Funza Lushaka: Teaching Bursary / Scholarship Programme 2025
The following must be read before making an application fora Funza Lushaka bursary
1.Should you have a criminal record, charged of misconductor dismissed from work, kindly note that you are not eligible to apply for this bursary.
2.Allocation of Funza Lushaka bursaries to Higher Education Institution employees, their spouse and their dependents/children is not permissible.
3.Non-disclosure of theinformation required as stated in 2 above will be treated as fraud.
4.This online applicationis a MUST. No hard copies are accepted by the programme.
5.Printing of the completed on-line application is a MUST.
6.Please note that those who already have other teaching qualifications do not qualify for this programme.Programmes to be funded
7.Twotypes of qualifications can be funded. These are shown below. The qualification must include subjects which will allow the student to specialise as a teacher in at least two priority areas (see next section below).
Undergraduate studies
✓4-year Bachelor of Educationdegree (B Ed), specialising in Foundation Phase (Grade R –3), Intermediate Phase (Grade 4 –6), Senior Phase (Grade 7 –9) and FET Phase (Grade 10-12).
Graduate studies
✓One-year Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)for graduates whose degrees include at least one major in one of the twopriority subjects.
Take note that some universities offer qualifications which combine 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). These combined qualifications are also acceptable.
Admission criteria
8.Selection criteria include the following:
8.1.The bursary is only awarded to South African citizens with a valid South African ID number;
8.2.The applicant should demonstrate good academic ability; 29.Students must meet the minimum academic criteria for award of the bursary.
In 2020, the minimum academic criteria are:
9.1.For 1st time entrants to university:
9.1.1.An exemption, endorsement, or ‘admission to bachelor degree studies’ pass at matric/Grade 12 level.
9.1.2.At least a level 4 pass at matric level in the subject whichtheapplicant will specialize to teach.
9.1.3.For students who wish to specialize in the Foundation Phase, a pass in Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy at Grade 12 level is required. In addition, at least alevel 4 pass in the Home Language is required. If a student completed matric prior to 2008 when Mathematics was not compulsory, a student may still be considered based on an overall good performance (Average of at least 50%).
9.1.4.Students who wish to specialize in the teaching of Technology subjects, including CAT, and who do not have these subjects at matric level, must have at least a level 4pass in Mathematics.
9.1.5.If the institution’s admission requirements are higher than the bursary requirement and vice versa then thehigher requirement will apply.
9.2.For new applicants already at university The student must have:
9.2.1The student must have passed all of the modules studied in 2019or the last year of study at the Higher Education Institution.
9.2.2At least a 55% average across all the modules studied in 2019or in the applicant’s last year of study at a Higher Education Institution.
9.2.3The student must have at least 55% average in modules studied in 2019or in the applicant’s last year of study at university which relate directly to the priority area teaching specialization.
9.2.4These are minimum criteria.
The Funza Lushaka bursary is a prestigious bursary that must be awarded firstly on the basis of academic ability. The criteria applied at particular institutions may be higher than those suggested here, but cannot belower.
9.3 For new applicants enrolling for PGCE
9.3.1 The student must have successfully completed a recognized qualification that qualifies him/her to be admitted for a PGCE
9.3.2 To be considered for a PGCE in Foundation Phase Teaching a student must have majored in Psychology and an African Language.
9.3.3 To be considered for PGCE in Intermediate Phase, Senior Phase and Further Education and Training Teaching the student must have majored in the subject he/she wishes to specialize in from the B. degree.
9.3.4 The student must have at least TWO identified priority subjects at second year level;
9.3.5 The student must have sufficient modules in the identified priority subjects to qualify to teach it as a subject at school.
9.4 For existing bursaries
9.4.1 The student must have passed at least two-thirds (66.6%) of all the subject modules studied in the last year of study at the university.
9.4.2 The student must have passed at least two-thirds (66.6%) of the priority subject area modules studied in the last year of study at the Higher Education Institution.
9.4.3 If a student is doing one priority subject he/she must pass it to qualify for re-award;
9.4.4 The student must be progressing to the next level/year of study.
9.4.5 The students must achieve at least 50% average across all subject modules.
Applicants must note that these are minimum criteria. Meeting these criteria does not mean automatic acceptance for the bursary. There are a limited number of bursaries available, and the best students will be selected for the bursary.
10.The bursary is awarded for one academic year at a time. It is not automatically re-awarded. Re-award will depend on academic success. There is no automatic promise of support for 4 years plus 1 more year. On evidence of academic success, and pending the availability of funds, the bursary may be renewed each year until the recipient of the bursary has qualified as a teacher. Recipients of bursaries will be required to teach one year for every year for which they receive a bursary.
11.What the bursary covers: Funza Lushaka bursaries cover mostof therecipient’s essential expenses. Expenses covered include tuition, accommodationincluding meals, books and learning materials, and ifpossible a small allowance for monthly living expenses. The allocation to any inlidual student iscapped at a specific value. Where the universitycharges more than the capped value the bursars will have to top up from own funds. Universities have different cost structures, so the total value of a bursary differs from institution to institution.
Repayment
12.Recipients of these bursaries will be required to teach at a public school for the same number of years that they received the bursary.
13.The amount that is repayable is the full amount of the bursary received under the programme, less one year’s funding for every year spent teaching at a public school. Interest will be charged at the rate determined by NSFAS.
14.If you are awarded or re-awarded the bursary you will be expected to have an e-mail address and a contactable cell phone numberfor SMS purposes.
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 should keep a copy of the signed contract for themselves.
Process for applying for the bursar in 2025
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.
20 All applications must be made online at www.funzalushaka.doe.gov.za.Take note of the closing date. No applications will be entertained after the closing date. Students must apply online and submit supporting documentation to the university.
21 After your application has been completed online, you will be prompted to make a printout. This will serve as proof of your application. Keep a copy for yourself, and submit a copy to the university where you have beenaccepted andwhere you will be registering.
22 The copy submitted to the university must be accompanied by:
22.1 A certified copy of your ID.
22.2 A certified copy of your academic results. For 1st year students coming out of Grade 12, this will be a certified copy of your Grade 12 result notification or Grade 12 certificate. For students already at university, this will be a certified copy of your academic transcript, which must include results for 2019or your last year of study at university.
23 If these documents are not submitted to the Coordinator at the university, your application will not be considered during the bursary selection process.
24 Please ensure that all information that you capture is accurate, and that priority areas that you capture are the ones you will specialize 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.
25 Please note that you have access to your on-line bursary application to “Update personal details” or make changes to your application before applications close.
26 Students who change institutions after submitting their bursary application forms will not be considered for selection.
27 Each University has a Financial Aid Office and a Funza Lushaka Bursary Coordinator is there to assist you. The details for the contact person at university is shown on the print out.
28 Having applied for the bursary is not a guarantee that a student will receive it.
Communications from students about the bursary
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. Students should not communicate directly with NSFAS (the financial managers of the scheme) or with the Department of Basic Education (DBE) or the Department of Higher Education and Training. Students may not come in person to the DBE, but should phone and enquire at 012357 3000