South Africa · Student & youth funding directory
Education & Youth Funding
Bursaries, student loans, NYDA grants, and youth-employment programmes in one place. Compare amounts, eligibility, and application routes, then apply directly with the responsible agency.
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NSFAS Bursary
Non-repayable bursary covering tuition, residence, meals, books, and transport for students at public universities and TVET colleges. Household income under R350,000/year.
Funza Lushaka Bursary
Full-cost teaching bursary for BEd and PGCE students in priority subjects (Maths, Sciences, Technical, Foundation Phase). Placement in a public school required after graduation.
NYDA Grant Programme
Non-repayable grant of R1,000 to R250,000 for South African youth (18-35) running or launching businesses. Includes a compulsory 12-month business support programme.
PYEI (Presidential Youth Employment)
The Presidency's youth employment programme. Includes the Basic Education Employment Initiative (BEEI) for school assistants and access to SA Youth network placements.
Compare programmes side-by-side
Every programme in this section. Click a name to see full details.
| Programme | Support | Age | Income / eligibility | How to apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSFAS | Full cost | Any | R350k income cap | my.nsfas.org.za |
| Funza Lushaka | Full cost + stipend | Any | BEd / PGCE, priority subject | eservices.gov.za |
| NYDA Grant | R1k – R250k | 18-35 | 51% youth-owned business | erp.nyda.gov.za |
| PYEI | Monthly stipend | 18-34 | Unemployed, SA Youth registered | sayouth.mobi |
Timing matters
NSFAS 2027 opens 1 September 2026 and closes 21 January 2027. Funza Lushaka closes around mid-January. NYDA and PYEI accept rolling applications.
No upfront fees
None of these programmes charge to apply. Anyone asking for a fee to "speed up" your application is running a scam.
Track your application
For NSFAS status, use the free myNSFAS portal or the grantZA news blog. For NYDA, check the NYDA ERP dashboard once your reference number is issued.