Services SETA

About Services SETA

Services SETA is the Services Sector Education and Training Authority. It was founded in 2000 and is one of South Africa's 21 SETAs. These bodies collect skills development levies from employers and use them to fund training. Services SETA oversees a very wide part of the economy, from business and public administration to property and personal care.

Because the sector is so broad, its training needs are broad too. A human resources consultancy and a hair salon both fall under the same authority. As a result, Services SETA funds many kinds of learning, including learnerships, internships, skills programmes and bursaries.

How Services SETA supports students

Its bursaries have been offered to both employed and unemployed learners. Funding usually targets services-related qualifications at undergraduate and postgraduate level. Past fields have included business administration, business management, communication studies, human resources, marketing, project management, public administration, media studies, real estate, property development, and hair and personal care.

Students study at public institutions. These include universities, universities of technology and TVET colleges. Services SETA has often channelled money through partner institutions, so each cycle may work differently. Funding may cover full or partial costs, such as tuition, prescribed textbooks, and accommodation and meals for unemployed students. Master's and doctoral students may also receive a travel and research allowance.

There is no single national employment work-back rule for Services SETA funding. The terms depend on the institution and the year, so you should read the agreement attached to your own award carefully.

What to know before applying

Requirements change between cycles. In past rounds, unemployed applicants needed a valid South African ID and had to be between 18 and 35. A minimum academic average of 50% was set, along with a household income below R600,000 a year. The qualification was normally at NQF level 5 or higher at a public institution. Employed applicants faced separate criteria, usually linked to upgrading skills in a services-related role. Postgraduate applicants were also asked for proof of a research or study plan.

Treat these details as a guide only. Each call for applications publishes its own rules, deadlines and list of participating institutions. For example, some years the funding window opens through a university rather than directly through the SETA.

Before you apply, collect your certified ID, latest academic record, proof of household income and proof of registration or acceptance. Then check the official Services SETA website and the financial aid office at your institution for the current call. Never pay anyone to submit an application for you, since genuine SETA funding is free to apply for. Keep copies of everything you send, and follow up politely if you hear nothing after the closing date.