South Africa has a teacher shortage that isn't projected to ease any time soon, especially in Maths, Science, and Foundation Phase teaching - which is exactly why government funds teaching degrees more generously, and with fewer strings attached, than almost any other qualification. This guide rounds up every verified education-sector bursary and scholarship currently tracked on this site for the 2027/2028 intake.
Teaching Is One of the Few Guaranteed-Demand Careers Left
A Bachelor of Education (BEd) or a PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education) qualifies you to register with SACE (the South African Council for Educators), which you legally need before you can teach in a South African school. From there, the classroom is only the starting point: experienced teachers move into Head of Department and deputy principal roles, subject advisor and curriculum development positions at provincial education departments, or TVET college lecturing. Outside the school system entirely, an education qualification also opens doors into corporate learning and development, educational publishing, and edtech - all growing areas as schools and companies invest more in structured training. The subject you specialise in matters a lot for how in-demand you'll be: Maths, Physical Science, Technology, and African languages are chronically short-staffed nationally, which is why you'll see funding bodies explicitly prioritise them.
Before You Start Applying
The single biggest thing to understand about teaching bursaries, especially Funza Lushaka, is the service obligation: in exchange for full funding, you commit to teaching at a public school for the same number of years the bursary covered your studies. This isn't unique to South Africa and it's a fair trade for full-cost funding, but factor it into your decision if you're not fully committed to classroom teaching as a career. A few of the smaller regional bursaries below also carry residency requirements, so check those before applying.
Bursaries That Fund Teaching Qualifications
These specifically target future teachers, with government running the largest and most comprehensive programme by far.
Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme - South Africa's flagship teaching bursary, for citizens studying or planning to study a teaching qualification, or unemployed under-30s wanting to enter the profession. Covers full tuition, registration, textbooks, accommodation where applicable, and meals or a living allowance, in exchange for a matching period of teaching service afterward. Closes 30 November 2026.
Funza Lushaka District-Based Bursary - A variant of the main programme for applicants recruited through a school or district with an identified teacher shortage. Same comprehensive funding package and service commitment as the national programme. Closes 30 November 2026.
STET Bursary - From the Support Teacher Empowerment Trust, specifically for Black female South African undergraduates in STEM fields who intend to teach in basic education afterward. Full benefit details aren't yet independently confirmed - check directly with STET.
ADvTECH Student Teacher Bursary - ADvTECH is one of South Africa's largest private education groups, running schools and tertiary institutions including Varsity College and The IIE. Its student-teacher bursary programme is aimed at supporting future teachers; full eligibility and coverage details aren't yet verified on this site.
Jakes Gerwel Fellowship Bursary - Named for the late Professor Jakes Gerwel, a prominent South African academic and former Director-General in the Presidency. Fellowship programmes bearing his name typically support postgraduate study connected to education, public service, or social justice; specific current criteria aren't yet confirmed here.
General and Regional Education Funding
These aren't teaching-specific, but fund education-related study or specifically support students from a particular community or background.
Canon Collins Tom Queba Scholarship - For Black or Coloured South African citizens studying Honours or Master's in a priority field including Education, with work connected to social or environmental development for disadvantaged communities. R85,000/year for up to two years.
Compensation Fund Bursary - For unemployed COID beneficiaries with a permanent workplace-injury disablement, or their dependants aged 17-35, studying an eligible field at a TVET, CET college, or higher education institution. Covers tuition, study materials, accommodation, and a monthly stipend.
Eastern Cape Department of Education (ECDoE) - For unemployed Eastern Cape residents aged 18-35 (up to 45 for the disability stream) with a Bachelor's pass, accepted into an ECDoE-eligible field. Covers registration, tuition, stationery, accommodation, and meals, paid directly to your institution.
N3TC Bursary - For 3rd-year, 4th-year, or Honours students already enrolled in an eligible field, who live in one of nine named municipalities along the N3 toll route corridor. Covers tuition and mandatory textbooks, with other costs covered at N3TC's discretion.
Free State Office of the Premier Bursary - For unemployed Free State youth aged 18-35, including current Grade 12 learners, studying full-time at a recognised institution. Exact coverage isn't itemised in the published notice, so confirm directly with the Office of the Premier.
Donald White / Mandla A. Ndwanya Memorial Fund Bursary - For students connected to the fund's Nyanga, Cape Town community focus, studying Commerce, Business, Education, Healthcare, Medicine, or Social Work. R10,000 per award toward registration and textbook/technology costs.
SACEE Norah Taylor Bursary - Connected to SACEE (the South African Council for Educators in England, or a similarly-named education-sector body); this memorial bursary supports education-related study. Full eligibility and funding details aren't yet verified on this site.
Samstip Bursary - A bursary programme supporting students in education-related fields; specific administering body and criteria are still being confirmed.
Brain Jar Skills Development Bursary - A skills-development-focused bursary; full details on the administering organisation and eligibility criteria haven't yet been independently verified.
CIDA Empowerment Trust Bursary - Connected to CIDA (the Community and Individual Development Association), a South African education-access initiative. Details on current eligibility and funding are still being confirmed.
Didn't find what you're after? Browse the full bursaries and scholarships listing for every field, or read our guide on writing a CV for a bursary application before you start sending yours out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to pay back a Funza Lushaka bursary if I don't teach afterward?
Yes, effectively - if you don't complete the matching years of service at a public school, the bursary converts into a loan that you're required to repay. Only apply if you're genuinely committed to teaching for at least as many years as your studies took.
Can I choose which school I teach at after Funza Lushaka?
Not entirely - you're placed based on where the Department of Basic Education has identified a need, which may not be your home province or first choice of school. The District-Based variant specifically recruits for schools with confirmed shortages, so expect less flexibility there, not more.
Which subjects give me the best chance of a Funza Lushaka bursary?
Maths, Physical Science, Technology, and African languages are consistently listed as priority/scarce-skills subjects, since schools nationally struggle to find qualified teachers in these areas. Foundation Phase (Grade R-3) teaching is also in high demand.
Is a BEd better than doing another degree plus a PGCE?
Both routes lead to SACE registration and are treated equally by these bursaries. A BEd is a dedicated 4-year teaching degree; a PGCE is a 1-year add-on after an unrelated Bachelor's degree, useful if you only decided on teaching partway through your studies or already hold a relevant subject degree.