If you’re considering a teaching career in South Africa, the Funza Lushaka bursary is almost certainly the funding option you’ll come across first, and for good reason: it’s the largest, best-known, and most consistently funded bursary specifically for teacher training in the country. This guide covers how it works, what it expects from you, and what alternatives exist if you don’t qualify.
What Is the Funza Lushaka Bursary?
Funza Lushaka is a national government bursary programme, run by the Department of Basic Education, specifically designed to address a shortage of qualified teachers in priority subject areas and phases across South African public schools. Unlike need-based funding like NSFAS, Funza Lushaka is a merit and priority-need based bursary, meaning selection is based on your academic suitability and the subject or phase you intend to teach, rather than a household income threshold. See our guide to types of bursaries in South Africa for how this compares to NSFAS and other government department bursaries.
What Funza Lushaka Covers
The bursary covers full tuition and registration fees for an approved Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), along with accommodation, a book allowance, and a monthly living allowance, at any of the participating public universities offering teacher training programmes.
Priority Subjects and Phases
Funza Lushaka funding is weighted toward subjects and phases where South Africa faces the most significant teacher shortages, which typically includes Mathematics, Physical Science, Technology, and Foundation Phase teaching, along with African languages. Applicants intending to specialise in a priority area generally have a stronger chance of being funded than those applying for subjects with a more adequately supplied teacher pipeline, so it’s worth checking the current year’s specific priority list before applying, since this can shift depending on national workforce planning.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for Funza Lushaka, you generally need to have been accepted, or hold a conditional offer, into an approved BEd or PGCE programme at a public university, meet the minimum academic requirements for that programme, and hold South African citizenship. Unlike need-based bursaries, there’s no household income threshold to meet, though you’ll still need to demonstrate genuine commitment to a teaching career, since the bursary comes with a significant work-back obligation. See our full guide to bursary requirements in South Africa for the broader criteria bursary funders typically assess.
The Work-Back Commitment
Funza Lushaka recipients are required to teach at a public school for the same number of years they were funded, once they complete their qualification and register as an educator. Placement is generally coordinated through the relevant provincial Department of Education, meaning you may be placed at a school in a different location than where you studied, depending on where teachers are most needed at the time you qualify. If you don’t complete this work-back period, you’re typically required to repay the funding received. Our full guide to bursary bonding and work-back obligations covers what to check in any bonded bursary contract, including repayment terms and buy-out options where available.
How to Apply
Funza Lushaka applications typically open toward the middle of the year, ahead of the following academic year, and are submitted through the official Funza Lushaka online application system rather than through individual universities directly. You’ll need to apply for the bursary separately from, though usually alongside, your application to the BEd or PGCE programme itself, since acceptance into the academic programme and being awarded the bursary are two distinct processes. Our step-by-step guide to applying for a bursary covers the general application process, and our bursary application documents checklist helps ensure you have everything ready.
You can also browse current teaching and other bursary opportunities on our bursaries and scholarships listings page.
What If You Don’t Get Funza Lushaka?
If you’re not selected for Funza Lushaka in a given intake, NSFAS remains an option if you meet the household income threshold, since it covers teacher training degrees the same as any other qualification at a public university. See our NSFAS guide for full eligibility details. A small number of provincial education departments and private trusts also fund teacher training independently of Funza Lushaka, though these are less widely available.
This page is part of our complete guide to bursaries in South Africa. Read the full pillar guide here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Funza Lushaka require financial need to qualify?
No. Unlike NSFAS, Funza Lushaka is based on academic merit and subject or phase priority rather than a household income threshold, though you do need South African citizenship and acceptance into an approved teacher training programme.
Can I choose where I teach after completing Funza Lushaka?
Placement is generally coordinated by the relevant provincial Department of Education based on where teachers are most needed at the time you qualify, so you may not have full control over your placement location, particularly in your first posting.
What happens if I change my mind about teaching after accepting Funza Lushaka?
You’ll generally be required to repay the bursary funding received if you don’t complete the required work-back period as a public school teacher. Review your specific contract terms, including any partial repayment or buy-out provisions, before making a final decision.
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