The Insurance Sector Student Fund (ISSF) is a bursary and skills-development funding programme established by the Insurance Sector Education and Training Authority (INSETA).
The ISSF supports students, graduates and employees through education and training opportunities aligned with the insurance sector and its broader value chain. The fund is co-funded by INSETA and participating organisations in the insurance industry.
INSETA ISSF Bursary 2027 – Quick Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Bursary provider | Insurance Sector Education and Training Authority (INSETA) |
| Fund | Insurance Sector Student Fund (ISSF) |
| Academic year | 2027 |
| Study areas | Qualifications aligned with the insurance value chain |
| Applicants | South African unemployed and employed individuals, subject to the applicable funding category |
| Study levels | New and continuing students, depending on the funding category |
| Study institutions | Universities, Universities of Technology, TVET Colleges and other eligible institutions/partners |
| Closing date | 2027 date not yet officially confirmed by INSETA |
| Application method | Online application through the INSETA ISSF page |
What Is the ISSF?
The Insurance Sector Student Fund (ISSF) is a co-funded initiative created to support the development of skills across the insurance sector.
INSETA describes the fund as supporting skilling, upskilling, reskilling and multi-skilling across the insurance value chain. The programme can support students, graduates and employees, with particular attention to financially disadvantaged individuals and other groups identified within INSETA’s skills-development priorities.
Who Can Apply?
The most recent official ISSF application advert included the following applicant categories:
1. South African Public
This category covers unemployed and employed South African individuals.
The official 2025 ISSF criteria included:
South African citizens
Financially disadvantaged individuals, particularly youth
Missing-middle and non-missing-middle employed individuals
New students
Continuing students
The exact criteria for the 2027 intake should be checked against the new official advert when released.
2. Higher Education Institutions & Strategic Implementation Partners
Registered Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and strategic implementation partners can apply on behalf of learners and relevant programmes.
The previous official advert included:
Universities
Universities of Technology
TVET Colleges
Accredited training providers/private institutions
Priority was given to programmes and courses connected to the insurance value chain.
3. Co-Funders / Employers
The ISSF also has a category for employers and companies participating as co-funders.
This reflects the structure of the ISSF as a co-funded industry programme rather than a conventional bursary that is exclusively administered directly to individual students.
Fields of Study
The ISSF is intended to support programmes connected to the insurance value chain.
Examples of areas previously supported or identified by INSETA include:
Insurance
Actuarial Science
Financial Management
Accounting
Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
Compliance
Economics
Business Studies
Law
The exact programmes funded can change according to the relevant ISSF funding window and sector skills priorities.
What Does the ISSF Bursary Cover?
Previous official ISSF application information listed different funding packages depending on the beneficiary category.
For qualifying unemployed beneficiaries, previous packages included:
Tuition fees
Textbooks
Technological devices such as laptops and data, where applicable
Accommodation
Meals
Living allowance
For employed beneficiaries, the previous official advert stated that funding was more limited and included tuition and book-related support.
Important
These funding benefits are based on previous official ISSF application documentation. The exact 2027 funding package should be confirmed when INSETA publishes the 2027 advert.
Application Categories
The most recent official ISSF advert divided applications into three sections:
Section A: HEIs & Strategic Implementation Partners
Section B: Co-Funders / Employers / Companies
Section C: South African Public — Unemployed & Employed Individuals
How to Apply
When the ISSF application window is open, applicants should:
Visit the official INSETA ISSF webpage.
Select the applicable application category.
Complete the online application form.
Upload the required supporting documents.
Submit the application before the official closing date.
INSETA’s previous official advert instructed applicants to use the ISSF webpage and complete the applicable online form, with documents uploaded through the link provided during the application process.
Official application page:
INSETA ISSF – Official Page
Supporting Documents
Previous ISSF documentation listed documents such as:
Certified South African ID
Certified Matric results
Most recent academic record
Tuition/course quotation
Proof of registration
Letter of employment for employed applicants
Other programme-specific documentation
Applicants should follow the 2027 application requirements once the new official advert is published.
Closing Date
2027 closing date: Not yet officially confirmed
The current INSETA ISSF webpage states that the 2026 application window closed on 21 October 2025.
Some third-party bursary websites have published 20 October 2026 as a proposed 2027 closing date, but I would not publish that as the confirmed closing date until INSETA itself releases the 2027 ISSF advert.
Important Warning for Applicants
The ISSF has previously stated that:
Late applications are not considered.
Incomplete applications may not be considered.
Only successful/shortlisted applicants receive communication.
Applicants who do not receive communication within the specified period should regard their application as unsuccessful.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the INSETA ISSF Bursary available for 2027?
The ISSF is an ongoing INSETA funding programme, but INSETA has not yet published a 2027 ISSF application advert on its official ISSF page at the time of checking. The official page currently displays the closed 2026 application window.
Who can apply for the ISSF?
Previous application windows included South African unemployed and employed individuals, as well as applications through HEIs, strategic implementation partners and co-funding employers.
What courses does INSETA fund?
The ISSF supports programmes aligned with the insurance value chain. Previous materials have included areas such as insurance, actuarial science, accounting, financial management, ICT, compliance, economics, business studies and law.
Can unemployed students apply?
Yes. Previous ISSF funding windows specifically included a South African Public – Unemployed & Employed Individuals category.
Can employed people apply?
Yes. Employed applicants were included in previous ISSF funding windows, although the funding package can differ from that available to unemployed beneficiaries.
Does the ISSF pay for accommodation?
Previous official ISSF documentation listed accommodation and meals among possible benefits for qualifying unemployed beneficiaries. The exact benefits are subject to the applicable funding package and should be confirmed for the 2027 cycle.
Does the ISSF provide laptops?
Previous official documentation included technological devices such as laptops and data, where applicable, for qualifying unemployed beneficiaries.
Where do I apply?
Applications are made through the official INSETA ISSF webpage when the application window is open.
Official application page:
INSETA ISSF – Official Page