Wholesale and Retail Sector Education and Training Authority (W&RSETA)

The Wholesale and Retail Sector Education and Training Authority (W&RSETA) was established in 2000 under the Skills Development Act. W&RSETA, a public entity headquartered in Centurion, exists to meet the skills needs of the wholesale and retail sector, one of South Africa’s largest employers.

Registered name

Wholesale and Retail Sector Education and Training Authority (W&RSETA)

Type

Sector Education and Training Authority (wholesale and retail)

Fields funded

Retail-related master’s and doctoral research at UJ; internships and skills programmes

Website

wrseta.org.za

Phone

012 622 9500

Research funding through a retail chair at UJ

W&RSETA funds a research chair in retail at the University of Johannesburg, and the chair offers bursaries for master’s and doctoral students researching wholesale and retail topics. The bursary runs every year with two closing dates. Students already registered for a master’s or PhD apply by 31 July, while new master’s and PhD enrolments apply by 31 October.

The split matters. A student who registered for a master’s degree in 2026 has already passed the 31 July 2026 deadline, but a graduate planning to start a master’s in 2027 can still apply until 31 October 2026.

Internships at other universities

W&RSETA also supports retail leadership chairs elsewhere. With Walter Sisulu University, W&RSETA invited applications from TVET and CET college graduates for an administrative internship within the Eastern Cape Wholesale and Retail Leadership Chair, a work-integrated learning opportunity with a submission deadline of 18 September 2026 and no late applications.

Changes that affect retail qualifications

W&RSETA has published transitional arrangements for pre-2009 qualifications and regulatory unit standards, following a directive from the Minister of Higher Education and Training. Learners and employers still working with older retail qualifications should read that notice, because it affects which qualifications W&RSETA will continue to fund and certify.

Researching W&RSETA opportunities

W&RSETA holds an annual general meeting for business, labour and training partners, and its notices page carries internship and funding calls alongside stakeholder news. Check the notices page regularly rather than waiting for adverts on social media. Postgraduate applicants should contact the retail chair at the University of Johannesburg to discuss a research topic before the deadline, because a proposal that fits the chair’s research focus stands a better chance.

Our older page about the University of Johannesburg W&RSETA bursary has not been refreshed for 2027, so use the dates on this page and confirm them with UJ.

Postgraduate students can compare W&RSETA’s bursary with other funders on our Postgraduate Bursaries page.