About SASSETA
The Safety and Security Sector Education and Training Authority, or SASSETA, is a statutory body that supports skills development in the safety and security sector. It falls under the Department of Higher Education and Training. The sector covers the police, correctional services, defence, private security, the justice system and related fields such as intelligence and diplomacy.
SASSETA was formed from earlier bodies that served these areas. Its main task is to manage the skills levies paid by employers in the sector. It then directs that money to training, learnerships, internships and bursaries that the sector needs.
How SASSETA supports students
The SASSETA Bursary is paid from the authority's discretionary grants for unemployed learners. It is meant for young people who cannot afford tertiary study. Applicants are generally aged between 18 and 35 and come from households with a limited income. The recent call set a household income ceiling of R600,000 a year.
Funding can reach up to R80,000 per student. It may include registration and tuition fees, prescribed books and accommodation. Some calls also mention a laptop. Preference goes to studies in law (LLB), science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields, veterinary science and other occupations in high demand. This focus helps the sector fill skills gaps that make crime prevention and justice services harder to run.
You may study full time or by distance learning. However, the institution must be a recognised public university, university of technology or public TVET college.
What to know before applying
First, you must be a South African citizen who has finished matric. Second, you need to be registered at, or accepted by, a public institution. Third, you must submit an affidavit stating that you are unemployed. In addition, you cannot receive funding from another bursary or from NSFAS at the same time.
Applications are usually online and close early in the year. The most recent call closed on 30 January 2026. Dates, funding limits and priority fields can change, so check the official SASSETA website for the current advert.
Think about how your chosen field fits the sector. A law degree can lead to work in the courts, prosecution services or legal support for state bodies. Science and engineering graduates may find roles in forensic services, defence technology or digital security. Veterinary graduates can support policing units that use working animals. Explaining this link clearly in your application can strengthen your case.
The published terms do not describe a work-back obligation to SASSETA. Instead, the stated aim is to help recipients finish their studies and enter the wider job market. Read your award letter carefully for any conditions that apply to you.
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