HWSETA Bursaries for Students with Disabilities

Written by Keagan HendricksStaff Writer (Unisa Alumnus)

Reviewed & verified by Naledi KhumaloSenior Admissions and Bursaries EditorVerified

The Health and Welfare Sector Education and Training Authority (HWSETA) funds bursaries for unemployed students with disabilities who are studying towards health, social development or veterinary qualifications. Students do not apply to HWSETA themselves. Each year HWSETA invites universities, universities of technology and nursing colleges to apply for bursary funding on behalf of the students with disabilities they have enrolled, and the institution then manages the money. The latest call, for the 2025 and 2026 academic years, opened on 29 January 2026 and closed in February 2026.

Up to R240,000 per student

HWSETA’s funding model for this project allows a maximum of R240,000 per learner, at undergraduate and postgraduate level alike, and adds a 3% project management fee for the institution based on the number of students it is awarded. The bursary can pay for:

• tuition;
• accommodation;
• books;
• a living allowance;
• costs that come with studying with a disability, such as assistive devices and transport.

Covering assistive devices and transport is what sets this scheme apart from most bursaries, which stop at fees, housing and books. HWSETA says the aim is to grow the supply of professionals with disabilities in the health and welfare sector, in line with the National Development Plan and the National Skills Development Plan.

Health, social and veterinary qualifications from NQF 5 to 10

That range takes in nursing, allied health professions, social work, pharmacy, veterinary science and related research degrees at any institution that is registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training. Private institutions must also prove their accreditation. Nursing colleges can take part whether they are public or private.

A practitioner’s letter confirming the disability

To be put forward, a student must be unemployed, registered at a participating institution for the academic year the call covers, and have a valid letter from a registered health practitioner confirming the disability. The spreadsheet each institution completes lists the student’s name, ID number, qualification, NQF level and year of study, disability status, and whether another sponsor already funds the student, so declare any other bursary to your institution.

How to get your name on your institution’s list

Institutions sent their applications, with the organisation form and the learner spreadsheet, to Unemployedbursaries@hwseta.org.za. A student who wants this funding should therefore speak to the disability unit or financial aid office at their university or college early in the year, confirm that it plans to apply to HWSETA, and hand in the practitioner’s letter and ID so the office can include them. HWSETA can withdraw approval if an institution gives false information, breaks the SETA’s rules or loses its registration.

HWSETA’s own notice gives two closing dates: the title of the expression of interest notice says 6 February 2026, while the body of the notice, last modified on 9 February, says 13 February 2026. HWSETA has not announced when it will next call for applications for this bursary. Its separate 2026/27 funding window for employers and institutions, covering bursaries for unemployed persons among other programmes, closed on 20 February 2026 on the HWSETA projects portal.

HWSETA also funds postgraduate research students without the disability requirement, covered on our HWSETA postgraduate bursary page. For other funding aimed at students with disabilities, see the Bradshaw LeRoux bursary, and for health study generally, our health science bursaries list.

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