TVET college students can qualify for SETA bursaries in the 2027 academic year, subject to specific criteria issued through the particular SETA, the field and the institution, and the funding programme.
Applicants should not automatically assume that any SETA bursary advertised for one TVET qualification will necessarily cover another.
This nuance applies since Sector Education and Training Authorities are typically connected to economic sectors and have relevant funding criteria, rather than a general one-size-fits-all bursary programme.
The Department of Higher Education and Training has stated that SETA bursaries form part of the post-school education and training funding system.
In a statement concerning post-school opportunities in the 2026 academic year, government noted that more than 15,000 SETA bursaries had been provided, covering students at universities, TVET colleges, students who did not qualify for NSFAS, and students studying scarce skills.
Students planning their study for the 2027 academic year should therefore understand that the question is not whether TVET students qualify for SETA funding, but which SETA covers the specific qualification and if the applicant meets the requirements.
APPLY FOR BURSARIES:
- SERVICES SETA AND MAGALIES BURSARY 2027 APPLICATION
- IDC Bursary Programme 2027
- NSFAS 2027 Applications Open
- ISFAP Student Grant 2027
- SARB Economics Bursary 2027
Do SETA bursaries cover TVET college students?
Yes. Certain SETAs do offer bursaries to TVET College students.
An example of this is the Financial and Accounting Services Sector Education and Training Authority (FASSET).
Their bursary information specifically mentions unemployed learners at public TVET colleges.
The SETA covers a number of business-related TVET qualifications, as well as some IT-related courses.
On the SETA’s published information, they state that qualifying learners can receive tuition fees, prescribed textbooks, accommodation and learner allowances.
In certain circumstances a laptop may be provided, depending on the particular funding notice.
This illustrates that learners should consult the individual SETA and their requirements, rather than using a general assumption about any TVET student qualifying for SETA funding.
Note that Not every SETA bursary has the same requirements
SETA funding is divided according to economic sectors.
The Department of Higher Education and Training keeps a list of the country’s SETAs, covering areas including agriculture, banking, construction, chemicals, tourism and hospitality, health and welfare, information and communications technology and other industries.
Due to this system, a student at a TVET college should consider whether the qualification is in an area covered by a specific SETA or not.
FASSET, for example, advertises TVET bursaries to learners studying business-related and IT-related courses.
You must know that In another SETA, priorities may be entirely different.
For this reason, a TVET college student should not automatically apply for a SETA bursary because an advertisement mentions the word “bursary”.
What could a SETA bursary pay for?
Depends on the funding authority.
The FASSET information for TVET College learners lists a number of potential benefits, including:
Tuition fees
Prescribed textbooks
Accommodation
Learner allowances
Possible laptop support
FASSET currently states that the TVET bursary is capped at R40,000, though they warn that the cap can vary between financial years, depending on the funding availability.
The household-income threshold can also change between years.
Students should therefore not assume that the same R40,000 cap would apply to all SETA bursaries or that would apply in 2027.
Instead, apply through the relevant 2027 notice issued by the SETA they belong to.
Does a SETA bursary include a monthly stipend?
Students should be aware of a difference between the wording “allowance” and “stipend”.
A bursary does not necessarily cover a paid work experience programme (such as a learnership, internship or work-integrated learning opportunity).
A stipend may be provided if the funding covers a learnership or similar work-based study programme.
A bursary may cover other educational expenses, such as tuition fees, learning materials and accommodation.
Because of this, a student should not automatically assume that a SETA bursary will cover a monthly salary or stipend.
Can TVET students apply if they are already receiving NSFAS?
Students should carefully consider the requirements of a particular bursary before applying for multiple sources of funding.
NSFAS already provides financial support to eligible students at public universities and TVET colleges.
The Department of Higher Education and Training has referred to NSFAS as the primary public financial-aid mechanism for eligible students at these institutions.
SETA bursaries can fit into the post-school funding system, but the requirements of a specific bursary will dictate whether a student who already receives another form of funding can benefit from it.
Students should therefore complete any disclosure requirements when applying for a bursary and should not assume that two funding programmes will automatically be available.
What about private TVET colleges?
This is another area where students should carefully read the fine print before applying.
A specific SETA may mention that funding is available to learners at public TVET colleges, rather than private institutions.
FASSET’s published unemployed learner bursary for example, specifies public TVET colleges.
Students at private institutions should therefore not assume that a SETA bursary advertised for a similar course will necessarily be available to them.
Is there one website where students can apply for all SETA bursaries?
No. Students should not automatically assume they can apply for all SETA bursaries through one process or one website.
The SETAs are different authorities, with different programmes, funding requirements and application procedures.
The Department of Higher Education and Training publishes a list of the individual SETAs and their websites.
Some SETAs may advertise directly to students, while other bursary funding opportunities can be provided by institutions, employers, training providers and specific projects.
