To teach in South Africa you need a recognised teaching qualification and registration with the South African Council for Educators (SACE). The two main routes are a four-year Bachelor of Education (BEd), or a degree followed by a one-year Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). Under the SACE Act, no person may be employed as an educator by any employer unless they are registered with the Council.
To study teaching you generally need a bachelor pass in your National Senior Certificate and the admission points score (APS) and subject levels that your chosen university sets for the phase you want to teach. Those figures differ by university, phase and intake year, so check them with the university before you apply.
Entry Requirements at a Glance
- A bachelor pass for the BEd degree, plus the university’s APS and subject levels for your phase
- For the PGCE route, an appropriate degree or approved diploma with enough study in the school subjects you will teach
- A language at the level the university requires, especially for Foundation Phase
- Registration with SACE after you qualify, before you can be employed as an educator
Academic and Minimum Admission Requirements
The BEd is designed as a four-year professional degree of at least 480 credits at NQF level 7, entered directly from matric, with specialisation by phase (Foundation, Intermediate, Senior and FET). It is the most direct route into teaching. The national teacher education policy (MRTEQ) sets these minimum standards, and each university sets its own admission rules within them.
The PGCE is a one-year qualification for graduates. The national minimum admission requirement is an appropriate diploma or bachelor’s degree with enough subject learning for what you intend to teach. See PGCE requirements for the subject levels.
Both routes lead to SACE registration, which is a separate process from your qualification.
Subjects, APS and Qualification Requirements
Each university calculates the APS in its own way and sets its own subject levels, so the same matric results can qualify for one programme and not another. Language and mathematics levels matter most for Foundation Phase, because that phase covers literacy and early numeracy. For Senior and FET Phase, your subject specialisation must match subjects taught in schools.
The Funza Lushaka bursary shows what the national bursary scheme expects. For the 2027 study year, Foundation Phase applicants need Mathematics at level 3 or Mathematical Literacy at level 4, plus Home Language at level 4. Intermediate Phase needs Mathematics at level 3 or Mathematical Literacy at level 5, plus Home Language at level 4. Senior and FET Phase needs level 4 in two priority subject areas. A bachelor pass is required.
Universities set higher requirements than these bursary minimums. Ask the university for its current APS, English level and mathematics level for the exact BEd programme you want, and for the intake year you are applying for.
Documents and Application Requirements
You apply directly to the university. Applications normally require the following.
- A certified copy of your identity document
- Your National Senior Certificate or latest statement of results
- Proof of the application fee, where one is charged (Unisa’s online application fee is R160 and non-refundable)
- Your final matric results, used to confirm any conditional offer
- A SAQA evaluation certificate, if you hold a foreign qualification
Unisa’s application window shown for the 2027 intake, 17 August to 9 October 2026, has closed. Other universities set their own dates, so confirm the closing date for your programme on the university’s website.
Selection, Intake and Eligibility Considerations
The Funza Lushaka bursary is the national bursary for teacher training. For the 2027 study year, applications opened on 1 October 2026; new applications close on 31 January 2027 and re-applications on 30 November 2026. First-time applicants must be 30 years or younger and South African citizens with a valid ID, and you do not qualify if you already hold a teaching qualification. It funds the four-year BEd, not the one-year PGCE, and it does not fund oversupplied subjects such as History, Geography, Accounting, Economics, Business Studies and EMS. Read the 2027 application notes before you apply.
Funza Lushaka comes with a service obligation: you teach for one year for every year the bursary funded you, and you must apply for public school posts within six months of graduating. Applications are online only, and police clearance and child and sex offender register checks are required.
Choose your phase and subject specialisation deliberately, since changing later usually means additional study.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the requirements for teaching in South Africa?
A recognised teaching qualification, either a four-year BEd or a degree plus a one-year PGCE, and registration with SACE before you are employed as an educator. SACE registration is done online through the government’s register as an educator service. The fee is R200 for professionally qualified educators, and you supply documents such as your ID, matric certificate, a police clearance not older than six months and your teaching qualification with a full academic record. See the SACE registration requirements.
What requirements are needed to study teaching?
A bachelor pass and the APS, language level and mathematics level the university sets for your phase. Foundation Phase programmes usually put the most weight on language and mathematics results. Check the exact figures with the university.
What APS do I need for teaching at UJ?
UJ sets its own APS and subject levels for each BEd programme, and they can change between intakes. Check the programme page on the UJ website or ask UJ admissions for the current figure for the phase you want, whether Foundation Phase or Senior and FET Phase.
What qualification do I need to teach?
A four-year Bachelor of Education, or a degree followed by a one-year PGCE. Both lead to SACE registration.
Do I have to register with SACE?
Yes. The SACE Act bars any employer from employing you as an educator unless you are registered. This applies to all employers, not only public schools. Use the register as an educator page.
Can I choose my phase later?
Generally no. Phase specialisation is chosen at the point of study, and changing later usually requires additional study. The Department of Basic Education advises graduates not to take a PGCE for the Foundation or Intermediate Phase, because those phases need the full four-year BEd.
How do I study teaching in South Africa?
Choose a phase, then apply to a university that offers the four-year BEd for that phase, or the PGCE if you already have a degree. Apply directly to the university and, if you qualify, apply separately for the Funza Lushaka bursary.
Are bursaries available?
Yes. The Funza Lushaka bursary is open for the 2027 study year. New applications close on 31 January 2027, first-time applicants must be 30 or younger, and it does not fund the PGCE or oversupplied subjects.
Confirm registration with the South African Council for Educators and qualification recognition with the Department of Higher Education and Training. Confirm the exact APS, subject levels and closing dates with each university for your intake year. See admission requirements and browse all education requirements.