Funza Lushaka Bursary 2025 | The Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme is a programme to support teaching studies and available to qualified students to complete a teaching degree in South Africa. Bursary recipients are then required to teach at public schools equivalent to the duration of the bursary received.
Funza Lushaka Bursary 2025
Application for the Funza Lushaka teaching bursary must be done online each year.
Bursary recipients are required to teach at a public school they are assigned to and they cannot choose the school they are assigned since the assignment is according to priority.
The bursary amount given will cover most of the recipient’s necessary expenses that may include tuition fees, accommodation including meals, books and learning materials, and if possible a small allowance for monthly living expenses.
Important guidelines for the Online Application of Funza Lushaka Bursary:
- Applicants who have criminal records, have been charged with misconduct or are dismissed from work are not qualified
- Higher Education Institution employees and their immediate families are not accepted
- Online application is a MUST. No hard copies are accepted by the programme.
- Printing of the completed online application is a MUST.
- Anyone who already has other teaching qualifications do not qualify
Two types of qualifications can be funded are:Undergraduate studies or a 4-year Bachelor of Education degree (B Ed), specializing in Foundation Phase (Grade R – 3), Intermediate Phase (Grade 4 – 6), Senior Phase (Grade 7 – 9) and FET Phase (Grade 10-12); and
Graduate studies or One-year Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). Combined qualifications are also acceptable such as combined specialization 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).
The priority areas are:
Foundation Phase (i.e. Grades R-3) – Foundation Phase (with preference for African Languages)
Intermediate and Senior Phase (i.e. Grades 4-9) – Preference will be given for a teaching major in TWO of the following:
- Languages
- Mathematics
- Natural Science & Technology
FET phase (i.e. Grades 10-12) – Preference will be given for a teaching major in TWO of the following:
- Accounting.
- Agricultural Sciences.
- Agricultural Technology.
- Civil Technology.
- Computer Applications Technology.
- Economics.
- Electrical Technology.
- Engineering Graphics and Design.
- Geography.
- Information Technology.
- Life Sciences.
- Mathematics.
- Mechanical Technology.
- Physical Sciences, Languages, Technical Mathematics and Technical Science.
Bursary Requirements And Eligibility
To apply to the Funza bursary online you should meet the below minimum entry requirements:
- South African citizen.
- Good academic performance.
- Graduates who want to complete a teaching degree or want to become teachers (Postgraduate Certificate in Education) and have already been accepted at an accredited public University.
- Applicants who want to make a career change and become teachers in this country, show dedication and passion for a professional career in teaching, display interest in working with young people, are ready to face and handle difficult challenges and have personal integrity.
- Higher Education Institution employees, their spouse and their dependents/children are not eligible.
- Two of the priority area subjects must be included as a specialisation in the teaching qualification.
For 1st time entrants to universityOnce logged in, go to the e-Services menu and choose Funza Lushaka Bursary.
Accept the Funza Lushaka terms and conditions to proceed.
On the Dashboard menu, click on the 2024 Application button and follow the steps. completing all the required fields with accurate information.
Accept the confirmation declaration and receive feedback on the status of the application through email.Print the completed online application and submit it to the university where you are accepted and registered.
Accompany the application form with certified copies of your ID and your academic records:
Certified copy of Grade 12 result or certificate, for 1st-year students coming out of Grade 12
Certified copy of the latest academic transcript, for students already at university
Accompanying documents must be submitted to the applicant’s university coordinator, otherwise, the application will be rejected.
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
- New applicants are advised to also pursue other funding opportunities such as NSFAS
- The outcome of the selection process will be available from the University no later than 30 April each year.
- Late applications will not be considered.
- Should applicants need to make changes in their application details, they have access to the online bursary application by going to “Update personal details”. Updating application details is only allowed before the application closing date. Changing institutions and areas of specialization will not be allowed and doing so will subject an application to rejection.
- Application for the bursary is not a guarantee that a student will obtain it.
Application Dates:
Applications for the Funza Lushaka bursary for 2025 opened on 08 October 2024.
Re-applications (for Existing/Returning Bursary Recipients): 30 November 2024
First-time applicant’s bursary deadline closes on 02 February 2025
Contact Details
Please contact your university’s Funza Lushaka academic and administrative coordinators. Alternatively, you can also your provincial education department (PED) or contact the Department of Basic Education here:
Phone: 012 357 3000
Email: inquiries.funzalushaka@dbe.gov.za
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Are there any age limit for bursary application?
- No, as long as the applicant is currently at least at Grade 12 and forward level.
Are Advanced Certificate in Education (ACE) students accepted?
- No. Funza Lushaka Bursaries are only offered to inexperienced teacher education students.
Can distance education and part-time students apply for a bursary?
- Yes, provided they meet all other admission and application criteria.
Are beneficiaries of other funding eligible to apply for a Funza Lushaka bursary?
- Yes, if they qualified and if the terms and conditions of the other bursary agreements allow.
How much is a Funza Lushaka bursary worth?
The total value of a bursary depends on the institution’s cost structures. Funza Lushaka bursaries will pay for the recipient’s necessary educational expenses.The recipient fails to complete the studies.
The recipient cannot comply with minimum bursary conditions and requirement.
Student registers for a course of study that is not in a designated priority area.
Recipient fails to apply and take up a teaching post at a public school.
Recipient leaves a teaching post before the end of the contracted service period.
How much must be repaid for the bursary?
- The recipient as mentioned above, will be required to repay the full amount of the bursary received with accrued interest compounded monthly.
Are Funza Lushaka bursary recipients allowed a “gap year” or proceed to complete further studies immediately after qualifying?
No. Students must accept a teaching post immediately after qualifying. Bursary extension will not be given to a qualifying student.