Local Government Sector Education and Training Authority (LGSETA)Local Government Sector Education and Training Authority (LGSETA)

Partially funded

LGSETA Bursary Funding Window for Unemployed Students (Local Government Sector)

Local Government Sector Education and Training Authority (LGSETA), South Africa

Scholarship overview

The Local Government Sector Education and Training Authority (LGSETA) runs a Discretionary Grant bursary funding window for unemployed South Africans who want to study qualifications relevant to the local government sector. It supports the LGSETA Annual Performance Plan targets for 2025/2026.

The 2026 academic year window has a target of 230 bursaries for university, university of technology and TVET college students, and Grade 12 learners accepted for listed qualifications. Qualifications on the list fall under LGSETA strategic focus areas such as good governance, leadership and management; infrastructure and service delivery; spatial transformation; and business continuity and disaster management. They include public administration, civil and electrical engineering, town and regional planning, information technology and computer science, environmental management and health, disaster management, and selected N4 to N6 and NCV programmes.

All awards are approved by the LGSETA Accounting Authority and depend on available funds. LGSETA may cancel the window in whole or in part.

Award Information

  • South African citizen or permanent resident.
  • University, university of technology or TVET college student, or Grade 12 learner accepted at such an institution.
  • Accepted (or provisionally accepted) for a qualification on the LGSETA list of funded qualifications.
  • Full-time study only.

Funded qualification areas (2026 new applications)

  • Public administration and management: Advanced Diploma in Public Accountability; Advanced Diploma, Honours or Bachelor in Public Administration, Management or Adaptive Leadership; N4 to N6 Public Management.
  • Supply chain and procurement: Advanced Diploma or Bachelor in Supply Chain, Logistics, Public Procurement Management or Policy and Regulation.
  • Finance: Honours or Bachelor in Financial Accounting, Management Accounting or Accounting Science; N4 to N6 Financial Management.
  • Engineering (infrastructure and service delivery): Master of Engineering Management; Bachelor or Diploma in Civil Engineering and civil engineering technology (environmental, construction management, water, transport, urban); electrical engineering (Honours, Bachelor, Advanced Diploma); N4 to N6 in civil and electrical engineering.
  • Information technology: Honours, Bachelor or Advanced Diploma in IT, IT management, Computer Science and related; NCV and business studies qualifications are also listed.

The advert for the 2026 window states a target of 230 bursaries and that allocation depends on available funds and on meeting the programme's funding criteria, policies and procedures.

2026 academic year funding window: opened 10 November 2025 at 08:00 and closed 28 November 2025 at 23:59. The deadline was not extended, and late or incomplete applications are not considered. Applicants who have not heard within three months of submitting should treat the application as unsuccessful.

  1. On the LGSETA website open Services, then DG Bursary under Learners, then the link for the relevant year; follow the instructions to the online application system.
  2. Complete the online bursary application fields.
  3. Upload all required supporting documents within the application.
  4. Submit. Applications must be made by the student through the online system; no email or hand-delivered applications are accepted.
  5. Enquiries: [email protected] or 011 456 8579.

Official links

Documents you will need

  • Certified ID copy (not older than six months).
  • Certified matric certificate or Grade 12 results (not older than six months).
  • Acceptance or admission letter from the institution.
  • Proof of registration (learners currently registered for first and second year).
  • Parent or guardian proof of income or affidavit.

How selection works

  • Applications are subject to approval by the LGSETA Accounting Authority.
  • Allocation depends on funds available and on meeting all programme funding criteria, policies and procedures.

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