If you're a South African student pursuing a teaching qualification, you might be considering NSFAS and the Funza Lushaka Bursary as funding options. While both schemes offer similar benefits, the best choice for you will depend on your circumstances and long-term career goals.
What Is NSFAS?
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) provides financial aid in the form of bursaries and loans to students enrolled at one of South Africa’s 26 public universities or 50 TVET colleges.
NSFAS provides comprehensive bursaries and student loans to deserving learners enrolled in approved courses at universities and TVET colleges. This includes money for tuition and registration fees as well as several allowances for food, accommodation and learning materials
What Is Funza Lushaka?
The Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme is designed to promote teaching as a career by offering comprehensive bursaries to students pursuing teaching qualifications. It funds Bachelor of Education (BEd) and Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) courses at all 26 public universities in South Africa.
Funza Lushaka funding includes
- Tuition fees
- Accommodation and meals
- Books and learning materials
- A small allowance for monthly living expenses
Can You Apply for Both NSFAS and Funza Lushaka?
Yes, you can apply for both bursaries, and doing so is highly encouraged. Since funding for the Funza Lushaka Bursary is limited, applying for NSFAS as a backup is a wise decision.
However, there’s an important limitation to keep in mind: you can only be funded by one bursary at a time. If you are approved for both and decide to accept Funza Lushaka funding, you will no longer qualify for NSFAS funding—and vice versa.
Both schemes have specific eligibility criteria and application processes, so it’s important to carefully review the requirements for each before applying.
Choosing between NSFAS and Funza Lushaka depends on your career aspirations. If your goal is to become a teacher, Funza Lushaka is likely the better option, as it is tailored specifically for education students and offers targeted support for your future profession. However, if you don’t qualify for Funza Lushaka or want broader funding options, NSFAS provides excellent support for a variety of study fields.
Applying for both ensures you have more opportunities for funding, but remember to evaluate which option aligns best with your academic and professional goals.
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- WATCH: Funza Lushaka Bursary Applications Open
- Which Courses Does The Funza Lushaka Bursary Fund?
- Can I Apply For Both NSFAS and Funza Lushaka?
- Who Qualifies For The Funza Lushaka Bursary?
- Will Funza Lushaka Fund Me If I Take A Gap Year?
- Will I Have To Pay Back My Funza Lushaka Bursary?
- How To Apply For A Funza Lushaka Bursary
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- How To Track Your Funza Lushaka Bursary Application
- Will I Get The Funza Lushaka Bursary If I Was Previously Funded By NSFAS?
