Compensation Fund (COID) has opened a bursary program for 2026 academic year and all interested applicants should apply before the deadline below:

The mission of the Compensation Fund is to provide efficient, quality, client-centric and accessible Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases (COID) services; sustain financial viability; and be an organisation that takes care of the needs of its staff to ensure effective service delivery.

ENDING DATE: This Bursary will end on Phase 1: 30 November 2026.
Phase 2: 29 January 2026.

LOCATION: South Africa

Compensation Fund (COID) Bursary 2026 will be awarded to 2 groups of people, for studies towards the following qualifications:

1) Group 1: unemployed people, who are permanently disabled after suffering occupational injuries or diseases, and COID pensioners – can apply for studies towards the following fields (to increase chances of re-entry into the labour market):

• Carpentry
• Dressmaking
• Electrical
• Horticulture & Landscaping
• Plumbing
• Poultry Farming
• Traditional & Hydroponic Vegetable Cultivation and Agro-processing
• Upholstery and Furniture Making
• Welding
• Other Vocational Training

2) Group 2: dependants of COID (Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases) pensioners, or dependants of COID people who are permanently disabled after suffering occupational injuries or diseases – can apply for studies in:

• Accounting Science
• Accounting: BCom (Honours)
• Actuarial Science
• Aeronautical Engineering
• Aerospace Control
• Agriculture
• Analytical Chemistry
• Animation
• Architecture
• Aviation
• Biochemistry
• Biotechnology
• Brand Communication or Management
• Chemical Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Clinical Psychology
• Computer Science, System Development and Informatics/ Information Technology (specialising in Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Computing, Computer Networks, Cyber Security, Data Engineering, Data Science & Analytics, Internet of Things (IoT), Machine Learning, Quantum Computing, Robotics, Software Engineering)
• Construction Management
• CTA
• Culinary
• Data Science
• Design and Development Engineering
• Design Graphic (Communication) Design
• Digital Design
• Digital Marketing
• Economic Science
• Electrical Engineering
• Environmental Health
• Film and Production
• Financial Mathematics
• Food and Beverage
• Forensic Science
• Geo-Informatics
• Geology
• Geophysics
• Health and related clinical science (Advanced Paramedic, Audiology, Dentistry, MBCHB, Medical Orthotics, Medical Science, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Oncology, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Prosthetics, Radiography, Urology, Vascular Technology)
• Hospitality
• Industrial Engineering
• Industrial Psychology
• Marine
• Maritime Studies
• Mathematical Science
• Mechanical Engineering
• Mechatronics Engineering
• Microbiology
• Operations Management
• Production and Process Engineering
• Production Management
• Quality Assurance and Regulatory
• Quality Control and Planning
• Quantity Surveying
• Risk Management
• Risk Management and Forensic Science
• Statistics
• Supply Chain Management
• Teaching (Early Childhood Development, Information Communications Technology, Mathematics, Science)
• Town Planning
• Water Science and Technology
• Apprenticeship full programme (available to candidates who ended mainstream schooling in Grade 9, with a General Education Certificate (GEC) and potential to succeed in the programme – candidates must submit pre-entry assessment outcomes)

BURSARY REQUIREMENTS:

All Applicants must at least meet the requirements of a group:

1) Group 1:

• You must be a South African citizen
• You must be currently unemployed
• You must be of working age
• You must have acquired a permanent disability due to occupational injuries or diseases
• You must be studying intend on studying within one of the aforementioned fields of study (full-time if not disabled, part-time if disabled)
• You must have been accepted or preliminary accepted to study at a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College, Community Education and Training (CET) or Higher Education Institution (HEI)
• You must intend to improve your skills to return to the work force or become self-employed

2) Group 2:

• You must be a South African citizen
• You must be between 17 and 25 years old
• You must be a dependant of a COID pension or a dependants of COID people who are permanently disabled after suffering occupational injuries or diseases
• You must be studying intend on studying within one of the aforementioned fields of study (full-time if not disabled, part-time if disabled)
• You must have been accepted or preliminary accepted to study at a Public Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College or Higher Education Institution (HEI)

BURSARY COVERAGE:

This bursary covers for the following expenses: tuition fees, prescribed study materials, accommodation and a monthly stipend.

METHOD OF APPLICATION

Download and apply for this bursary with the application form below:

Remember to attach the following documents wen applying:

1) Group 1:

• ID document (certified copy)
• COID pension number or COID claim number
• Latest academic transcript, if currently studying
• Proof of acceptance or preliminary acceptance from an approved institute
• Tuition fees quotation (on institutions letterhead)
• Prescribed Learning Resources quotation, if available (on institutions letterhead)
• Proof of residence
• Proof of disability, if applicable (verification by a Health Care Professional or Disability Support Office)

2) Group 2:

• ID document (certified copy)
• Applicants unabridged birth certificate (certified copy)
• Parents/ guardians ID documents (certified copy)/ death certificates if deceased (certified copy)
• COID pension number or COID claim number
• Matric June results, if currrently in Matric
• Latest academic transcript, if currently studying
• Proof of acceptance or preliminary acceptance from an approved institute
• Tuition fees quotation (on institutions letterhead)
• Prescribed Learning Resources quotation, if available (on institutions letterhead)
• Proof of residence
• Proof of disability, if applicable (verification by a Health Care Professional or Disability Support Office)
• Pre-entry assessment (if applying for the apprenticeship programme)
• Proof of income (latest payslip if employed: certified copy, affidavit if unemployed or an informal worker, proof of SASSA grant if applicable, proof pension if applicable, or other proof of income)

Applications must be submitted in one of the following ways:
1) Email: CFexternalbursaries@labour.gov.za

2) Hand delivery:
Compensation Fund Head Building
167 Thabo Sehume & Madiba Street
Delta Heights Building
Pretoria
0002

3) Post/ Courier:
The Sub – Directorate: Vocational Rehabilitation
Department of Employment and Labour
Compensation Fund
Private Bag x 955
Pretoria
0001

(Please note: emailed and faxed applications will NOT be accepted).