Foundation phase teaching covers Grade R to Grade 3, and TUT offers a Bachelor of Education in Foundation Phase Teaching. Entry requires a National Senior Certificate with bachelor degree endorsement, together with the compulsory subjects and minimum Admission Point Score TUT publishes.
Foundation phase is a distinct specialisation because it teaches literacy and early numeracy foundations rather than subject content. It is chosen at the point of study and cannot be substituted later without further study.
Entry Requirements at a Glance
Applications are generally assessed on the following.
- A National Senior Certificate with bachelor degree endorsement
- The minimum APS published for the BEd Foundation Phase Teaching programme
- The compulsory subjects at their stated minimum levels
- Strong language results, given the literacy focus of the phase
- The campus at which the programme runs
- The closing date for the programme
Academic and Minimum Admission Requirements
The degree runs four years and includes supervised teaching practice in schools. On completion you register with the South African Council for Educators to teach in a public school.
TUT excludes Life Orientation from the APS calculation entirely, and excludes any subject in which you achieved an achievement level of 1. Applications for 2027 opened on 1 April 2026.
Subjects, APS and Qualification Requirements
Language results matter more for foundation phase than for any other teaching specialisation, since the phase is fundamentally about establishing literacy in young learners.
Where you intend to teach in an African language, competence in that language is a genuine advantage and in some cases a requirement. Foundation phase teachers able to teach in African languages are in particular demand.
Documents and Application Requirements
Applications normally require the following.
- Proof of payment of the R240 application fee
- A certified copy of your identity document or card
- A certified copy of your National Senior Certificate, or final Grade 11 results if you are in Grade 12
- A SAQA evaluation certificate, if you hold a foreign qualification
Selection, Intake and Eligibility Considerations
Foundation phase teaching is a shortage area, which improves both bursary prospects and employment prospects after qualifying.
Registration with the South African Council for Educators is required to teach in a public school, and it is a separate process after qualifying. Funza Lushaka has historically prioritised foundation phase alongside mathematics, science and African languages.
Frequently Asked Questions
What grades does foundation phase cover?
Grade R to Grade 3, focusing on literacy and early numeracy rather than subject content.
Do language results matter?
More than for any other teaching specialisation, since the phase is fundamentally about establishing literacy.
Is it a shortage area?
Yes, particularly for teachers able to teach in African languages, which improves bursary and employment prospects.
Can I switch phase later?
Phase specialisation is chosen at the point of study, and changing later requires additional study.
Source: TUT 2027 First Year Course Information, checked August 2026. Confirm requirements against the current TUT prospectus and registration with SACE. See requirements for teaching. See admission requirements and browse all education requirements.