Funza Lushaka Bursary: Eligibility, Application Steps and Official Links

Reviewed 8 October 2026. Use the provider’s current announcement to confirm availability and deadlines before applying.

The Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme supports eligible students preparing to teach in South Africa. A useful application starts with choosing a qualifying teaching programme and checking whether its phase and subjects match the bursary’s current priorities. Admission to a university and selection for a bursary are separate decisions; receiving one does not guarantee the other.

Check eligibility before opening an application

Read the current programme rules rather than relying on a previous year’s advertisement. The Department of Basic Education’s application instructions state that first-time applicants must be 30 or younger. Teaching phase, subject combination, citizenship and academic requirements must also be checked against the current official guidance. If your circumstances do not clearly fit, ask the programme or your university’s financial aid office before submitting.

Start with the DBE application process and DBE initial teacher education information. These sources help distinguish school teaching qualifications from other education-related courses.

Apply through the official channel

• Open South Africa’s official eServices portal and register or sign in to your own account.
• Select the Funza Lushaka service and follow its verification steps. Read the terms before accepting them.
• Choose the application cycle actually displayed in the portal. Do not assume that a page labelled 2027 means applications have opened.
• Enter your personal, academic and proposed study details carefully. Match names and identification details to your documents.
• Review the completed form, submit it through the portal and keep a record of the confirmation. Return to the official service for updates.

Prepare a consistent application

Keep your identification details, academic results and university application or registration information together. Use the current form’s document checklist; uploading extra paperwork cannot replace a required document. Check that your chosen teaching subjects agree across your university application and bursary form. If you change programmes, ask how that affects eligibility before assuming funding will follow you.

Understand the service commitment

The programme is linked to teaching in public schools. Official DBE information describes a service obligation related to the years funded. Read the bursary agreement before accepting an award and ask about placement, repayment and circumstances that could affect the obligation. This is a career and funding decision, not simply a grant with no conditions.

Dates and award decisions

We have not confirmed a 2027 opening or closing date from the official application instructions. Check the live portal and current DBE announcement. Submit early enough to resolve login or document problems, but do not send personal documents to unofficial agents promising selection. Budget for expenses until you receive a formal funding decision; an application receipt is not an award letter.

For programme enquiries, use contact details published by DBE or your university. ApplyScholars explains the process but does not process applications or select bursary recipients.