South Africa’s bursary and student-funding ecosystem remains multi-channel. The government bursary via NSFAS is still the primary route for financially eligible students at public universities and public TVET colleges, and it is complemented by an NSFAS student-loan stream aimed at households above the bursary threshold.
Alongside NSFAS, teacher education funding (Funza Lushaka), SETA discretionary-grant “funding windows” (including bursary funding in specific sectors), university-administered scholarships, and corporate/foundation bursaries remain key pathways.
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1) Government Backbone: NSFAS Bursary (and the Student Loan Stream)
Who qualifies (NSFAS bursary):
NSFAS states that the bursary supports eligible students from poor and working-class households, including those with a combined household income up to R350 000 per year, and up to R600 000 per year for persons with disabilities (subject to NSFAS rules and verification).
Who qualifies (NSFAS student loan):
NSFAS also sets out a loan route aimed at applicants with combined household income above R350 000 and not exceeding R600 000 per year, with funding structured as a mix of bursary/loan according to NSFAS rules.
2026 application cycle (status and what to do):
- NSFAS indicates that 2026 application results began being communicated from 15 December 2025 via the myNSFAS process.
- In a 2 January 2026 media statement, NSFAS said it had concluded funding decisions for 2026 applications and advised applicants to check outcomes via their myNSFAS accounts.
- If NSFAS identifies missing information/documents on an application, NSFAS has indicated that applicants may be required to submit outstanding items within specified timeframes (follow the instructions shown in your myNSFAS account and NSFAS notices).
Appeals (if unsuccessful):
NSFAS states that a student must submit an appeal within 30 days of receiving their application results, via their myNSFAS profile, with the required supporting information.
Where NSFAS funds:
NSFAS indicates it provides funding at 26 universities and 50 TVET colleges (public institutions), and provides an institutions directory for verification.
2) Priority-Skills Teacher Bursary: Funza Lushaka (2026)
Funza Lushaka is a national bursary administered by the Department of Basic Education to support teacher education in priority areas, subject to eligibility and selection.
Key 2026 rules and requirements (as published by Funza Lushaka):
- Applications are online only (no hard-copy submissions).
- First-time applicants must meet published eligibility requirements (including age and academic criteria).
- Funza Lushaka’s 2026 application notes include important exclusions and programme funding rules (for example, the notes state that PGCE is not funded in 2026, and that certain qualification types are not funded).
- The notes also describe a service obligation approach linked to taking up teaching posts in public schools after qualifying (per the published conditions).
2027:
As of 5 January 2026, official 2027 Funza Lushaka dates/notes were not clearly published on the official sources used below. Monitor the official portal and DBE updates for the 2027 cycle once released.
3) Sector Funding via SETAs (2026/2027 financial year examples)
SETAs use discretionary grants to implement sector skills priorities, commonly via time-boxed funding windows with published opening/closing dates and application requirements.
Examples of 2026/2027-related windows published by SETAs (illustrative, not exhaustive):
- CHIETA published a 2026/2027 Cycle 1 discretionary-grants advert with a defined opening/closing window and indicated the supported training activity period aligns to April 2026–March 2027 (per the advert).
- merSETA published a discretionary-grant advert for Year 2026/2027 with a defined opening/closing window and indicated applications are submitted through the relevant online system.
- BANKSETA published a Higher Education Funding Window 2026 page with a stated closing date and links to guidelines and the online application process.
2027:
SETA windows vary by sector and are published throughout the year. For 2027 planning, track your sector’s SETA site and apply within the stated funding-window dates.
4) University-Administered Aid (2026–2027)
Most public universities also publish their own institutional bursaries and scholarships (merit and/or need-based), with their own criteria and deadlines. Always check your institution’s financial-aid/bursaries pages, and apply according to their timelines.
5) Corporate & Foundation Bursaries
Corporate and foundation bursaries typically publish their own eligibility rules, required documentation, and application deadlines. Many are administered through trusted intermediaries.
StudyTrust (seasonal application window):
StudyTrust states its bursary applications generally open on 1 May and (in most cases) close on 30 September. StudyTrust also notes that some programmes include work-back obligations (i.e., recruitment bursaries). It further states that one online application can be considered for all bursaries/scholarships in its portfolio (subject to those programmes’ rules).
2027:
If you’re aiming for 2027 studies, start tracking corporate/foundation and StudyTrust timelines well in advance (using the official pages for the latest season dates and requirements).
Practical takeaways for 2026–2027
- Start on official portals: myNSFAS / NSFAS pages, Funza Lushaka, and your sector SETA’s discretionary-grant/funding-window pages.
- Know your NSFAS route: bursary eligibility vs loan eligibility depends on household-income rules as published by NSFAS.
- Prepare documents early: delays often come from missing or mismatched documentation—follow the specific document prompts shown in official portals.
- Use the appeal window if needed: NSFAS states appeals must be submitted within 30 days of receiving results via myNSFAS.
- Diversify: don’t rely on one channel—pair national funding routes with university and corporate/SETA options where you qualify.
Source notes (for verification)
- NSFAS bursary and loan eligibility thresholds and the way NSFAS describes these routes come from NSFAS FAQs. (NSFAS)
- NSFAS 2026 application status (“applications closed” and results communication timing) is stated on NSFAS’s “How to Apply 2026” page. (StudyTrust)
- NSFAS’s 2 January 2026 statement about concluding 2026 funding decisions is in NSFAS’s media statement PDF. (NSFAS)
- NSFAS appeals “within 30 days” is stated on NSFAS’s Appeals page. (NSFAS)
- NSFAS institutions scope (26 universities, 50 TVET colleges) is stated on NSFAS’s institutions directory page. (NSFAS)
- Funza Lushaka 2026 rules/exclusions and service-obligation wording are from the official 2026 application notes PDF.
- SETA “funding window” concept and time-boxed windows are described by BANKSETA; examples for 2026/2027 windows are from CHIETA and merSETA adverts and BANKSETA’s 2026 funding-window page. (BANKSETA)
- StudyTrust’s stated seasonal window (open 1 May; close 30 September in most cases) and notes about work-back obligations and its application approach come from StudyTrust pages.