Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme — 2026 (for young South Africans)

Omran Aburayya
2 days ago
4 min read

If you are a young South African thinking of becoming a teacher, the Funza Lushaka Bursary for 2026 is now open — and it’s designed exactly to help talented, committed students afford teacher training in subjects where schools need teachers most. The programme is run by the Department of Basic Education and supports eligible students at South Africa’s public higher-education institutions. Here's everything you need to know.

🎓 Quick Facts

Location: South Africa — funding applies at public universities across the country.
Funder: Department of Basic Education (Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme) administered through the Funza Lushaka portal and the e-Services platform.
Study level: Mainly 4-year BEd degrees (including the new BEd ECCE where applicable). PGCE is not funded for 2026 in most cases.
Target group: South African citizens; first-time applicants must be 30 years old or younger at the time of application. Returning/continuing students may re-apply under different rules.
Priority fields: Priority teaching areas vary by phase but include — among others — Indigenous South African languages and Afrikaans (in selected provinces), Mathematics, Physical Sciences, Computer Applications, Engineering Graphics & Design, Agricultural Sciences, Natural Science & Technology, and Foundation Phase specialisations. (Subjects considered over-supplied — e.g., Geography, History, Economics, Physical Education — are typically excluded).
Value & coverage: Covers tuition fees, accommodation (including meals), books/learning materials, teaching-practice costs, and, where possible, a small living allowance.
Duration: Awarded one academic year at a time and re-awarded subject to academic progress and fund availability (normally up to the normal length of the qualifying degree — e.g., four years for a BEd).
Application window (2026): Applications open 07 October 2025. New applications close 24 January 2026. Re-applications for existing/returning bursars close 30 November 2025.

📚 Scholarship Overview

Funza Lushaka is a targeted national bursary to attract graduates and school leavers into the teaching profession where shortages exist. For 2026 the programme focuses on full-length teacher qualifications (principally the four-year BEd and the BEd ECCE at certain universities). The scheme prioritises applicants who plan to specialise in two or more designated priority subject areas so that each graduate can cover curriculum needs in schools. The bursary also supports costs related to teaching practice placements — an essential, practical part of teacher training.

💲 Benefits

Tuition fees (up to the FLB cap).
Accommodation and meals (subject to institution rules and caps).
Books and learning materials.
Teaching-practice costs (where applicable).
Possible small monthly living allowance depending on cost structure and funding availability.

⚠️ Important: The bursary is capped; if a university’s fees exceed that cap the student must pay the difference. Universities have different cost structures so total benefit value varies between institutions.

✅ Eligibility Criteria (essentials)

South African citizen with a valid ID number.
First-time applicants must be 30 years old or younger on the application date.
Must be accepted or provisionally accepted into an approved BEd degree (or BEd ECCE where offered) that includes two or more priority teaching subjects. PGCE funding is limited / not funded for 2026 in most cases.
Academic minimums: matric/Grade 12 with bachelor’s endorsement (or equivalent) and minimum levels in the subject majors (e.g., Level 4 / 50%+ in priority subjects — specifics depend on phase). Re-applicants must meet minimum university performance thresholds (see full guidelines).
No current teaching qualification; not currently funded for another teaching qualification; and clean checks against criminal registers that affect eligibility (see next section).

🔍 Safety checks & criminal-record requirements

Before applying you must confirm your records with: SAPS (police clearance records / fingerprints), the Department of Justice & Correctional Services (to check the National Register for Sexual Offenders), and the Department of Social Development (national child-offenders register). If you appear on one of these registers you will be ineligible unless the matter is expunged (and expungement rules apply). Applicants with offences less than ten years old are generally not eligible.

📝 Application procedure

All applications are online only. The standard steps applicants use for 2026 are:

Register on the e-Gov portal (www.eservices.gov.za) and create your username/password.
Login and select Funza Lushaka Bursary Scheme from the e-Services menu.
Supply the required personal information and enter the OTP you receive on your chosen channel.
Select the 2026 application on your dashboard and complete all required fields (priority subjects, institution, student number when applicable).
Accept the declaration and submit. Print or save the online confirmation and submit the required certified documents to your university’s Funza Lushaka office (your application is only considered once the university receives the supporting documents).

📆 Deadlines (2026): Applications open 07 Oct 2025; new applicants close 24 Jan 2026; returning/continuing bursars re-apply by 30 Nov 2025. Apply only through the official portals.

🗂️ Documents you will typically need to submit

(Universities require the certified copies — always check your chosen HEI’s Funza Lushaka coordinator for precise lists.)

Certified copy of your South African ID (required).
Proof of acceptance / provisional acceptance or student number from the university (you must have a valid student number before applying).
Certified academic records / transcript (for returning students) or certified Grade-12 result/certificate (for school leavers).
Proof of registration and fee statement (where requested).
Any additional forms requested by the university (e.g., signed consent/verification forms).

💡 Conditions, service obligation & repayment

Service obligation: You must apply for teaching posts in public schools on qualifying and are required to teach one year for every year funded by Funza Lushaka.
Repayment: Breach of bursary terms — for example changing away from priority subject areas without permission — can trigger full repayment of amounts received (interest may be charged). Read the bursary contract carefully before signing.

👌🏻 Pro tips & extra notes

Start early: gather certified documents (ID, matric/transcripts) before you begin the online form so you can upload/print without rushing.
Keep the same email and phone number for the duration of the application (the DBE uses these to contact successful bursars).
If you’re a district-recruited first-time applicant, follow the district teacher-screening instructions (there is a screening form/process for district-based recruitment — district recruits must still complete the online application).
PGCE funding is limited for 2026 — check carefully whether your chosen PGCE (and subjects) are funded before relying on Funza Lushaka for fees.

🔗 Official links & where to apply

Funza Lushaka official site (programme info & notices): Funzalushaka.doe.gov.za.
e-Services portal (where you register & apply): www.eservices.gov.za → Funza Lushaka.
For the full application notes and the official PDF guidance see the Funza Lushaka Application Notes (2026) — that document contains detailed academic thresholds, priority-subject lists, and the criminal-record check instructions.