Yes, ETDP SETA can fund students studying at selected private higher education institutions in South Africa.
This is a vital consideration for students who think that SETA bursaries are only available at public higher education institutions. ETDP SETA has published bursary information identifying a group of private higher education institutions registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) that can participate in its bursary scheme.
The funding is not available to students at every private college, however, because the institution has to fall within the arrangements applicable for the particular ETDP SETA bursary intake and students also have to meet the applicable funding requirements.
Which Private Institutions Have Been Listed?
An official ETDP SETA student notice lists a number of private higher education institutions under the bursary scheme.
The published list includes:
Centre for Creative Education
Institute for Independent Education – Vega College
Varsity College
Rosebank College
IIE MSA
Inscape Education Group
Boston City Campus
STADIO
Eduvos
Richfield Graduate Institute of Technology
MANCOSA
Da Vinci Business School
The notice describes these as private higher education institutions that are registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training.
Students should also check the latest ETDP SETA bursary notice before applying, however, because participating institutions and funding arrangements can change between intakes.
How Much Can the ETDP SETA Bursary Cover?
In the official student notice, ETDP SETA states that its bursary provides funding of up to R150 000 per student per academic year.
Note: This amount should not be assumed to equate to a guaranteed R150 000 payment to every successful student.
The notice indicates that it is the institution that determines the breakdown of the funding, with registration fees and tuition receiving priority. If the approved funding is sufficient to cover the applicable payment categories and there is money remaining, this should be returned to ETDP SETA instead of being paid directly to the student.
What Does the Bursary Actually Pay For?
The funding structure depends on the approved programme of study and institution.
ETDP SETA’s published information indicates that tuition and registration receive priority, and in another official call relating to private higher education institutions, ETDP SETA also indicates funding for tuition, learning materials or gadgets where required by the institution and a living allowance for eligible online students under that particular funding arrangement.
This means that students should consider the particular intake and institution’s funding arrangement rather than assuming that every ETDP SETA bursary provides exactly the same allowances.
Who is the Bursary Aimed At?
The published student notice indicates that the ETDP SETA bursary intends to support the “missing middle” category.
It also indicates that the scheme is intended for unemployed students who are not in employment that pays remuneration and who do not have another source of funding. Students who have applied for or received alternative bursary funding from another source are generally not considered under the stated conditions.
The exact eligibility requirements should always be considered in the latest notice because bursary conditions can change.
Can a Student Apply Directly to ETDP SETA?
This is where students need to pay close attention to the application instructions.
The official notice indicates that funding is administered by the higher education institutions and that students must comply with the university or faculty requirements. It also indicates that the higher education institutions reserve the right not to accept applications.
This means that a student should not assume that simply sending a bursary application directly to an ETDP SETA office will secure funding.
For a particular intake, students should follow the application process that is communicated by the participating institution or ETDP SETA.
Admission and Bursary Approval Are Separate Matters
Being interested in an ETDP SETA bursary does not automatically mean that a student has been accepted to study at a private institution.
The institution still controls its admission process.
ETDP SETA’s published notice specifically indicates that higher education institutions retain the right to reject bursary applications and that ETDP SETA does not interfere with the institutions’ admission and funding processes under the bursary scheme.
Students should therefore deal with two separate questions:
Have I been admitted to the institution?
and
Have I been approved for ETDP SETA bursary funding?
One does not automatically guarantee the other.
Which Qualifications Can Be Funded?
ETDP SETA’s published call for private higher education institutions lists several fields of study that can be funded under the bursary scheme.
These include qualifications such as:
Bachelor of Education
Postgraduate Certificate in Education
Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Commerce
Bachelor of Accounting
Bachelor of Administration, Public Administration or Business-related degrees
Bachelor of Information Technology
Bachelor of Laws
The same document indicates that Honours, Master’s and Doctoral studies can be considered subject to approval and limited numbers, and that Bachelor of Education accounts for a significant portion of the bursary allocation with preference being given to applicants pursuing B.Ed qualifications under that particular funding arrangement.
This does not mean every qualification at every listed private institution will automatically qualify for funding.
Why Private Colleges Can Be Included
ETDP SETA’s mandate covers the education, training and development sector and includes engagement with both public and private entities.
The SETA indicates that its role is to promote and facilitate skills development within the sector and that its work is intended to benefit employers, workers and unemployed people. It also specifically indicates cooperation with private entities in education and training delivery as part of its mission.
The inclusion of approved private higher education institutions therefore forms part of the SETA’s overall skills-development activities.
What Students Should Check Before Applying
Before choosing a private institution because of the possibility of ETDP SETA funding, students should check all the following:
1. Is the Institution Listed for the Current Bursary Intake?
Do not rely on an old social-media post or a previous year’s list.
2. Is Your Qualification Funded?
A private institution may participate in the scheme but not every course or qualification may be covered.
3. Are You Eligible for the Bursary?
Check requirements relating to employment status, existing funding, academic requirements and any other conditions in the current notice.
4. What Does the Funding Cover?
Ask whether the approved funding covers tuition, registration, learning materials, accommodation, transport or other costs.
5. Who Receives the Funding?
The published ETDP SETA notice indicates that funds are administered by the participating higher education institutions. Students should therefore understand how the institution deals with approved funding before registering.
6. What Happens If the Bursary Does Not Cover the Full Cost?
The official notice warns that the bursary may not cover all study and personal financial requirements.
Students should therefore establish whether they will have any remaining fees or personal expenses before committing to a programme.
Do Not Confuse ETDP SETA Funding with NSFAS
Another important distinction is that an ETDP SETA bursary is not the same funding programme as NSFAS.
The ETDP SETA’s bursary notice for private institutions specifically indicates that students receiving alternative bursary funding are excluded under the stated scheme conditions. Its separate private-HEI funding documentation also indicates NSFAS and other funding sources as exclusions.
Students should therefore disclose other bursary funding when required rather than assuming multiple funding sources can automatically be combined.
The Answer for Students
Yes, ETDP SETA does fund students at selected private higher education institutions.
But the more accurate answer is that ETDP SETA funding is available through specific approved institutions and funding arrangements – not automatically at every private college in South Africa.
The official ETDP SETA notice lists several participating private higher education institutions and the SETA’s separate funding documentation sets out qualification and funding conditions for particular bursary arrangements.
For students, the safest approach is to check the latest ETDP SETA notice, the participating institution and the specific qualification before assuming that a course will be funded.
Source & Verification
This article was checked against ETDP SETA’s published student bursary notice and its official documentation concerning private higher education institutions. The R150 000 figure refers to the maximum stated funding per student per academic year in the cited notice and is not presented as a guaranteed cash payment.
Editorial Policy
Our education and bursary coverage is based on available official information wherever possible. We distinguish between confirmed funding conditions and general guidance and avoid presenting the requirements of one bursary intake as permanent rules for all future applications.
Corrections Policy
If official information changes or an error is identified, the article will be reviewed against the latest available documentation and corrected where necessary. Significant factual corrections should be made transparently so that readers can rely on the updated information.
Disclaimer
Bursary conditions, participating institutions, funded qualifications and application procedures can change between academic years and funding cycles. Students should verify the latest requirements directly with the relevant institution and ETDP SETA before making financial or study decisions. This article is provided for general information and is not a guarantee of bursary approval.
