VerifiedNSFAS and Funza Lushaka are separate bursaries, but they are linked. Funza Lushaka is the Department of Basic Education’s bursary for future teachers, and NSFAS manages the Funza Lushaka fund on the department’s behalf. Students deal with their university’s Funza Lushaka office, not NSFAS.
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Side by side
| NSFAS bursary | Funza Lushaka | |
|---|---|---|
| Who funds it | Government, through NSFAS | Department of Basic Education; managed by NSFAS |
| Who qualifies | Household income up to R350,000 (R600,000 with a disability) | SA citizens accepted for an approved BEd in priority subjects; first-time applicants under 30 |
| Where | Public universities and TVET colleges | Universities offering approved teaching degrees |
| Covers | Tuition and allowances | Tuition, accommodation with meals, books and learning materials, and where possible a small living allowance |
| Obligation | None to work for government | Teach at a public school one year for each year funded |
| Renewal | Continuing students do not reapply | Awarded one year at a time; reapply each year |
Can you have both?
You cannot be fully funded twice. NSFAS’s 2026 policy says a student who receives a full bursary elsewhere must tell NSFAS within 10 business days and the NSFAS bursary is withdrawn; a partial bursary reduces NSFAS funding. Funza Lushaka’s first-time criteria also exclude applicants already funded through government funds such as NSFAS.
Funza Lushaka rules to know
- Renewal needs all priority-area modules passed, a 55% overall average and 66.5% in priority-area modules.
- Some oversupplied subjects, such as History, Geography and Life Orientation, are not funded as priority areas.
- Breaking the conditions means repaying the full amount with interest.
- For 2026, applications opened on 7 October 2025 on eservices.gov.za. The 2027 dates were not yet published in September 2026.
Details: the Department of Basic Education’s Funza Lushaka page. See Funza Lushaka and private accommodation.
Frequently asked questions
Is Funza Lushaka part of NSFAS?
NSFAS manages the Funza Lushaka fund, but the bursary belongs to the Department of Basic Education and has its own rules.
Do I have to pay back Funza Lushaka?
Not if you meet the conditions and teach at a public school for as many years as you were funded. If you break the conditions, you repay with interest.