not fund extended programmes such as Higher Certificate in Education, Honours or Master's, or Doctoral programmes.

EXCLUSIONS FOR 2025

8. Funza Lushaka does not fund PGCE currently.

9. The DBE collect data of unemployed teachers; therefore has data of subjects which are regarded as oversupply – thus Funza Lushaka does not fund aspiring teachers who qualified in subjects which are in the unemployment database, such as History, Geography, Accounting, Economics, Business Studies, EMS, Life Orientation and Physical Education

10. Funza Lushaka will predominantly fund South African Indigenous Languages and Afrikaans in selected provinces, which are:

Western Cape, Northern Cape, Free State and Eastern Cape, while a small portion of English prospective teachers will be funded as well.

11. Funza Lushaka does not fund the subjects with low uptake in schools: Religious Studies, Music, Dance, Art

12. Combinations of two Languages are discouraged as they disadvantage schools during timetabling (the teacher can only teach one language subject and a content subject).

PROGRAMMES TO BE FUNDED

13. Two types of qualifications can be funded as shown below. The qualification must include subjects which will allow the student to specialise as a teacher in at least two priority subject areas. Priority Subject Areas – are subjects that are identified by provinces and the Departments of Basic Education as subjects where teachers are required in the sector for teaching purposes (see next section below).

Undergraduate studies

✓ 4-year Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Care and Education (B. Ed. ECCE) for ECD Grade RR- R 3

✓ 4-year Bachelor of Education degree (B.Ed.), specialising in one of the following:

Foundation Phase (Grade R – 3), Intermediate Phase (Grade 4 – 6) and Senior and Further Education and Training Teaching (Grade 7-12).

N.B. A 1-year Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) is offered at Higher Education Institution (HEIs) but will not be funded in 2026.

FOR GRADUATES FROM OTHER FACULTIES THAT INTEND TO STUDY TEACHING

The Department of Basic Education advises all graduates intending to study to become teachers through PGCE, NOT to register for PGCE for Foundation and Intermediate Phases. These phases of schooling require specialised training over the full four years, not just one year as the PGCE offers. Students wishing to proceed with PGCE for Senior/FET Phases – should ensure that they have passed two teaching subjects in the degree they qualified. The teaching subjects should preferably be two content subjects NOT one language and one content subject.

SELECTION CRITERIA

14. Selection criteria include the following:

14.1. The bursary is only awarded to South African citizens with a valid South African ID card.

14.2. The applicant should demonstrate good academic ability.

14.3. Applicants should be below the age of 30 years to qualify for the Funza Lushaka Bursary.

14.4. The Funza Lushaka bursary does not fund extended programmes or additional degree/qualifications.

14.5. The applicant must be accepted into an approved B.Ed. degree programme and specialises in two or more of the priority subject areas.

14.6. The applicant must exhibit the following teaching career traits, which include interest in working with young people; enthusiasm for a professional career in teaching; and readiness to face and surmount difficult challenges with integrity.

SERVICE OBLIGATION

14.7. The applicant has an obligation to purposefully apply for a teaching post in public 4 schools after qualifying, of which this stands for six months after graduating. The applicant has an obligation to show evidence that applications were made.

14.8. The FLB graduates are to take note that there will be NO preferential placement by a Provincial Education Department (PED), as all Graduates are to be given equal opportunity for employment

CRITERIA FOR AWARDING BURSARY

15. Students must meet the minimum academic criteria for award of the bursary. In 2026, the minimum academic criteria are:

15.1. For 1st time entrants to university (exclude those applicants that have studied other degrees (passed or failed those degrees) or were funded through government funds such as NSFAS):

15.1.1. An exemption, endorsement, or ‘admission to bachelor’s degree studies’ pass at matric/Grade 12 level.

15.1.2. Matric pass with endorsement /Grade 12 pass with bachelors – with at least a level 4 (50% and above) pass in the two subjects which the applicant will specialise in teaching.

