Funza Lushaka Bursary
Programmes to be funded
7. Two types of qualifications can be funded. These are shown below. The qualification must include subjects which will allow the student to specialise as a teacher in at least two priority areas (see next section below).
Undergraduate studies
✓ 4-year Bachelor of Education degree (B Ed), specialising in Foundation Phase (Grade R – 3), Intermediate Phase (Grade 4 – 6), Senior Phase (Grade 7 – 9) and FET Phase (Grade 10-12).
Graduate studies
✓ One-year Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) for graduates whose degrees include at least one major in one of the two priority subjects.
Take note that some universities offer qualifications which combine specialisation in the Foundation
Phase (Grade R - 3) and Intermediate Phase (Grade 4 – 6), or the Intermediate Phase and Senior
Phase, or the Senior Phase (Grade 7 – 9) and FET Phase (Grade 10 –12). These combined qualifications are also acceptable.
Admission criteria
8. Selection criteria include the following:
8.1. The bursary is only awarded to South African citizens with a valid South African ID number;
8.2. The applicant should demonstrate good academic ability;
9. Students must meet the minimum academic criteria for award of the bursary. In 2020, the minimum academic criteria are:
9.1. For 1st time entrants to university:
9.1.1.An exemption, endorsement, or ‘admission to bachelor degree studies’ pass at matric/Grade 12 level.
9.1.2.At least a level 4 pass at matric level in the subject which the applicant will specialize to teach.
9.1.3.For students who wish to specialize in the Foundation Phase, a pass in Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy at Grade 12 level is required. In addition, at least a level 4 pass in the Home Language is required. If a student completed matric prior to 2008 when Mathematics was not compulsory, a student may still be considered based on an overall good performance (Average of at least 50%).
9.1.4.Students who wish to specialize in the teaching of Technology subjects, including CAT, and who do not have these subjects at matric level, must have at least a level 4 pass in Mathematics.
9.1.5.If the institution’s admission requirements are higher than the bursary requirement and vice versa then the higher requirement will apply.
9.2. For new applicants already at university The student must have:
9.2.1 The student must have passed all of the modules studied in 2019 or the last year of study at the Higher Education Institution.
9.2.2 At least a 55% average across all the modules studied in 2019 or in the applicant’s last year of study at a Higher Education Institution.
9.2.3 The student must have at least 55% average in modules studied in 2019 or in the applicant’s last year of study at university which relate directly to the priority area teaching specialization.
9.2.4 These are minimum criteria. The Funza Lushaka bursary is a prestigious bursary that must be awarded firstly on the basis of academic ability. The criteria applied at particular
institutions may be higher than those suggested here, but cannot be lower.
9.3 For new applicants enrolling for PGCE
9.3.1 The student must have successfully completed a recognized qualification that qualifies him/her to be admitted for a PGCE.
9.3.2 To be considered for a PGCE in Foundation Phase Teaching a student must have majored in Psychology and an African Language.
9.3.3 To be considered for PGCE in Intermediate Phase, Senior Phase and Further Education and Training Teaching the student must have majored in the subject he/she wishes to
specialize in from the B. degree.
9.3.4 The student must have at least TWO identified priority subjects at second year level;
9.3.5 The student must have sufficient modules in the identified priority subjects to qualify to teach it as a subject at school.
22 The copy submitted to the university must be accompanied by:
22.1 A certified copy of your ID.
22.2 A certified copy of your academic results. For 1st year students coming out of Grade 12, this will be a certified copy of your Grade 12 result notification or Grade 12 certificate. For
students already at university, this will be a certified copy of your academic transcript, which must include results for 2019 or your last year of study at university.
23 If these documents are not submitted to the Coordinator at the university, your application will not be considered during the bursary selection process.
24 Please ensure that all information that you capture is accurate, and that priority areas that you capture are the ones you will specialize in. The academic year of study refers to the level you are studying e.g. B Ed 1 = 1st year, B Ed 3 = 3rd year.
25 Please note that you have access to your on-line bursary application to “Update personal details” or make changes to your application before applications close.
26 Students who change institutions after submitting their bursary application forms will not be considered for selection.
27 Each University has a Financial Aid Office and a Funza Lushaka Bursary Coordinator is there to assist you. The details for the contact person at university is shown on the print out.
28 Having applied for the bursary is not a guarantee that a student will receive it.
Click HERE to Register your details on the eService first and the start with Application