Key Facts
- Status
- Check Provider for Dates
- Provider
- Field of Study
- Study Level
- Academic Year
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2027
Eligibility Requirements
- South African citizenship
- Fall into one of two categories: an unemployed COID beneficiary with permanent disablement, or a dependant (17-35 years old) of a COID beneficiary with permanent disablement or of a fatally injured employee
- Accepted at a TVET, CET or higher education institution
- Enrolled in an eligible field, such as Accounting/Financial Science, Actuarial Science, Economics, Engineering, Health and Clinical Science, ICT, Marine/Maritime Studies, Quality Control and Environmental Health, or Mathematics and Science Education
Documents Needed
- Certified copy of ID document (or birth certificate/parents' IDs for dependants)
- COID claim number
- Certified academic transcript or Matric results
- Proof of acceptance at a TVET, CET or higher education institution
- Tuition and learning materials fee quotations
- Proof of residence
- Proof of disability / death certificate (as applicable)
- Proof of income (dependants)
About Compensation Fund Bursary
The Compensation Fund Bursary is administered by the Compensation Fund, a public entity of South Africa's Department of Employment and Labour established under the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (COIDA). Unlike most bursaries on this site, it is not open to the general student population - it specifically supports people affected by workplace injury, disease or death.
Two groups qualify: unemployed COID beneficiaries who have been permanently disabled by an occupational injury or disease, and dependants (aged 17 to 35) of COID beneficiaries with permanent disablement or of employees who died as a result of a workplace incident. The bursary is intended to help beneficiaries and dependants (re)integrate into the workforce or become self-employed.
The programme covers a defined list of fields connected to employability and workplace reintegration, including accounting and financial sciences, actuarial science, economics, engineering, health and clinical sciences, ICT, and mathematics and science education, and can fund study at TVET colleges, Community Education and Training (CET) colleges, or higher education institutions.
Funding Details
The bursary covers tuition fees, prescribed study materials, accommodation and a monthly stipend for the duration of an eligible qualification.
Where You Can Study
Open to study at Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges, Community Education and Training (CET) colleges, and higher education institutions (universities and universities of technology) in South Africa.
About Compensation Fund (Department of Employment and Labour)
The Compensation Fund is a public entity of South Africa's Department of Employment and Labour, established under the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (COIDA). It compensates employees who are inju…
View full provider profile →Fields of Study & Who Can Apply
- Group 1: unemployed South African citizens who are COID beneficiaries with permanent disablement from a workplace injury or disease
- Group 2: dependants (aged 17-35) of COID beneficiaries with permanent disablement, or dependants of employees who died as a result of a workplace incident
- Accepted at a TVET college, Community Education and Training (CET) college, or higher education institution
- Enrolled in one of the Fund's specified eligible fields of study
Application Procedure
Apply directly with the provider using the official application link below, before the closing date.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply for the Compensation Fund Bursary?
It is restricted to two groups: unemployed COID beneficiaries with permanent disablement from a workplace injury or disease, and dependants (aged 17-35) of COID beneficiaries with permanent disablement or of employees who died from a workplace incident. It is not a general public bursary.
What does "COID" mean?
The Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act, which the Compensation Fund administers to compensate workers injured, diseased or disabled at work, and dependants of workers who died from workplace incidents.
What does the bursary cover?
Tuition fees, prescribed study materials, accommodation and a monthly stipend.
How do I apply?
By submitting the Compensation Fund's bursary application form with supporting documents, either by email to CFexternalbursaries@labour.gov.za or by post/courier to the Sub-Directorate: Vocational Rehabilitation at Compensation House, Pretoria.
When does the bursary open for the next academic year?
The most recently published closing date was 31 March 2026, which has already passed. The Department of Employment and Labour had not published 2027 dates at the time of writing (August 2026) - check labour.gov.za for the next intake.
