DBE — Teaching bursary

Funza Lushaka Bursary 2026: how to apply

Full-cost teaching bursary for B.Ed students in priority subjects. Run by the Department of Basic Education with NSFAS handling disbursement. Year-for-year teaching work-back at a public school.

Updated 17 May 2026 ·By GoCareers
Open Funza Lushaka site
Apply on
eservices.gov.za
2026 closing
24 January 2026 (new applicants)
Returning students close
30 November 2025
Age cap
30 or younger (first-time)
Work-back
1 year teaching per year funded
DBE call centre
0800 202 933

Who can apply

  • South African citizen with a valid SA ID
  • First-time applicants: aged 30 or younger as of 1 October 2026
  • Accepted (or provisionally accepted) at an accredited public SA university for a B.Ed (Foundation, Intermediate, Senior or FET Phase) or B.Ed ECCE
  • Matric exemption / Bachelor's pass, with Level 4 in two teaching specialisation subjects (first-years)
  • Foundation Phase: Level 2 (30%) in Maths OR Level 4 in Mathematical Literacy, plus Level 4 Home Language
  • Continuing students: ≥55% overall average; ≥66.6% in major/priority subjects
  • No criminal record
  • Willing to teach anywhere assigned by a Provincial Education Department (PED)
  • Cannot already hold a teaching qualification; cannot hold a separate NSFAS bursary concurrently

What you'll need

  • Certified copy of SA Smart ID
  • Matric certificate or latest academic transcript
  • University acceptance / registration letter (with student number)
  • Proof of household income (payslips, affidavits or SASSA letter)
  • Parents'/guardians' ID copies
  • SAPS criminal clearance certificate
  • Latest academic results (continuing students)
  • Documents must be certified within the last 3 months

Step by step

  1. Go to the eGov portal

    Open eservices.gov.za — NOT a third-party site. This is the only official application portal.
    Tip: Funza Lushaka's own site (funzalushaka.doe.gov.za) is informational. Applications go through the eGov portal.

  2. Register your profile

    Create a profile with your ID and contact details. Verify via the OTP sent to your phone and email.

  3. Select Funza Lushaka and accept the terms

    Log in, select "Funza Lushaka Bursary Scheme", accept the Ts & Cs and the declaration, then click the 2026 application tile.

  4. Complete personal, academic and acceptance fields

    Include your university student number and your teaching phase / subject specialisations. The subjects must be on the 2026 priority list — see below.

  5. Upload certified supporting documents

    Every document needs to be certified within the last 3 months. Blurry or illegible uploads are a top rejection reason.

  6. Submit before 24 January 2026

    New applicants close 24 January 2026. Returning bursars close 30 November 2025. Late applications are not accepted.

  7. Print confirmation and hand to your university coordinator

    Print your application confirmation and submit hard copies to your university's Funza Lushaka coordinator. Continuing bursars must re-apply each year — it's not auto-renewed.
    Tip: Renewal depends on academic progression: ≥55% overall and ≥66.6% in your major priority subjects.

What Funza Lushaka covers

  • Full tuition fees (capped at a DBE-set ceiling — you cover any excess)
  • Accommodation (university residence or approved private)
  • Meals
  • Prescribed books and learning materials
  • Teaching practice / Work-Integrated Learning costs (travel + placement)
  • Monthly living/personal allowance (small — recent reports range R1,000–R1,500/month; confirm with DBE for the current year)

Priority teaching subjects (2026)

The 2026 priority list, by phase:

Foundation Phase (R–3)
SA Indigenous Languages, Braille, SA Sign Language, learners with neurodevelopmental needs
Intermediate Phase (4–6)
Mathematics, Languages, Natural Sciences & Technology (must choose two)
Senior + FET Phase (7–12)
Mathematics, Physical Sciences, Life Sciences, Accounting, Agricultural Sciences, Computer Applications Technology, Engineering Graphics & Design, Electrical/Civil/Mechanical Technology, African Languages, Technology

Is PGCE funded in 2026?

Sources conflict. Some 2026 guides say PGCE is no longer funded; others list PGCE for Senior/FET phases as still funded. The definitive answer lives in the 2026 official Application Notes PDF on funzalushaka.doe.gov.za.

If you're a PGCE applicant, verify directly with the DBE call centre (0800 202 933) before applying.

Work-back obligation

One year of teaching at a public school for every year of bursary funding received. A 4-year B.Ed = 4 years of compulsory service.

