Funza Lushaka requirements, closing date for 2024 and how to apply

If you’re an aspiring teacher in South Africa and you need financial assistance for your studies, it is useful to know how to make a Funza Lushaka bursary 2024 bursary application online.

Applications opened on 8 October 2023, giving a chance to undergraduate and graduate students to apply for get funding from the bursary scheme. The bursaries cover a student’s essential expenses such as tuition fees, accommodation including meals, books and learning materials, teaching practice laptop, and if possible, a small allowance for monthly living expenses.

Funza Lushaka bursary 2024 application online

To make your Funza Lushaka bursary 2024 application online, visit the government’s e-Services portal here and click the “Login/Register” button. Login if you already have an account or click “Register” if you don’t have one and follow the prompts.

Once you have logged in, follow the steps below to apply:

• On the e-Services Menu, choose Funza Lushaka Bursary Scheme.
• You will receive a One-Time PIN, which you must enter in the field provided.
• Accept the Terms and Conditions.
• Click the 2024 application button on the dashboard menu.
• Follow the prompts to complete the required fields with your details.
• Accept the declaration to confirm your details.
• You will subsequently receive feedback on the status of your application via email.

The image below summarises how to apply:

Those who have a criminal record, have been charged with misconduct or have been dismissed from work are not eligible to apply for this bursary. Higher Education Institution employees, their spouses and dependents are also not eligible. If you already have a teaching qualification, you are not eligible. Applications are made online only, and no hard copies will be accepted, the Scheme said.

Funza Lushaka requirements

According to the Scheme’s application note, the general Funza Lushaka requirements are as follows:

• First time applicants must be 30 years old or younger.
• You must be a South African citizen with a valid South African ID number.
• You must be accepted into an approved B.Ed. degree or Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) programme to specialise in two or more of the priority subject areas.  
• You should demonstrate good academic ability.
• You must show commitment to a teaching career, which includes interest in working with young people; enthusiasm for a professional career in teaching; and readiness to face and surmount difficult challenges with integrity.
• You must be committed to teach in any school where a Provincial Education Department (PED) may place you.

The minimum academic criteria for first time university entrants include:

• An exemption, endorsement, or “admission to bachelor’s degree studies” pass at matric/Grade 12 level.   
• At least a level 4 pass at matric level in the two subjects which the applicant will specialise to teach.   
• For students who wish to specialise in the Foundation Phase, a Level 2 pass in Mathematics or Level 4 pass in Mathematical Literacy at Grade 12 level is required. In addition, at least a level 4 pass in the Home Language is required.   
• For students who wish to specialise in the Intermediated Phase, a Level 4 pass in Mathematics at Grade 12 level is required. In addition, at least a level 4 pass in the Home Language is required. Students with Mathematics can specialise in two of the following: Language, Natural Science, Technology; Physical Science, Life Science. Students with Language, Physical Science and Life Science pass level 4 can specialise in Provincial Priority Language, Natural Science and Technology.
• For students who wish to specialise in Senior FET a level 4 pass in one of the National and one of the Provincial Priority subjects or two from the Provincial Priority subjects. A level 4 pass in a Provincial Priority Language and a National Priority subject or both Provincial Language and content subjects.
• Students who wish to specialise in the teaching of technical subjects, including Computer Applications Technology (CAT), and who do not have these subjects at matric level, must have at least a level 4 pass in Mathematics or Technical Mathematics.
• If the institution’s admission requirements are higher than the bursary requirement and vice versa then the higher requirement will apply.

The minimum requirements for new applicants who are already in university include:

• The student must have passed all of the modules studied in the year prior to the bursary application at the Higher Education Institution which are Funza Lushaka Priority subjects.
• The student must have at least a 55% pass average across all the modules studied in his/her last year of study at a Higher Education Institution.   
• The student must have at least 66.5% pass average in modules studied in his/her last year of study at university which relate directly to the priority subject area of teaching specialisation.

For new applicants enrolling for PGCE, the Scheme said it will not award bursaries for PGCE – Foundation and Intermediate Phases. It will award bursaries for PGCE for only Senior Phase and Further Education and Training Teaching (SPFET) (Grade 7-12).

Requirements for new applicants enrolling for PGCE include:

• The student must have successfully completed a recognised qualification that has two teaching subjects that qualifies him/her to be admitted for a PGCE.
• To be considered for the PGCE in SPFET, the student must have two priority subjects where one module/course was successfully completed or studied at third year level while the second priority subject was successfully completed or studied at second-year level. Or both passed at second- or third-year level.

The Scheme noted that these are minimum criteria and higher criteria may be applied for particular institutions.

“Recipients of these bursaries will be required to teach at a public school for the same number of years that they received the bursary. No repayment of the bursary is therefore required,” it added.

Closing date for 2024

The Funza Lushaka closing date for 2024 is 2 February 2024 for new applications. For re-applications for existing or returning bursars, the closing date is 30 November 2023.

For enquiries, the Scheme advised students to contact Funza Lushaka’s academic and administrative coordinators at their universities because they are the best placed to respond to any issues. Students must not contact the Department of Basic Education, Department of Higher Education or the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), which is the bursary’s financial manager.

However, students may call 012 357 3000 or email inquiries@funzalushaka@dbe.co.za.