FASSET Learnerships and Bursaries: Opportunities to Build Careers in Finance and Accounting

The Finance and Accounting Services Sector Education and Training Authority (FASSET) is one of South Africa’s Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs), responsible for supporting skills development in the finance, accounting, management consulting and other financial services sector.

FASSET’s mission includes increasing the number of people entering employment in finance and accounting services, developing the skills required by the sector and supporting transformation within the industry.

For South African students, unemployed youth and people already working in the sector, FASSET bursaries and learnerships can provide important opportunities to gain qualifications, workplace experience and industry-relevant skills.

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What Does FASSET Offer?

FASSET supports a range of learning interventions, including:

• Bursaries

• Learnerships

• Internships

• Skills programmes

• Workplace learning

• Recognition of Prior Learning

• Adult Education and Training

FASSET's learner portal allows prospective applicants to indicate the type of intervention they are interested in, including unemployed and employed learnerships and bursaries.

FASSET Bursaries

FASSET provides different bursary opportunities aimed at supporting students and developing scarce and critical skills within the finance and accounting services sector.

According to the official FASSET bursary information, its bursary categories include TVET College unemployed learner bursaries, TVET College lecturer bursaries, university unemployed learner bursaries and employed bursaries.

TVET College Bursaries

FASSET's TVET College bursary is aimed at unemployed learners studying through public TVET colleges.

The bursary targets business-stream qualifications, including IT-related qualifications. Subject to the applicable terms and conditions, learners can be funded through to completion of their qualification.

The bursary may cover:

• Tuition fees

• Prescribed textbooks

• Accommodation

• Learner allowances

• Potential laptop support

The official FASSET page states that the bursary is capped at R40,000, although this amount may change from one financial year to another depending on the available budget. Household income thresholds may also change annually.

University Bursaries

FASSET also provides bursaries for unemployed learners studying at public universities or universities of technology.

The bursary is aimed at students pursuing FASSET-related qualifications, as well as selected areas such as Actuarial Science and IT-related qualifications.

Depending on the applicable funding conditions, support can include:

• Tuition

• Prescribed textbooks

• Accommodation

• Learner allowances

• Possible laptop support

The current FASSET bursary information states that the university unemployed learner bursary is capped at R100,000, although the cap may change each financial year depending on budget availability.

Bursaries for Employed Learners

FASSET also provides bursary support for employees working within the FASSET sector.

These bursaries are focused on qualifications linked to FASSET's top 10 scarce and critical skills and are available for studies at public higher-learning institutions.

The official information states that employed bursaries are currently capped at R50,000, although this amount can change depending on the annual budget. Funding is limited to one year, with eligible employees able to reapply for continued studies.

FASSET Learnerships

Learnerships are another important pathway supported by FASSET.

FASSET describes an unemployed learnership as a structured learning programme that combines theoretical learning with practical workplace experiential learning. The programme lasts for at least 12 months and leads to an occupationally related qualification registered on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). Learners on these programmes receive a monthly stipend for the duration of the programme.

This combination of classroom-based learning and workplace experience can be particularly valuable for young people who have qualifications but need practical experience to improve their employment prospects.

Examples of FASSET Learnerships

FASSET's official learnership database lists a range of qualifications and learning programmes.

Examples include:

Certificate: Local Government Accounting

This learnership is listed at NQF Level 3 and is focused on developing foundational knowledge and skills in local government accounting.

Certificate: Accounting Technician

Also listed at NQF Level 3, this programme provides an entry-level pathway into accounting-related occupational skills.

Further Education and Training Certificate: Accounting Technician

This programme is listed at NQF Level 4, providing an opportunity for learners to progress to a higher level of accounting-related training.

Advanced Certificate: Local Government Accounting

FASSET also lists an Advanced Certificate: Local Government Accounting at NQF Level 4.

Certificate: Accounting

A Certificate: Accounting is listed at NQF Level 5, providing another route into the accounting field.

FASSET's online learnership database contains additional programmes, so applicants should consult the official list to determine which programmes are available and which requirements apply.

FASSET Learnerships for Unemployed Youth

Unemployed South Africans interested in entering the finance and accounting sector can register their interest through FASSET's learner portal.

The application portal asks applicants for information such as their personal details, education and career status. Applicants can indicate whether they have a matric certificate, university exemption, tertiary registration, no formal employment, part-time employment or full-time employment.

Applicants can also indicate that they are interested in an Unemployed Learnership.

The official portal specifies a 12-month duration for the unemployed learnership intervention and states that learners are allocated a monthly stipend for the duration of the programme.