Placement is determined by the PED in your home or assigned province. You cannot choose the school and may be placed in a different province if no post is available in your preferred one.

Service must be at a public school — private schools don't count.

What happens if you don't complete the qualification

The bursary converts to a loan and becomes repayable in full with interest. The same applies if you:

  • Fail to graduate
  • Refuse placement
  • Resign before completing service
  • Leave teaching for the private sector before your service is up
  • Emigrate within the service period

Placement — how schools are assigned

In your final year, you complete a placement form. The Provincial Education Department matches graduates to schools where teachers are needed — heavily skewed to rural, township and quintile 1–3 (no-fee) schools.

The "District Stream" of Funza Lushaka deliberately recruits students from rural districts so they return to serve their home communities.

You cannot apply directly to a school or negotiate placement. Refusal triggers the loan-conversion clause.

Common reasons applications are rejected

  1. Subjects chosen fall outside the priority list or are on the oversupplied list
  2. Missing or uncertified documents
  3. Blurry / illegible document uploads
  4. Data entered incorrectly (ID number, surname, marks)
  5. Below academic threshold (55% overall / 66.6% in majors)
  6. Late submission (after 24 January)
  7. Already holds a teaching qualification or another NSFAS bursary
  8. Application limited by provincial funding quota even when applicant meets all criteria — Funza Lushaka is competitive, not entitlement-based
  9. Changed university after submitting
  10. Over age 30 (first-time applicants)

Funza Lushaka scams

DBE has issued public warnings about hoax WhatsApp and Facebook messages inviting "matriculants to apply" via shortened or fake links.

  • Only two official URLs: www.eservices.gov.za and www.funzalushaka.doe.gov.za
  • DBE will never request payment to apply or to be approved
  • Beware fake "Funza Lushaka agents" offering paid help, fake bursary approval letters via email or SMS, and unverified Telegram or WhatsApp groups

Contact

Frequently asked questions

How much does Funza Lushaka pay per month?
Recent reports cite R1,000–R1,500/month for the living allowance. Tuition, residence and meals are paid directly to the university. Confirm the current amount with DBE on 0800 202 933 before relying on it.
Who qualifies for the Funza Lushaka bursary?
SA citizens 30 or younger, accepted to a B.Ed programme at a public SA university, willing to teach a priority subject and to serve at a public school year-for-year after graduating.
Does Funza Lushaka cover accommodation?
Yes — university residence or approved private accommodation, paid directly to the institution.
Is Funza Lushaka a loan or a bursary?
It's a bursary, provided you graduate and complete your teaching work-back. If you don't, it converts to a loan repayable with interest.
Do you have to pay back Funza Lushaka?
Not if you complete your degree AND complete the work-back (1 year teaching at a public school per year funded). If you breach either, the bursary becomes a repayable loan.
When does Funza Lushaka close for 2026?
24 January 2026 for new applicants. 30 November 2025 for returning bursars. Late applications are not accepted.
Can I apply for Funza Lushaka without university acceptance?
You need at least provisional acceptance to apply. Final approval is contingent on confirmed registration.
Does Funza Lushaka fund PGCE in 2026?
Sources conflict — some 2026 guides say PGCE is no longer funded; others say it's still funded for Senior/FET phases. Verify directly with the DBE call centre on 0800 202 933 before applying as a PGCE candidate.
What subjects does Funza Lushaka fund?
Maths, Physical Sciences, Life Sciences, Accounting, Agricultural Sciences, Technology subjects, African Languages, Computer Applications Technology, plus Foundation Phase specialists. History, Geography, Economics, English, Afrikaans, Life Orientation are NOT funded.
Can I choose where I teach after Funza Lushaka?
No. The Provincial Education Department assigns you to a school where teachers are needed — heavily skewed to rural and quintile 1–3 schools. Refusal triggers the loan-conversion clause.
Can I have NSFAS and Funza Lushaka at the same time?
No. You can't hold a separate NSFAS bursary while on Funza Lushaka. Funza Lushaka is administered through NSFAS for disbursement, but it's its own bursary.

Related guides

How to apply for NSFAS 2026

If your subjects aren't on the Funza Lushaka priority list, NSFAS funds any qualification at a public institution.

How to check NSFAS status

Funza Lushaka disbursements run through NSFAS — check your status there.

Bursaries South Africa 2026 — complete guide

Compare all major SA bursaries by field, income bracket and closing date.

Last updated 17 May 2026. We review and refresh this guide regularly — if something here is out of date, let us know.