Government and SETA Bursaries

The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) has a Directorate responsible for skills development called the Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) Coordination Directorate which as the name implies co-ordinates the affairs of the various Sector Education  and Training Authorities. Each sector of the country’s economy has a SETA which is responsible for the skills planning and output for that particular sector e.g., MERSETA is the SETA for the manufacturing sector. There are various Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) that offer bursaries. This is in support of the government’s stated objective to increase the number of graduates in scarce and critical skills disciplines. SETA bursaries are offered on the basis of academic merit, proof of registration in a scarce skills discipline and financial need. Only South African citizens are eligible. Candidates are required to sign an obligation to work in South Africa for a specified period, sometimes in a specific sector, upon graduation. There is no specific employment contract attached to the bursary and no guaranteed work program or training opportunity provided by the SETA. The bursaries are offered to provide funding for students in financial need and to advance a specific industry