SPECIFIC CRITERIA PER PHASE

15.1.3. For students who wish to specialise in the Foundation Phase (a and b): Requirements for BEd FP: (a) Matric pass with endorsement /Grade 12 pass with a bachelor’s with: - A Mathematics pass of minimum Level 2 (30% and above) pass OR a Mathematical Literacy pass of minimum Level 4 (50% and above) pass will be required. - In addition, the Home Language pass at level 4 (50%) and above.

15.1.4. For students who wish to specialise in the Intermediated Phase, Requirements for BEd IP: (a) Matric pass with endorsement /Grade 12 pass at bachelor’s with: - Mathematics pass of Level 3 (40%) and above, or pass Mathematical Literacy at level 5 (60%) and above - In addition, the Home Language pass at level 4 (50%) and above. Subject Combinations for BEd IP: (a) Students with Mathematics can specialise in two of the following: Indigenous South African Language subjects, Natural Science and Technology (b) Students with Language, Physical Science and Life Science level 4 pass can specialise in the Indigenous South African Language subject, Natural 6 Science and Technology if they have passed Mathematics Literacy with a level 5 (60%) pass.

15.1.5. For students who wish to specialise in the Senior/FET phase: Requirements for BEd Senior/FET: (a) Matric pass with endorsement /Grade 12 pass with bachelor’s, with: - A pass of level 4 (50%) in two priority subject areas is a requirement. (b) Students who wish to specialise in the teaching of Technical subjects, including Computer Applications Technology (CAT), and who do not have these subjects at matric or grade 12 level, must have at least a level 4 pass in Mathematics or Technical Mathematics.

15.1.6. NB: If the institution’s admission requirements are higher than the bursary requirement and vice versa, then the higher requirement will apply.

CONDITIONS TO QUALIFY FOR RE-AWARD:

15.2. For re-applicants already studying at university, doing 2nd,3rd or 4th year the following are the criteria:

15.2.1. The student 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.

15.2.2. At least a 55% pass average across all the modules studied in the applicant’s previous year of study at a Higher Education Institution.

15.2.3. The student must have at least 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.

15.2.4. The student must be progressing to the next level/year of study, i.e. they must be eligible to register next study level full load and few failed modules.

15.2.5. The above are minimum criteria for the Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme, as a prestigious bursary that must be awarded firstly on the basis of academic competency. The criteria applied at a particular institution may be higher than 7 these minimum requirements as recommended for Funza Lushaka but cannot be lower.

15.2.6. The bursary is awarded for one academic year at a time. It is not automatically reawarded for the following years of study. A re-award depends on the academic performance of the previous year’s results.

15.2.7. There is no automatic promise of financial support for a fifth (5th) year of study, i.e. beyond the fourth (4 th) year of study. On evidence of good academic performance, and pending the availability of funds, the bursary may be re-awarded.

15.2.8. Funza Lushaka fund students who use this fund for all the years of their study (4 years of study). Should the student drop Funza Lushaka for one year, should the student wish to return after a year of breaking away from Funza Lushaka, the student should note that they will not be considered for future funding

15.2.9. Recipients of bursaries will be required to teach one year for every year for which they have received the bursary.

BACHELOR OF EDUCATION DEGREE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION (B-ECCE)

16. For new applicants enrolling for a newly introduced Bachelor of Education Degree in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), which is offered only in the University of Pretoria and North-West University. 16.1. Candidates will be considered for admission if they meet at least one of the following criteria:

(a) In possession of a bachelor's pass in Matric OR Grade 12 OR National Senior Certificate (NSC), or a Level 4 National Certificate (Vocational) with endorsement for entry into Bachelor studies, or equivalent, with 28 APS or 55% aggregate of all subjects:

(b) A level 4 (50% and above) pass in home language specifically South African Indigenous languages in grade 12.

