Compensation Fund Bursary South Africa 2025

Want to start studying without worrying about the cost? The Compensation Fund Bursary might be what you are looking for. This guide will help you walk through the Compensation Fund Bursary South Africa 2025 in detail, exploring its qualification requirements, fields and expenses covered, as well as the application process.

Overview of Compensation Fund

In South Africa, the Compensation Fund – under the Department of Labour – offers support to workers who are injured, become ill, or are disabled due to their job duties. It also provides compensation to the families of workers who pass away because of work-related injuries or diseases. Permanent employees, casual workers, apprentices, and trainees who lose income due to a work-related injury or illness can receive compensation from the Compensation Fund.

Compensation Fund Bursary South Africa 2025

The Compensation Fund Bursary helps South African students affected by work-related injuries or illnesses, either personally or through a family member. This fund helps with student costs so people can get an education, find a job again, or even start their own businesses. Here’s what you need to know about the Compensation Fund Bursary South Africa 2025 before applying.

What Does Compensation Fund Cover?

Two groups of people can get this bursary:

Group 1

People who are unemployed and have a permanent disability (PWD) caused by a work-related injury or illness. The bursary will fund courses that help beneficiaries get back into work or start their own businesses.

Group 2

Children or dependents (aged 17 to 35) of COID beneficiaries with permanent disabilities or of workers who died from work-related injuries. The bursary will support studies in the fields listed below (and more):

• Actuarial Science
• Accounting Science
• Agriculture
• Architecture
• Aeronautical Engineering/ Aerospace Control/Aviation
• Data Science
• Culinary
• Economic Science
• Environmental Health
• Financial Mathematics
• Engineering includes:
  • Chemical
  • Civil
  • Electrical
  • Mechanical
  • Mechatronics
  • Design and Development
  • Production and Process
• Health and Clinical Science
• Graphic Design/Digital Marketing/Brand Communication or Management/ Digital Design/Film and Production/Animation
• Mathematical Science/Statistics
• Information Technology/Computer Science specialising in:
  • Informatics/System Development/Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning/Data Science & Analytics/ Data Engineering/Cyber Security/Cloud Computing/Internet of Things (IoT), Quantum Computing/Robotics/Software Engineering/Computer Networks
• Risk Management and Forensic Science
• Teaching
  • Mathematics
  • Science
  • Information Communications Technology and Early Childhood Development
• Apprenticeship program for students who left school after Grade 9, have a General Education Certificate (GEC), and show potential to do well.
• Additional qualifications might also be accepted.

The bursary covers tuition fees, required study materials, accommodation, and a monthly allowance. Bursary is granted for one year at a time. If the student performs well academically and if there are enough funds available, the bursary can be renewed each year for the entire length of the program or qualification they are studying.

If you are shortlisted, you will be contacted. If you don’t hear back within two months after the closing date, please consider your application unsuccessful.

Who Qualifies for the Compensation Fund Bursary?

The following are the bursary eligibility requirements:

Group 1

• Applicant must be a South African student.
• You should be unemployed at the moment.
• Applicants need to be of working age.
• Applicants need to be COID beneficiaries with a Permanent Disability (PWD) caused by work-related injuries or diseases.
• You should be studying or planning to study one of the fields mentioned in the above section.
• Applicants need to be accepted to study at a recognized TVET College, CET College, or Higher Education Institution (HEI).
• You should plan to enhance your skills to rejoin the workforce or start your own business.

Group 2:

• Applicant must be a South African citizen.
• You need to be between 17 and 35 years old.
• Applicants need to be dependents of a COID beneficiary with a permanent disability or of an employee who was fatally injured.
• You should be studying or planning to study one of the fields mentioned in the above section, though other qualifications might also be accepted.
• You need to have been accepted to study at a recognized TVET College, CET College, or Higher Education Institution (HEI).

(If any applicant fails to satisfy the requirements, their application will not be considered)

How Do I Apply for the Bursary Program?

Here’s how you can apply for the bursary program:

• First of all, download the Compensation Fund Bursary application form. Complete the form using up-to-date details.
• After filling out the form, prepare clear copies of the following documents:
• Group 1:
  • Certified copy of ID document.
  • COID claim number or COID pension number.
  • Most recent academic transcript.
  • Acceptance letter from an approved institute.
  • Quotation for tuition fees, if applicable.
  • Quotation for prescribed learning resources, if available ( on the institution’s letterhead).
  • Residential proof.
  • Disability proof, if applicable (verified by a healthcare professional or disability support office).
• Group 2:
  • Certified copy of ID documents.
  • ID documents or unabridged birth certificate with COID beneficiary details (certified copy).
  • Parent’s or guardian’s ID documents (certified copy) or death certificates if deceased (certified copy).
  • COID claim number or pension number.
  • June matric results if you are currently in Matric.
  • Most recent academic transcript, if you are currently studying.
  • Acceptance letter from a recognized institute.
  • Quotation for tuition fees, if acceptable.
  • Quotation for prescribed learning resources, if available (on the institution’s letterhead).
  • Residential proof.
  • Disability proof, if applicable (verified by a healthcare professional or disability support office).
  • Pre-entry assessment, if applying for the apprenticeship program.
  • Proof of income: A verified copy of the latest payslip if employed, affidavit if unemployed or an informal worker, proof of SASSA grant or pension (if applicable), or other income proof.
• After completing the form and preparing the relevant documents, submit them in any one of the methods mentioned below:
  • Via email: [email protected]. Make sure to write the sentence “COID Bursary 2025” in the subject line of the email.
  • In-person submission: personally hand over your application form and documents to the following address:
    • Compensation Fund Head Building
    • 167 Thabo Sehume & Madiba Street
    • Delta Heights Building
    • Pretoria
    • 0002
  • Via Post:
    • The Sub-Directorate: Vocational Rehabilitation
    • Department of Employment and Labour, Compensation Fund
    • Private Bag x 955
    • Pretoria
    • 0001

Deadline: 31 March 2025

Wrap Up

Apply to the Compensation Fund Bursary as soon as possible to secure financial support for your studies. Make sure to apply before the deadline, or your application will not be considered.