For many South Africans, a workplace injury doesn’t just end a job — it quietly closes doors to education, income, and independence.
The Compensation Fund Bursaries 2026 reopen some of those doors, offering funded study opportunities to people whose lives were altered by occupational injury, disease, or loss.
This matters now because unemployment among people with disabilities and affected dependants remains high, and education is still one of the few proven ways to rebuild long-term stability.
Why the Compensation Fund Bursary Exists
The Compensation Fund, under the Department of Employment and Labour, was never meant to be only about payouts and pensions.
Its External Bursary Programme reflects a deeper acknowledgement: financial compensation alone does not restore dignity or opportunity.
For an injured worker who can no longer return to physical labour, or a child whose parent died on duty, education becomes a form of rehabilitation.
Not medical — but economic and social.
The Compensation Fund Bursaries 2026 are structured around this reality. They focus on employability, skills recovery, and long-term participation in the economy rather than short-term relief.
Applications officially close on 31 March 2026, although submissions remain open throughout the academic year while funds last. Early applications matter.
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Who This Bursary Is Really For
This bursary is not open to the general public, and that specificity is intentional.
It is designed for people already within the Compensation Fund system — individuals whose working lives were directly affected by occupational injury or disease, or whose families were permanently changed by workplace fatalities.
Eligible applicants include:
- Unemployed COID beneficiaries with permanent disabilities who are of working age
- Dependants of COID beneficiaries with permanent disabilities
- Dependants of fatally injured employees between the ages of 17 and 35
Applicants must already be accepted at a recognised public institution, including:
- TVET Colleges
- CET Colleges
- Public Universities
- Universities of Technology
This requirement ensures the bursary supports real, immediate study pathways rather than speculative plans.
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What the Compensation Fund Bursary Covers
Unlike partial funding schemes, this is a comprehensive bursary. It acknowledges that tuition alone does not keep a student enrolled.
Coverage includes:
- Full tuition fees
- Prescribed study materials
- Monthly stipend for living costs
- Accommodation support
The bursary is renewable each year for the duration of the qualification, provided funding remains available and academic progress is satisfactory.
For students managing disabilities, this consistency matters. Uncertainty often causes dropouts — something the programme actively tries to prevent.
Fields of Study and Practical Outcomes
The Compensation Fund does not narrowly restrict fields of study, and this flexibility is deliberate.
The programme prioritises qualifications that help beneficiaries:
- Re-enter the labour market in new roles
- Build self-employment or small businesses
- Gain vocational, technical, or academic skills aligned with their abilities
While recommended qualifications are listed in the official application form, applicants are not strictly limited to those options.
This is particularly important for students whose disabilities or interrupted schooling require alternative educational pathways.
In some cases, part-time study may be approved for students with disabilities under exceptional circumstances.
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Eligibility and Documentation: Where Most Applications Fail
Many deserving applicants are rejected for one reason: incomplete documentation.
To qualify for the Compensation Fund Bursaries 2026, applicants must submit:
- A fully completed bursary application form
- A valid COID Pension Number or Claim Number
- Certified copies of:
- The applicant’s South African ID
- Parent or guardian’s ID or death certificate (for dependants)
- Proof of acceptance at a recognised PSET institution
- Proof of full-time enrolment
- Medical confirmation of permanent disability where applicable, completed by:
- A registered Health Care Professional, or
- A Disability Support Office or final WCL medical report
Incomplete applications are not reviewed. There are no follow-ups or requests for missing documents.
How to Apply for the Compensation Fund Bursary 2026
Step 1: Download the application form
The official Compensation Fund External Bursary Application Form for 2026 must be completed in full.
👉 Click here to download the Compensation Fund External Bursary Application Form 2026
Step 2: Submit your application
Applications can be sent via post, hand delivery, or email.
Post or Courier:
The Sub-Directorate: Vocational Rehabilitation
Department of Employment and Labour
Compensation Fund
Private Bag X955
Pretoria, 0001
Hand Delivery (September – December 2025):
167 Thabo Sehume Street
Delta Heights Building
Pretoria
Hand Delivery (From January 2026):
Compensation House
Corner Hamilton & Soutpansberg Road
Prinshof, Pretoria
Email submissions:
CFexternalbursaries@labour.gov.za
If no response is received within two months, the application should be regarded as unsuccessful.
Why The Compensation Fund Bursaries 2026 Matters
South Africa has many bursaries, but few are as socially targeted as this one.
The Compensation Fund bursary recognises that workplace injury does not end when treatment stops. Its effects ripple through families, education, and income for years.
By funding education for injured workers and their dependants, the programme helps restore agency — not charity.
That distinction is why it remains one of the country’s most impactful public bursary initiatives.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Compensation Fund bursary only for people with disabilities?
No. It also covers dependants of permanently disabled COID beneficiaries and dependants of fatally injured employees.
Can I apply if I’m already studying?
Yes, provided you are enrolled full-time at a recognised public institution and meet all eligibility requirements.
Does the bursary cover accommodation and living costs?
Yes. It includes accommodation support and a monthly stipend.
Can students with disabilities study part-time?
In exceptional cases, part-time study may be approved with proper motivation and documentation.
What happens if my application is incomplete?
Incomplete applications are automatically disqualified and will not be reconsidered.
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