Importantly, the stipend amount can vary according to the specific programme or funding arrangement. Applicants should therefore rely on the amount stated in the official advertisement or learner agreement rather than assuming that every FASSET learnership pays the same stipend.

Employed Learnerships

FASSET also supports learnerships for people who are already employed.

An employed learnership combines theoretical and practical workplace learning over at least 12 months and leads to an occupational qualification registered on the NQF, up to NQF Level 5.

Unlike unemployed learners, people already earning salaries through their employment are not entitled to a separate learnership stipend under the description provided by FASSET.

What Are the Benefits of a FASSET Learnership?

A FASSET learnership can offer several advantages to a successful learner.

1. Workplace Experience

Learners gain practical exposure in a real working environment rather than relying only on classroom learning.

2. Occupational Qualifications

The programmes are linked to qualifications registered on the NQF, giving learners an opportunity to work towards recognised occupational learning outcomes.

3. Monthly Stipend for Unemployed Learners

FASSET's learner portal states that unemployed learnership participants receive a monthly stipend for the duration of the programme.

4. Improved Employment Prospects

Workplace experience can help graduates and young people become more competitive when applying for entry-level jobs.

5. Sector-Relevant Skills

FASSET's programmes are designed around the needs of the finance and accounting services sector, helping learners develop skills relevant to the industry.

Who Should Consider Applying?

FASSET opportunities may be particularly useful for:

• South African youth interested in accounting and finance

• Unemployed matriculants who meet programme requirements

• Students studying relevant qualifications

• Students at public TVET colleges

• University and university-of-technology students

• People interested in accounting technician careers

• People interested in finance-related occupations

• Existing employees who want to further their qualifications

• Individuals seeking workplace experience in the financial services sector

Applicants should always check the requirements of the specific bursary or learnership before applying because eligibility criteria differ between programmes.

How to Apply for FASSET Opportunities

Prospective applicants can start by visiting the official FASSET website and checking the current Bursaries and Learnerships sections.

FASSET also provides an online learner application portal where prospective learners can submit their details and identify the learning intervention they are interested in.

Applicants should generally:

1. Visit the official FASSET website.

2. Review the available bursary or learnership opportunities.

3. Check the minimum requirements.

4. Prepare their identification and academic documents.

5. Complete the relevant application process.

6. Submit the application before the stated closing date.

7. Keep proof of application where available.

8. Monitor their communication channels for updates.

Documents to Prepare

Although requirements differ between opportunities, applicants should consider preparing:

• South African ID

• Matric certificate

• Latest academic results

• Proof of registration where applicable

• Proof of household income where required

• Proof of unemployment where requested

• Curriculum vitae where requested

• Other supporting documents specified in the advertisement

Applicants should ensure that all information submitted is accurate and that documents meet the requirements specified by FASSET or the programme administrator.

Important Information About FASSET Funding

A key point for applicants is that FASSET funding amounts and programme availability can change.

For example, FASSET's current bursary page lists different caps for different bursary categories and specifically notes that some caps may change each financial year depending on budget availability.

Therefore, applicants should not rely on old social-media posts or outdated articles when deciding how much funding they will receive.

Always check the latest official FASSET information and the specific programme advertisement.

Be Careful of Fake Learnership and Bursary Advertisements

Job seekers should also be cautious when applying for learnerships and bursaries advertised on social media.

Applicants should:

• Verify opportunities on the official FASSET website.

• Avoid paying someone to "secure" a FASSET learnership or bursary.

• Never share banking PINs or passwords.

• Check the domain of websites requesting personal information.

• Use official FASSET contact details when uncertain about an opportunity.

FASSET learnerships and bursaries can provide valuable opportunities for South Africans who want to build careers in accounting, finance, financial services, management consulting, IT-related fields and other occupations supported by the sector.

The bursary programmes can help eligible students with education-related costs, while learnerships combine theoretical education with practical workplace experience. This makes them particularly useful for unemployed young people who need both skills and workplace exposure.

The most important step is to check the official FASSET website regularly for current opportunities, requirements and closing dates.

Official FASSET Resources

FASSET Skills Development Learnership Programmes (x28 Posts)

FASSET Skills Development Learnership Programmes (x6 Designations)

5x FASSET Learnership Programmes

FASSET Bursaries:
View the official FASSET Bursaries page

FASSET Learnerships:
View the official FASSET Learnerships page

Disclaimer: Programme availability, eligibility requirements, funding amounts, application dates and stipend amounts may change. Applicants should verify all information directly with FASSET or the relevant programme administrator before applying.

5x FASSET Learnership Programmes