If you’re looking to study teaching in 2024 but cannot afford the academic fees, then good news! Applications for the 2024 Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme officially opened on 8 October 2023 and are set to close for new students on 2 February 2024.
Now, you may be wondering: How can Funza Lushaka help you pay your way into a career in teaching?
Well, the Funza Lushaka Bursary provides you with the funding you need to study for a teaching degree. Funza Lushaka supports two specific programmes in particular: a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) for Senior Phase and FET Teaching.
The funding from Funza Lushaka comes in the form of a bursary, which covers all the important expenses. This includes tuition fees, accommodation (with meals), study materials and even a small allowance for your monthly living costs.
If the Funza Lushaka Bursary sounds like the perfect fit for you, keep reading to learn all about how to apply in 2024.
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Before we jump right in, let’s take a look at the requirements you’ll need to meet in order to qualify for a Funza Lushaka Bursary in South Africa.
Funza Lushaka Bursary Requirements
In order to meet the criteria for the Funza Lushaka Bursary, you need to have already been accepted into a recognised higher education institution that provides your programme of study. Added to that, you also need to meet the general requirements for eligibility.
General Requirements for the Funza Lushaka Bursary
If you meet the general requirements of any one of the below criteria, you may be eligible for a Funza Lushaka Bursary:
- South African citizen with a valid ID number
- A learner who achieved high marks in Grade 12
- Below the age of 30 and looking to make a career change
- Below the age of 30 and unemployed, but passionate about teaching
- A dedicated and passionate individual who would like a professional career in teaching
- Willingness to teach in any school and be placed by a Provincial Education Department (PED)
Next, you need to make sure that you meet the academic requirements for the Funza Lushaka Bursary in order to qualify and receive funding.
Academic Requirements for the Funza Lushaka Bursary
Funza Lushaka has outlined the minimum academic requirements for the year 2024. The criteria listed below apply to 1st-year students and those who are already enrolled at a university.
1st-year student requirements:
- An exemption, endorsement or ‘admission to bachelor degree studies’ pass at a matric or Grade 12 level
- A minimum of Level 4 pass at matric level in 2 subjects that you will specialise in to teach
- Foundation Phase students need a Level 2 pass in Mathematics, a Level 4 pass in Mathematical Literacy and a Level 4 Pass in your Home Language
- Intermediate Phase students need a Level 4 pass in Mathematics, Home Language and/or in Science subjects
- Students who’d like to teach CAT, IT or other technical stream subjects need to have a Level 4 pass in Mathematics or Technical Mathematics
*Note: If your higher education institution’s admission requirements are higher than these bursary requirements, then the higher requirement will apply.
New applicants already at university:
- Must have passed all modules studied in the year prior to your bursary application at your higher education institution
- Need to have at least 55% average across all your modules from your previous year of study
- Must have at least 66.6% average in modules that you studied or took as majors, with subjects needing to relate directly to your teaching specialisations
It’s important to note that the Funza Lushaka Bursary is granted based on your academic performance. Simply meeting the requirements doesn’t guarantee you will receive the bursary. Only students who have achieved exceptional academic results will be selected to receive the Funza Lushaka Bursary.
Funza Lushaka Bursary Requirements for PGCE students
If you don’t fit into the previously mentioned two categories and you intend to pursue a PGCE, there are two criteria specified by Funza Lushaka that you should be aware of:
- You must have successfully completed a recognised qualification that qualifies you for PGCE studies.
- You need to have two priority subjects aligned with your specialisations. One of these subjects should have been completed at a 3rd-year level, and the other may have been completed at a 2nd-year level.
Now that you know what the requirements are for the Funza Lushaka Bursary, you might be curious about the monthly allowance you’ll receive should you be lucky enough to be granted the bursary. Let’s dive into the details of the monthly allowance provided by the Funza Lushaka Bursary.
Funza Lushaka Bursary Monthly Allowance
The expenses covered by the Funza Lushaka Bursary vary depending on the tertiary institution you attend. However, it’s safe to say that this bursary includes financial support for various aspects of your education, such as:
- tuition fees
- accommodation costs
- meal expenses
- learning materials (e.g. textbooks)
- a modest living allowance
It’s important to bear in mind that there’s a predefined financial limit to the support provided. If your educational institution charges more than this limit, you’ll be required to supplement the remaining costs with your own funds.
Speaking of finances, let’s take a look at the repayment conditions associated with the Funza Lushaka Bursary.
Funza Lushaka Bursary Repayment
When it comes to repayment for the Funza Lushaka Bursary, you’ll be happy to know that you don’t need to pay the money back in the usual way, as there are no repayments. Instead, you have to fulfill a different kind of commitment to Funza Lushaka:
You must agree to work as a teacher in a public school for the same number of years as you received the bursary. For example, if you got the bursary for a 4-year degree, you would need to teach in a public school for 4 years.
Should you not fulfill this obligation, you will have to repay the full bursary amount to Funza Lushaka. This repayment will be the entire bursary sum you received, minus one year’s worth of funding for each year you worked in a public school. This also includes any interest charges set by NSFAS.
If you’re okay with these conditions and meet all the requirements, you can go ahead and apply for a Funza Lushaka Bursary.
2024 Funza Lushaka Bursary Application: How to Apply
Before you can apply for the Funza Lushaka Bursary online, you first need to register an account on the eGov portal and then follow these steps:
- Visit the eGov website.
- Click on ‘Login/Register’ on the homepage
- When the pop-up menu opens, select ‘Register’ on the bottom left corner
- Accept the Terms and Conditions and click ‘Continue’
- Fill in your personal details (name, surname, ID number, passport number)
- Fill in your contact details (mobile number and email address)
- Select your Suburb, Township or Village
- Create your password
- Verify your details with the verification code provided and select ‘Register’
Once you have registered an account on the eGov portal, you can apply for a Funza Lushaka Bursary. Here’s how to apply for a Funza Lushaka Bursary online in 2024:
- Login to the eGov Portal using the username and password you created when registering your account
- On the eGov services menu, click on ‘Funza Lushaka Bursary Scheme’
- Enter the OTP from your preferred channel
- Accept the Terms and Conditions
- Once you’re on the dashboard, click on the 2024 application button
- Follow the steps to complete your application
- Accept the declaration and confirm your information
If you find that your application to Funza Lushaka isn’t working, here are some details to remember that might help with the process:
- You can only apply after you’ve been given a valid student number and have been either accepted or provisionally accepted at your university
- All applications must be done online
- No applications will be accepted after the closing date on 2 February 2024
- All your information has to be correct and accurate
- If you would like to update your personal details, you’ll need to do this before applications for the Funza Lushaka Bursary are set to close
- If you change higher education institutions before submitting your Funza Lushaka Bursary application form, it will not be considered
- You must apply online and submit your supporting documents to your university’s Funza Lushaka office
Submitting your supporting documents for Funza Lushaka is the last step you need to take when applying for your bursary. Let’s take a look at what documents you’ll need to prepare before sending your application.
Supporting Documents Needed for the Funza Lushaka Bursary
Once you’ve completed your online application for the Funza Lushaka Bursary, the next step is to submit your required documents to your college or university of choice.
These documents consist of a printed copy of your online Funza Lushaka Bursary application and certified copies of the following:
- Your South African ID.
- Your academic records.
- Your matric certificate.
- Your most recent academic transcript (if you’re already studying).
It’s important to note that meeting the eligibility criteria and submitting an application doesn’t guarantee that you’ll receive the Funza Lushaka Bursary. Fortunately, there are alternative funding options available to for you to explore.
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