To qualify for a SASSETA bursary you must be a South African citizen aged 18 to 35, hold a Grade 12 certificate or a higher qualification, and be able to prove that you are registered at, or accepted by, a public university or university of technology. Your programme should fall within one of the safety and security fields that SASSETA funds.
SASSETA is the Safety and Security Sector Education and Training Authority. The SASSETA bursary for unemployed learners only opens when SASSETA advertises it, and each advert sets out the full qualifying criteria for that round, so the 2026 requirements are those in the current advert.
Eligibility Requirements at a Glance
SASSETA’s own bursary page lists these base criteria:
- South African citizenship
- aged between 18 and 35
- a Grade 12 certificate or any higher qualification
- proof of registration or an acceptance letter from a public higher education institution
Bursaries are funded through SASSETA’s chambers, so your field of study needs to link to one of them: corrections, defence, justice, legal, police, private security, and secret service and intelligence. Metro police and traffic law enforcement have recently been added. SASSETA gives preference to programmes aligned with its scarce and critical skills.
Income and Affordability Requirements
SASSETA says preference goes to applicants who are previously and financially disadvantaged, live in rural areas, are unemployed youth, or have a disability. It has also said it is working with universities to extend bursaries to “missing middle” students, whose families earn too much for NSFAS but cannot afford fees.
Any household income limit, and the proof of income it wants, is set in each year’s advert. Read the current advert for the exact cap rather than relying on a figure quoted on a third-party bursary site.
Credit and Financial Requirements
A SASSETA bursary is not a loan. SASSETA’s published criteria make no mention of a credit check or credit score. SASSETA describes its awards as full bursaries, arranged with public universities and universities of technology registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training.
Before you sign, read the bursary agreement for:
- exactly which costs are paid and whether the money goes to the institution or to you;
- the academic results you need to keep your funding in later years;
- any conditions that apply if you drop out or change programme.
Applying is free. SASSETA runs a fraud hotline (0800 162 111). Report anyone who asks for money to process or guarantee a SASSETA bursary.
Documents and Verification Required
The advert lists the documents for each round. Based on SASSETA’s base criteria, expect to provide:
- a certified copy of your South African ID, as proof of citizenship and age;
- your Grade 12 certificate or higher qualification;
- proof of registration or an acceptance letter from a public university or university of technology;
- the completed SASSETA application form for that round;
- any household income evidence the advert asks for.
How to Apply and Improve Approval Readiness
SASSETA says it advertises bursaries at least once a year, and it only considers applications received during the advertised period. Here is how to apply:
- Watch the SASSETA website. When a window opens, a banner on the homepage links to the advert and application form under the Discretionary Grants funding window. The form is only available for download during that period.
- Check that your programme links to a SASSETA chamber and that you meet the age, citizenship and qualification criteria.
- Secure your registration or acceptance at a public institution before the closing date. Without it, you do not qualify.
- Complete the form and submit it with all the listed documents, using only the method stated in the advert.
SASSETA also suggests asking the training institutes linked to its chambers whether they have bursaries available, and checking newspapers for its adverts. If you are already employed in the sector, your employer applies on your behalf; you do not use the unemployed bursary route.
Because a window can be short and may not open every year, apply to NSFAS and your institution’s own bursaries at the same time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the SASSETA bursary open now?
Only during an advertised window. Check the SASSETA homepage for a bursary banner, since applications outside the advertised period are not considered.
Can I get a SASSETA bursary at a TVET college or private college?
SASSETA’s bursary page describes partnerships with DHET-registered universities and universities of technology, and asks for proof of registration at a public institution. Check whether the current advert includes other institution types.
What if I am older than 35?
SASSETA’s published criteria set an age range of 18 to 35. Unless an advert says otherwise, applicants outside that range do not meet the base criteria.
Which courses does SASSETA fund?
Programmes linked to its chambers: corrections, defence, justice, legal, police, private security, secret service and intelligence, and now metro police and traffic law enforcement. Programmes aligned with SASSETA’s scarce and critical skills get preference.
How do I contact SASSETA about a bursary?
SASSETA lists its call centre as 011 087 5555 and [email protected], open 7:30 to 16:00 on weekdays.
SASSETA sets and revises its bursary criteria, income limits and closing dates for each funding window, so confirm the current advert on the SASSETA bursaries page before you apply.
See loan requirements and browse all finance and funding requirements.