If you’re looking to study teaching, but don’t have the funds, then the Funza Lushaka Bursary might be for you!
The Department of Basic Education aims to increase the number of teachers in South Africa. They offer the Funza Lushaka Bursary, which provides funding to students wishing to study teaching.
We have collected all the information you need to know about the Funza Lushaka Bursary.
Table of Contents
What is the Funza Lushaka Bursary?
The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a multi-year programme that provides financial support to students pursuing teaching degrees and is available to qualified students to complete a teaching degree. The Funza Lushaka Bursary funds the following degrees:
It’s essential to know that qualified recipients of a Funza Lushaka Bursary will be assigned to a school by the provincial education department and must teach at that school for a period equivalent to the bursary’s duration.
The Funza Lushaka Bursary is awarded for one academic year and is not automatically re-awarded every year, so you must reapply for funding for the following academic year; this depends on your academic progress.
The Funza Lushaka Bursary intends to boost recruitment into teaching in priority subject areas. In most cases, the Faculty at your institute or School of Education staff will be able to assist you in determining your teaching priority subject areas that the Funza Lushaka policy covers.
In the meantime, we can give you some helpful advice here: When the Department of Basic Education decides who should get awarded the Funza Lushaka Bursary, they look at which subjects applicants are studying. The national priority subject areas to which the department gives preference (with the Funza Lushaka Bursary) are the following:
Foundation Phase (with preference for speakers of African Languages):
- Braille
- South African Sign Language (SASL)
- Neurodevelopmental Needs
Intermediate Phase (Grade 4 – 6):
- Languages
- Mathematics
- Natural Sciences
- Technology
- Braille
- SASL
- Neurodevelopmental Needs
Senior Phase (Grade 7 – 9):
- Languages
- Mathematics
- Natural Sciences
- Technology
- Braille
- SASL
- Neurodevelopmental Needs
FET Phase (Grade 10 to 12):
- Accounting
- Agricultural Sciences
- Agricultural Technology
- Civil Technology
- Computer Applications
- Technology
- Economics
- Electrical Technology
- Engineering Graphics and Design
- Geography
- Information Technology
- Languages
- Life Sciences
- Mathematics
- Mechanical Technology
- Physical Sciences
- Technical Mathematics
- Technical Science
- Braille
- SASL
- Neurodevelopmental Needs
Funza Lushaka Bursary Application Requirements
To qualify for the Funza Lushaka Bursary, you need to first gain admission at a recognised higher education institution (HEI) for the relevant study programme. First-year students are also eligible for the bursary. The Funza Lushaka bursary covers tuition fees, accommodation, meals, books and learning materials, and a small allowance for monthly living expenses where possible.
Who is Eligible for the Funza Lushaka Bursary?
General eligibility
- South African citizens with a valid ID number.
- Students currently in Grade 12.
- Students who display good academic performance.
- Anyone 30 years or younger who would like to make a career change.
- Anyone 30 years or younger who is unemployed and would like to become a teacher.
- Individuals that show dedication and passion for a professional career in teaching, display interest in working with young people, are ready to face and handle complex challenges and demonstrate high integrity and enthusiasm for a professional teaching career.
First-time entrants at university:
- All first-time applicants must be 30 years or younger to apply for Funza Lushaka Bursary.
- You must have achieved a Matric exemption, endorsement or bachelor’s degree admission.
- You must have achieved a minimum of level 4 in Matric for two subjects you intend on specialising in teaching.
- You must have achieved a pass in Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy at Grade 12 level and a minimum level 4 pass in the Home Language for students who intend to specialise in the Foundation Phase.
- You must have achieved an average of at least 50% for students who had completed Matric before 2008 when Mathematics was not compulsory.
- You must have achieved at least a level 4 pass in Mathematics for students who wish to specialise in teaching Technology subjects, including CAT and who do not have these subjects at Matric level.
New applications already at university:
- You must have achieved a minimum average of 55% across all the modules studied in the most recent year of study at the higher education institution.
- You must have achieved a minimum of 55% in modules studied relevant to the priority area teaching specialisation in the most recent year of study at the higher education institution.
New applicants enroling for a PGCE:
- You must have a recognised and completed qualification that allows admission to a PGCE.
- You must have majored in Psychology and an African language for a PGCE in Foundation Phase Teaching.
- You must have at least two recognised priority subjects at the second-year level.
Existing Funza Lushaka Bursary holders:
- You must have passed at least two-thirds (or 66.6%) of the priority subject area modules you studied in the most recent year of study at the higher education institution.
- You must be proceeding to the next level or year of study.
- You must have achieved at least a 50% average across all subject modules.
Who is Not Eligible to Apply for the Funza Lushaka Bursary?
- Anyone who has a criminal record; has been charged with misconduct or has been dismissed from work.
- Anyone who already has another teaching qualification.
- A student who has another bursary.
- Higher education institution employees, their spouse and their dependents/children are not eligible.
How to Apply for the Funza Lushaka Bursary
To apply for the Funza Lushaka Bursary, you need to register a profile online at the eGov portal and follow these steps:
Apply online (the programme accepts no hard copies)
Visit the Funza Lushaka Bursary online application portal.
Go to the new e-Government Portal and register a profile by filling in the necessary personal information.
