The Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme provides funding for students who are studying to be teachers. 

If you are funded by Funza Lushaka, you are required to accept a teaching post immediately after qualifying. No extensions will be granted to a qualifying student even for further studies. Therefore there is no funding for students who decide to take breaks from studying in the form of a gap year. 

The requirements for Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme are:

• You must fall under one of the following categories:
  • learners, currently in Grade 12
  • graduates who want to complete a teaching qualification (enroll for a PGCE)
  • people who want to make a career change and become teachers
  • unemployed people who want to become teachers
• The bursary is only awarded to South African citizens with a valid South African ID number.
• Allocation of Funza Lushaka bursaries to Higher Education Institution employees, their spouse and their dependents/children is not permissible.
• Bursary applicants must already have been accepted into a either BEd or PGCE qualification at an at an accredited public University.
• The applicant must also meet the national selection criteria for the Funza Lushaka bursary.
• The bursary will only be awarded if two of the priority area subjects are included as a specialisation in the teaching qualification.
• The applicant should demonstrate good academic ability.
• The applicant must show commitment to a teaching career, which includes: interest in working with young people; enthusiasm for a professional career in teaching; readiness to face and surmount difficult challenges and personal integrity.
• The applicant must be committed to teach at any school which they may be appointed to by a provincial education deparrment (PED).