Education & Teaching Bursaries in South Africa 2026

If you dream of standing in front of a classroom one day, a teaching bursary can take a huge weight off your shoulders. Bursaries in education and teaching often cover the real cost of qualifying as a teacher, things like tuition fees, registration, prescribed books and study materials, and many include a portion of accommodation and a living or meal allowance. Some go further and support your teaching practice placements at schools. A well-known example is Funza Lushaka, the government bursary aimed at growing the number of teachers in priority areas like Maths, Science, African languages, Foundation Phase and Technical subjects. Alongside it you'll find provincial education department bursaries, university and TVET college funds, education trusts and foundations, and SETA-backed and corporate programmes (the education sector SETA, ETDP SETA, is one example) that invest in the next generation of educators.

Eligibility tends to be fairly consistent across education bursaries. You'll generally need to be a South African citizen with a green bar-coded ID or smart ID, have solid matric or NSC results (good marks in your teaching subjects really help), and be accepted into, or already studying, an accredited teaching qualification such as a BEd or a PGCE. Many bursaries also weigh financial need and a genuine commitment to teaching, since funders want people who will actually stay in the profession. It's worth knowing that government-funded bursaries often come with a work-back agreement: in return for your funding, you commit to teaching at a public school for a set period, sometimes in a province or subject where teachers are needed most. Read those conditions carefully before you sign, they're fair, but they are binding.

Applying well comes down to being early and being organised. The academic-year cycle means many bursaries open the year before you study (corporate and SETA bursaries often open in the second half of the year), while some teaching bursaries align with university admissions, so confirm each funder's window rather than assuming. Get your supporting documents ready in advance, certified ID, matric results or your latest academic transcript, proof of university or college acceptance, and proof of household income, and write a short, honest motivation about why you want to teach and the difference you hope to make. A clear, on-time application with every document attached will always stand out more than a rushed one.