Government bursaries, learnerships and internships

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) funds South African students studying, or planning to study, at a public university or a public TVET college; it does not fund study at private institutions. Its published criteria cover students from households earning up to R350 000 a year, and students with disabilities from households earning up to R600 000 a year. Under its 2026 bursary guidelines, a student who receives a SASSA grant automatically meets the financial criteria.

You apply online by creating a myNSFAS profile, where you upload your documents and track your application. NSFAS opened applications for the 2027 academic year on 18 September 2026 and states that they close on 31 October 2026 at 23:59, with no extension; a ministerial launch speech gave 18 November, but NSFAS's later statement kept 31 October. Check the NSFAS website for the cycle you are applying in.

Applying is free, and NSFAS warns never to pay anyone to apply. Its helpline is 0800 067 327.

A learnership combines a structured learning component with structured work experience and leads to a qualification registered by the South African Qualifications Authority. Under the Skills Development Act a Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) may establish one, and it runs under an agreement between the learner, an employer and an accredited skills development provider. The Department of Higher Education and Training lists the SETAs, each covering its own sector of the economy, and describes learnerships as one of their key interventions.

If you are unemployed, government advises registering as a work-seeker at your nearest Labour Centre so that employers starting a learnership can find you.

Government departments advertise their own internship programmes and set their own terms, so read each advert closely. For example, the Department of Higher Education and Training's advert for its 2025/26 and 2026/27 internship programme offered a fixed 24-month contract, asked applicants to complete the new Z83 form and attach a comprehensive CV, and stated that applicants who had been on the programme before would be disqualified.

Govermate lists the bursaries, learnerships, internships and training programmes it finds in government sources under "Bursaries & training" in its opportunities feed, each with its recorded closing date. The official advert or the programme's own website is the final word on who qualifies and how to apply.