Log in to the system using the username and password you created when you registered.
On the e-Services Menu, select the Funza Lushaka Bursary Scheme.
Enter the OTP received on the preferred channel.
Accept the Terms and Conditions
On the dashboard menu, click on the 2023 application button.
Follow the steps on the screen and complete the required fields.
Accept the declaration to confirm the information captured.
As an applicant with a registered profile, you can change your personal information by visiting “Update personal details”. You cannot, however, change the details of the institution and the selected areas of specialisation. You also cannot update your details after the deadline closing date.
Here is some more vital information to remember before applying for the Funza Lushaka Bursary:
- Only apply once you have a valid student number and have been accepted or provisionally accepted at your university of choice.
- All applications must be made online on the Funza Lushaka portal.
- Take note of the closing date; they won’t accept applications after the closing date.
- Ensure that all information you capture is accurate and that your priority subject areas are the ones you want to specialise in.
- The “academic year of study” refers to the level you are studying, e.g. BEd 1 = 1st year, BEd 3 = 3rd year.
- Your application does not guarantee that you will receive the Funza Lushaka bursary.
What Documents Do I Need to Apply for the Funza Lushaka Bursary?
Once you have completed the online application for the Funza Lushaka Bursary, print the completed online application and submit it to the university where you are accepted and registered. When submitting the application form, make sure to include the following:
- A printed copy of your online application.
- A certified copy of your ID.
- A certified copy of your academic records.
- A certified copy of your matric (Grade 12) certificate (for 1st-year applicants coming out of Grade 12).
- A certified copy of your latest academic transcript (for university students)
Submit all of these documents to your university coordinator; otherwise, your application will be rejected.
How Do I Contact Funza Lushaka?
For any queries related to the Funza Lushaka Bursary, you can contact your university’s Funza Lushaka academic and administrative coordinators directly.
Alternatively, you may contact the Department of Basic Education directly:
- Telephone number: 021 357 3000
- Email address: inquiries.funzalusaka@dbe.gov.za
What are the Application Dates for the Funza Lushaka Bursary?
Applications for new applicants are open in October annually and close at midnight between January and February
For existing or returning Funza Lushaka bursary recipients, applications close in November.
The application outcome is generally available no later than the end of April.
Late applications will not be considered.
What Costs Does the Funza Lushaka Bursary Cover?
The cost structures at universities are different, so the total value of the Funza Lushaka Bursary will differ from institution to institution.
The Funza Lushaka Bursary generally covers most of the recipient’s essential expenses—such as tuition fees, accommodation, meals, books and learning materials, and a small allowance for monthly living expenses where possible.
There is a limit to how much each recipient will receive from Funza Lushaka, and where Higher Education Institutions charge more than the limited value, the recipients will have to top it up using their own funds.
The Funza Lushaka Bursary funds two types of qualifications, which are:
- Undergraduate studies or a 4-year Bachelor of Education degree (BEd)
- Graduate studies or a 1-year Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE).
Combined qualifications are also acceptable such as combined specialisation in the Foundation Phase (Grade R – 3) and Intermediate Phase (Grade 4 – 6), or the Intermediate Phase and Senior Phase, or the Senior Phase (Grade 7 – 9) and FET Phase (Grade 10 – 12).
Do I Need to Repay the Funza Lushaka Bursary?
The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a teaching bursary funded by the government, which requires recipients to teach at a public school for the same number of years the bursary is received. You only need to repay the Funza Lushaka Bursary if:
- You fail to complete the studies.
- You do not meet the requirements of the bursary agreement.
- You register for a study programme that falls outside of the designated subject areas.
- You do not apply for a teaching position at a public school once you have completed your studies.
- You leave your teaching post at a public school before the end of the agreed service period.
How Does the Funza Lushaka Bursary Payout Work?
The payment of the Funza Lushaka Bursary will be managed by higher education institutions using their existing payment procedures. NSFAS will process payment to the institution within 30 days of receiving the application and required documents.
Some institutions may deposit the allowances directly into the students’ bank accounts; alternatively, the institution may decide to pay the allowances out using a third-party organisation of their choice. Either way, the institution will communicate this with the qualifying students.
University can cost a lot of money when considering tuition fees, learning materials, transport costs, accommodation, food and general living expenses. The Funza Lushaka Bursary can take care of those for you, provided you are willing to fulfil the commitments required by the Funza Lushaka Bursary.
Secure Another Funding Option to Study Teaching
If you prefer more freedom of choice to teach elsewhere or even decide to only teach later on in life, you could apply for one of Fundi’s education loans. Fundi’s education loan offerings cover tuition fees, learning materials, transport costs, accommodation, food and general living expenses! If this sounds more like something you’d prefer to pursue in your teaching career, you can apply for one of Fundi’s education loans. To apply, follow these easy steps:
- Go to Fundi’s educational loans page.
- Choose the type of loan that you want.
- Click “Know More”.
- Follow the instructions to fill in all of your details.
After submitting all of your relevant information, you should get a quote within 48 to 72 hours.
You will then have the option to accept the Fundi loan and its repayment terms. Once you’ve accepted the loan repayment terms, Fundi will provide a way for you to easily access your funds and help your time at university be a financially stress-free experience!