(c) A level 3 (40% and above) pass in pure Mathematics and a level 4 (50% and above) pass in Mathematical Literacy in grade 12. 8

16.2. Candidates who fail to acquire admission at a public Higher Education Institution (HEI) will not be recommended and are not eligible to apply for the bursary.

16.3. A candidate who meets all the bursary conditions including matric/grade 12 qualification and the age limit and has completed or is in possession of a relevant NQF 6 Advance Certificate or NQF 6 Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education completed in a public HEI is encouraged to apply for the bursary.

16.4. Meeting all the criteria mentioned herein doesn’t guarantee an automatic award for the bursary Applicants must note that these are minimum criteria. Meeting these criteria does NOT mean AUTOMATIC ACCEPTANCE for the bursary. A limited number of bursaries are available, and the best students will be selected for the bursary. The selection committee reserves the right not to award the bursary, irrespective of the status of academic results or performance of the applicant.

BURSARY COVERS THE FOLLOWING:

17. Funza Lushaka bursaries cover most of the recipient’s essential expenses. Expenses covered include:

(a) tuition fees,

(b) accommodation including meals,

(c) books and learning materials,

(d) teaching practice and if possible,

(e) a small allowance for monthly living expenses depending on the cost of tuition in the university enrolled to study.

18. The bursary is capped at a specific value, where the university fees are more than the capped value, the bursars will have to top up from their funds. Where the university fees are less than the capped value, FLB will pay the cost of study (NOT CAPPED AMOUNT)

19. Universities have different cost structures, so the total value of a bursary differs from institution to institution, hence students cannot receive maximum bursary value.

20. Information outlining accommodation payments will be in the Funza Lushaka 9 Bursary guidelines.

REPAYMENT OF THE BURSARY

21. Instances where the bursary conditions are not adhered to may require repayment of the bursary. (a) Students unilaterally changing the priority subject areas will result in their bursary being revoked and payment for the amount used will be implemented in this regard. (b) The amount that is repayable is the full amount of the bursary received under the programme, Interest will be charged at the rate determined by NSFAS.

CONTACT DETAILS FOR APPLICANTS

22. If you are awarded or re-awarded the bursary, you will be expected to have an email address and a contactable cell phone number, which will not be changed for the duration of the studies, for communication purposes with the funder - DBE officials. These conditions are all contained in the bursary contract which all applicants must sign. When applicants sign the bursary contract, they are legally agreeing to the conditions described in the contract. The applicants must keep a copy of the signed contract.

PROCESSES FOR APPLYING FOR THE BURSARY

23. Applications must only be made once students have been allocated a valid student number and have been accepted/provisionally accepted at their university of choice.

24. All applications must be made online at www.funzalushaka.doe.gov.za or www.eservices.gov.za. Take note of the closing date. No applications will be considered after the closing date. 10 Students must apply online and submit supporting documentation to the university’s Funza Lushaka office.

25. Please ensure that all information that you capture is accurate, and that priority subject areas that you capture are the ones you will specialise in.

The academic year of study refers to the level you are studying e.g. B Ed 1 = 1st year, B Ed 3 = 3rd year.

26. Please note that you have access to your on-line bursary application to “Update personal details” or make changes to your application while the system is still open before applications close.

27. Students who change institutions after submitting their bursary application forms will not be considered for selection. however, applicants are encouraged to update admission status or change institutions while the system is still open.

28. Having applied for the bursary is not a guarantee that a student will receive it.

Communications from students about the bursary

29. All enquiries about the bursary must be directed to the Funza Lushaka academic and administrative co-ordinators at your university. They will be best placed to respond to any issues.

30. Students should not communicate directly with NSFAS (the financial managers of the Bursary Fund) or with the Department of Basic Education (DBE) or the Department of Higher Education and Training.

31. For escalation of matters, students may not come in person to the DBE, but should phone and enquire at 012 357 3000 or email DBE at inquiries.funzalushaka@dbe.gov.za.

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