Funza Lushaka Bursary 2027: How to Apply

If you dream of becoming a teacher but can’t afford university, the Funza Lushaka Bursary is the biggest teaching bursary in South Africa — a Department of Basic Education programme that pays for your entire teaching degree at a public university, in exchange for teaching at a public school after you qualify. Applications for the 2027 academic year are expected to open on 1 October 2026, with new applications typically staying open until late January after matric results are released.

That gives you a few weeks to prepare — and preparation is everything with Funza Lushaka, because you cannot apply for the bursary until a public university has accepted you. This guide covers what the bursary pays, who qualifies, the priority subjects, and the exact application steps.

What the Funza Lushaka Bursary covers

Funza Lushaka is a full-cost bursary. For each funded year it covers, within the programme’s capped amounts:

• Tuition fees
• Accommodation and meals
• Books and learning materials
• A small living allowance

There’s no repayment in money — you repay in service (see the work-back rule below).

The work-back agreement: understand this before applying

Funza Lushaka is not free money. For every year the bursary funds you, you must teach one year at a public school where the provincial education department places you. Fund a 4-year B.Ed and you owe 4 years of teaching, in the province and school where you’re needed — which may not be your home town. If you refuse placement or quit teaching, the bursary converts to a debt you must repay with interest.

For someone who genuinely wants to teach, this is the best deal in South African higher education: a paid-for degree and a guaranteed job placement afterwards. For someone who isn’t sure about teaching, it’s a four-year commitment to think hard about.

Who qualifies

• South African citizen with a valid ID
• Under 30 for first-time applicants (30 or older applicants are not accepted for new applications)
• Grade 12 learners, current university students, or unemployed youth who want to switch to teaching
• Accepted (or provisionally accepted) at a public university for a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) or an approved teaching qualification — private colleges are automatically rejected by the system
• Strong academic results, especially in the subjects you plan to teach — universities recommend candidates to the DBE based on marks
• Committed to studying a qualification in at least two priority subject areas
• Not funded by another bursary that carries obligations (you can’t hold NSFAS and Funza Lushaka at the same time)

Note: the PGCE (postgraduate teaching certificate) was not funded in the most recent cycle — if you’re a graduate wanting PGCE funding, check the official 2027 application notes when they’re published.

Priority subjects: choose right or be rejected

Funza Lushaka only funds students specialising in subjects where South Africa is short of teachers. The priority list typically includes:

• Mathematics and Physical Sciences
• African (Indigenous) Languages — including Foundation Phase teaching in African languages
• Afrikaans and English (as language teaching specialisations)
• Technology subjects (Civil, Electrical, Mechanical Technology, Computer Applications Technology)
• Other shortage areas that vary by province

Your chosen university course must specialise in at least two priority areas. Choosing overcrowded specialisations (like only Life Orientation or History) leads to rejection no matter how good your marks are — check the official priority list in the 2027 application notes before you finalise your university course choice.

Prepare NOW: what to do before 1 October

1. Apply to public universities immediately for a B.Ed in priority subjects, if you haven’t. University applications for 2027 are open now and many close in September — and without a university application and student number, you cannot complete the bursary application.
2. Get your documents ready: certified ID copy, certified Matric certificate or latest Grade 12 results, academic transcripts for current students, and proof of university application/acceptance.
3. Create your e-Gov profile: applications run through the government eServices portal at www.eservices.gov.za. Register your profile now so you’re not stuck on verification when the rush starts.

How to apply for Funza Lushaka: step by step

1. Go to www.eservices.gov.za from 1 October 2026 and log into your e-Gov profile (or register if you haven’t).
2. Select the Funza Lushaka Bursary service from the eServices menu.
3. Complete the online application — personal details, your university, student number, qualification and subject specialisations. The student number must be from a recognised public university.
4. Upload/submit your supporting documents as required, and submit any documentation your university’s Funza Lushaka office requests.
5. Submit before the closing date. Re-applications for existing bursars close first (typically end of November); new applications usually close in late January once matric results are out. No late applications are accepted, ever.
6. Track your status by logging back into the eServices portal. Universities review applicants’ marks and send recommendations to the DBE, with selections typically finalised between February and March.

Why applications get rejected

• Applying with a private college student number — automatic rejection
• Choosing non-priority subjects
• No university application or student number at the time of applying
• Being 30 or older as a first-time applicant
• Missing the deadline — the system closes and no exceptions are made
• Errors in your ID number or personal details that fail verification

Never pay to apply

Funza Lushaka applications are free on the government eServices portal. Nobody — no agent, no Facebook page, no WhatsApp group — can secure you this bursary for a fee. Anyone charging for Funza Lushaka forms or “guaranteed approval” is running a scam.

Summary

The Funza Lushaka Bursary pays for your full teaching degree in exchange for teaching at a public school one year for every funded year. Applications for 2027 are expected to open 1 October 2026 on www.eservices.gov.za — but the real deadline is now: apply to a public university for a B.Ed in at least two priority subjects (Maths, Sciences, African languages, technology), get your documents certified, and register your e-Gov profile so you can apply the day the portal opens. First-time applicants must be under 30, and strong marks in your teaching subjects are what get you selected.

Good luck — South Africa needs you in the classroom.

APPLY ON THE E-GOV SERVICES PORTAL (FROM 1 OCTOBER 2026)