Students should therefore start on the website of the relevant SETA for the qualification they are studying.
FASSET, for instance, currently has a dedicated application page for its bursary.
What should TVET students do before applying for 2027?
TVET students can take a few steps now in preparation for applying later in the year.
1. Identify the SETA linked to your field
The first step is to identify the SETA covering the field or sector relevant to the qualification.
The Department of Higher Education and Training has an official list of SETAs, including their contact details.
2. Check whether your qualification is funded
Students should not assume that a qualification will cover a SETA bursary based on the title.
They should read the notice and check the qualifications covered by the SETA funding, since some programmes may be restricted to specific fields or scarce and critical skills.
3. Confirm the institution requirement
Students should check whether the institution requirement specifies public TVET colleges only, or whether other institutions are allowed.
This can make the difference between qualifying and not.
4. Check the financial requirements
Some bursaries have household-income requirements or other financial conditions.
FASSET, for example, states that household income is taken into consideration for its TVET bursary and that the threshold can change between financial years.
5. Prepare your documents
Students should anticipate having to provide supporting documentation for a bursary application, depending on the programme.
Such documents can include identification, academic records, proof of registration or acceptance and financial information.
Always use the application notice as a guide to the required documentation.
6. Keep checking official announcements
A 2026 bursary is not necessarily available in 2027.
Funding allocations, closing dates, qualifying fields of study, income thresholds and application procedures can change between financial years.
Students should always wait for the official notice for the 2027 academic year before applying.
SETA bursaries are different from NSFAS
It is important for potential bursary applicants to understand the difference between the two funding programmes.
NSFAS is a national student financial-aid scheme, covering eligible students at public universities and TVET colleges.
SETA bursaries, on the other hand, are dependent on the responsibilities of the individual SETAs towards skills development and the sectors in which they operate.
This is why a student may find a SETA bursary applicable to a particular qualification, even though they are investigating a funding opportunity outside the NSFAS system.
Government has specifically mentioned SETA bursaries as an additional funding pathway, including for students who do not qualify for NSFAS and for studies in scarce skills areas.
What this means for students planning for 2027
For TVET students, the above information means that SETA bursary funding is possible, but not a given.
A student needs to establish four things:
- Whether the relevant SETA offers bursaries to TVET students.
- Whether the student’s qualification is in a field covered by the SETA.
- Whether the student’s college meets the institution requirements.
- Whether the student meets the financial, academic and other requirements of the specific funding call.
FASSET provides a good example of how SETA funding can be used to assist public TVET students, while HWSETA’s funding announcements show that SETA programmes can also cover different combinations of bursaries, work-integrated learning, internships, learnerships and artisan development.
Therefore, students should treat each SETA bursary as a separate opportunity, rather than making a general assumption about the entire SETA system.
Where to verify a 2027 SETA bursary
Before providing personal documents or banking details, students should verify a bursary opportunity on the SETA’s official website or through the Department of Higher Education and Training’s official SETA directory.
This is particularly so since bursary advertisements can sometimes be reposted on third-party websites after the original closing date.
Students should confirm:
The SETA issuing the bursary
The official application page
The academic year
The closing date
Eligible qualifications
Eligible institutions
Financial requirements
Documents required
Whether the programme provides a bursary, allowance, stipend or another form of support
Editorial note
This article is intended to explain how SETA bursary funding can apply to TVET students, using information available on official government and SETA sources.
Funding requirements are not the same across SETAs and can change between financial years.
For this reason, readers should ensure they have viewed the latest requirements for 2027 before applying.
Sources and verification
Information in this article was checked against:
The Department of Higher Education and Training’s official SETA directory and information on the post-school education and training system.
FASSET’s official bursary information for TVET college learners.
South African Government information on SETA bursary funding and TVET students.
HWSETA’s official 2026/27 funding information.
Official government information concerning NSFAS funding at public TVET colleges.
Corrections policy
We aim to publish accurate and independently checked information. If an error is identified, the article will be reviewed and corrected where appropriate. Material factual corrections should be clearly identified so readers can distinguish updated information from the original publication.
Readers who identify a factual error are encouraged to contact the editorial team with the relevant evidence or official source.
Disclaimer
This article is for general information and educational purposes. It is not an official bursary application notice and does not guarantee that a reader will qualify for funding.
SETA funding programmes, eligibility requirements, application procedures, closing dates and funding amounts can change. Readers should confirm current requirements with the relevant SETA before submitting an application or personal information.
Editorial policy
Our editorial approach is to distinguish verified information from interpretation and to prioritise primary sources, including government departments, SETAs and official programme notices. We do not guarantee acceptance into any bursary, learnership, internship or education programme.
Where information is unavailable from an official source, we avoid presenting unverified claims as fact. Opportunities are reported to help readers understand their options, not to guarantee an outcome.
