Key facts
- Status
- Applications open Closes 1 October 2026
- Provider
- Funza Lushaka
- Field of study
- Computer Science
- Study level
- Postgraduate, High school
- Academic year
- 2027
- Applications open
- 1 October 2026
- Last checked
- September 2026
New applications for the 2027 academic year open on 1 October 2026 on the government eServices portal.
VerifiedThe Funza Lushaka Bursary is the Department of Basic Education’s full-cost bursary for future teachers. It pays for a Bachelor of Education or Postgraduate Certificate in Education at a public university in subjects where schools are short of teachers, and bursars repay it by teaching at a public school for as many years as they were funded. It is the largest teaching bursary in the country.
About the Funza Lushaka Bursary
- Covers tuition, accommodation and meals, a book allowance and a monthly living allowance for the full degree.
- Funds the Bachelor of Education and the one-year Postgraduate Certificate in Education at public universities.
- Bursars must teach at a public school, placed by a provincial education department, for the same number of years they were funded.
Funza Lushaka priority subjects
- Foundation phase (Grades R to 3): foundation phase teaching with an African home language, Afrikaans or English, literacy, numeracy and life skills, Braille, South African Sign Language and neurodevelopmental needs.
- Intermediate phase (Grades 4 to 6): mathematics, natural science and technology, languages, Braille, Sign Language and neurodevelopmental needs.
- Senior and FET phase (Grades 7 to 12): mathematics, physical sciences, life sciences, agricultural sciences, marine sciences, technology and engineering subjects, computer applications and information technology, coding and robotics, Braille, Sign Language and neurodevelopmental needs.
Funza Lushaka eligibility requirements
- South African citizen under 30.
- In Matric, or holding a National Senior Certificate with a bachelor’s pass, or a degree for PGCE applicants.
- Admitted, or applying, to an approved BEd or PGCE at a public university with at least two priority specialisations.
- Strong academic results, typically at least 60% in the home language and 50% in the other subjects, and a genuine commitment to teaching.
- Willing to teach where placed after graduating.
How to apply for Funza Lushaka
- Apply to a public university for admission to a BEd or PGCE with priority specialisations.
- Complete the Teacher Recruitment Screening Form linked from the Funza Lushaka page on education.gov.za.
- Register on the eServices portal at eservices.gov.za, open the Funza Lushaka application and upload a certified ID, your Grade 11 or 12 results, your Matric certificate if you have completed school, proof of university application or acceptance and your academic record.
- Submit before the closing date and check your eServices profile for the outcome after Matric results are released.
Funza Lushaka closing date
Applications open on 1 October 2026. The closing date is published with the call and has fallen in January in recent years.
Contact details
- Department of Basic Education call centre: 0800 202 933
- Website: education.gov.za/Programmes/FunzaLushaka
See the Funza Lushaka district-based stream, learn how to check your Funza Lushaka outcome, and browse our education bursaries list.
FAQs
1. When does Funza Lushaka open for 2027? +
New applications open on 1 October 2026 on the government eServices portal. In recent years they have closed in January after Matric results, so apply early; the Department of Basic Education publishes the exact closing date with the call.
2. What is Funza Lushaka? +
The Department of Basic Education's full-cost bursary for students studying to teach priority subjects at public universities. Bursars teach at a public school for as many years as they were funded.
3. What does it cover? +
Tuition, accommodation and meals, a book allowance, and a small monthly allowance for living costs, for the full duration of a Bachelor of Education or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education.
4. Which subjects are priority? +
Foundation phase teaching and African home languages; intermediate phase mathematics, natural science and technology; and senior and FET phase mathematics, physical, life, agricultural and marine sciences, technology and engineering subjects, computer and IT subjects, coding and robotics, plus Braille, South African Sign Language and neurodevelopmental needs across phases.
5. Who qualifies? +
South African citizens under 30 in Matric or with a bachelor's pass, who qualify for admission to an approved BEd or PGCE at a public university with at least two priority specialisations, with strong academic results and a commitment to teaching.
6. How do I apply? +
Apply to a public university for the BEd or PGCE, complete the Teacher Recruitment Screening Form, then register on eservices.gov.za and submit the Funza Lushaka application with a certified ID, Grade 11 or 12 results, Matric certificate if completed, proof of university application and your academic record.
Update note (checked September 2026): new applications for the 2027 academic year open on 1 October 2026 on the government eServices portal. Recent rounds have closed in January after Matric results are released; the department publishes the exact closing date with the call. Returning bursars renew through the same portal by the end of October.
Checked the requirements and closing date? Apply directly with the provider.
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