Key facts
- Status
- No current round published Last closed 28 July 2023
- Provider
- Department of Basic Education
- Study level
- High school
- Academic year
- 2027
- Applications open
- 1 October 2026
- Last checked
- September 2026
Provinces run their own district recruitment timetables, usually between May and August.
VerifiedAlongside the national Funza Lushaka application, provincial education departments recruit school leavers from specific districts to train as teachers and return to those districts. This district-based stream targets rural and under-served areas where schools cannot find teachers for mathematics, science, technology and languages. The bursary is the same full-cost Funza Lushaka award; the difference is how you are selected and where you will teach.
How the district-based stream works
- The provincial department identifies districts and subjects with teacher shortages and sets a number of bursaries for each.
- Applicants are screened by the district and must study at a public university in that province.
- The bursary covers tuition, accommodation, meals, a book allowance and a monthly living allowance, renewed each year on academic performance.
- Graduates teach in a public school in the recruiting district, usually rural, for the number of years they were funded.
Funza Lushaka district bursary eligibility requirements
- South African citizen under 30 living in the recruiting district.
- In Matric or holding a bachelor’s pass, with at least 60% in the home language and 50% in the first additional language and other subjects.
- Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy for foundation phase applicants; Mathematics and Physical Sciences for technical specialisations.
- Applied for an approved BEd with at least two priority specialisations at a public university in the province.
How to apply for the district-based bursary
- Contact your district education office or provincial education department from mid-year and ask for the Funza Lushaka district recruitment form.
- Submit the form with a certified ID, your Matric certificate or Grade 12 June report, proof of application or acceptance at a university in the province and a motivation letter explaining why you want to teach, by the provincial closing date.
- Once the national call opens on 1 October, register on eservices.gov.za and submit the Funza Lushaka application there too, noting your district recruitment.
Provincial contacts
- Western Cape Education Department: Ms Masivelane Jita, 021 467 2224, masivelane.jita@westerncape.gov.za
- Other provinces: the Funza Lushaka coordinator at your provincial education department head office, or the Department of Basic Education call centre on 0800 202 933.
Read the full Funza Lushaka bursary guide for the national requirements and priority subjects, and see our education bursaries list.
FAQs
1. What is the Funza Lushaka district-based bursary? +
A stream of Funza Lushaka in which provincial education departments recruit school leavers from specific districts to train as teachers and return to teach in those districts. The bursary itself is the same full-cost Funza Lushaka award.
2. When does the district stream close for 2027? +
Provinces run their own timetables. The Western Cape's last published round closed on 28 July 2023, and the national stream opens on 1 October 2026. Ask your district office or provincial education department from July 2026 for the 2027 district call.
3. How is it different from the national application? +
District applicants are pre-selected by the province and must study at a university in that province, then teach in a rural or under-served district there. National applicants apply directly on eServices and can be placed anywhere.
4. Who qualifies? +
South African citizens under 30 who live in the recruiting district, are in Matric or have a bachelor's pass with at least 60% in the home language and 50% in other subjects, and have applied for an approved BEd with two priority specialisations at a university in the province.
5. How do I apply? +
Complete the province's district recruitment form (online or through the district office), email or hand in a certified ID, Matric certificate or Grade 12 June report, proof of university application and a motivation letter, and then submit the national Funza Lushaka application on eServices when it opens.
6. Are late applications accepted? +
No. Both the district and the national streams reject applications after their closing dates, so submit early.
Update note (checked September 2026): provinces run their own district recruitment timetables, usually between May and August. The Western Cape’s last widely published round closed on 28 July 2023. The national Funza Lushaka application for 2027 opens on 1 October 2026 on eServices. Ask your district office or provincial education department about the 2027 district call, and apply nationally as well. Late applications are not accepted in either stream.
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