FASSET

About FASSET

FASSET is the Finance and Accounting Services Sector Education and Training Authority. It is one of South Africa's SETAs, which the government created in 2000 under the Skills Development Act. Each SETA looks after skills development in one part of the economy. FASSET covers the finance and accounting services sector, including accounting, auditing, tax and related professional services.

The authority describes its mission in three parts. It wants to increase the flow of new entrants into finance and accounting jobs. It works to grow the skills the sector needs. It also aims to help transform a profession that has long been unequal.

How FASSET supports students

The FASSET bursary targets top matric achievers who plan to study in the sector. Recent rounds required a matric average of at least 75% and a household income of no more than R1 million a year. Funding went to students at public universities and universities of technology. Approved fields included accounting sciences, actuarial science, auditing and taxation, economics and management sciences, and IT-related studies.

Recent adverts described funding of up to R100,000 a year for tuition, textbooks, accommodation and meals. However, amounts, income limits and fields can change between rounds, so confirm the current terms on the official site.

FASSET backs school-leavers because the sector has an ongoing shortage of qualified professionals. Spotting strong candidates straight out of school builds a longer and more reliable pipeline than recruiting graduates alone. There is no fixed employment contract tied to the bursary. FASSET's mandate covers the whole sector, not one employer.

Other FASSET funding and how to apply

FASSET also offers the Outstanding Study Debt Assistance Grant. It helps people with a finance-related qualification who still owe fees to a public institution or NSFAS. Recent rounds offered up to R80,000 per person, and employed applicants had to earn below an income cap. Awards went on a first-come, first-served basis, so early applications mattered.

Both programmes open for a short window, usually early in the year. The 2025/2026 bursary round closed on 28 February 2026, for example. Applications are online, and incomplete ones are unlikely to succeed.

Before you apply, prepare your results, ID and proof of income or registration. Read the full criteria on the FASSET website, and keep a copy of everything you submit.

Students sometimes confuse FASSET with the professional bodies. FASSET funds and shapes skills in the sector, but it does not register accountants. It has, however, worked with SAICA on development camps that prepare matric learners for the accounting profession. If you hope to become a chartered accountant, a FASSET bursary can fund your degree while the professional body guides your later training.