COID Bursary South Africa | Requirements & Application Guide

Are you a dependent of COID Person with disabilities or fatally injured workers? Or perhaps you are currently unemployed, having faced occupational injuries or diseases resulting in permanent disablement? If so, the Compensation Fund Bursary offers you the opportunity to pursue your educational goals by providing financial support. Therefore, do not miss this chance and apply for the COID Bursary program now.

The applicants must gain a deeper understanding of the COID Bursary program to make an informed decision. This guide will explore the necessary details regarding the Compensation Fund Bursary program, its selection criteria, and the application process. Hence, continue reading to learn more about the COID Bursary program.

About COID Bursary

What is the COID Bursary program? The Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases (COID) offers a bursary program to eligible individuals who aspire to pursue an undergraduate or specific post-graduate program. The COID Bursary is completely cost-free and aims to assist those who are less fortunate in the country.

It covers one academic year and may be renewable based on your qualifications, outstanding academic performance, and the availability of funds. I will delve into detail about the necessary requirements of the COID Bursary program and how you can apply for it. Before moving toward the requirements and application process, it is better to understand what COID is.

Understanding the COID Bursary Program

The Compensation Fund, a division of the South African Department of Labour, offers compensation to employees who sustain injuries, contract diseases, or become disabled during the course of their work. Additionally, it provides support in cases of death due to work-related injuries or diseases.

The compensation fund compensates temporary workers, permanent workers, apprentices, and trainees for lost income resulting from injuries or diseases acquired during the course of their employment. Moreover, the COID Bursary program is awarded to two groups.

The first group is dedicated to unemployed individuals and COID pensioners who have sustained permanent injuries, disabilities, or contracted diseases due to work-related reasons. Meanwhile, the second group is for dependents of COID pensioners or dependents and COID beneficiaries who are prominently disabled but have not yet been officially classified as COID pensioners.

What Are The Fields Covered by the COID Bursary Program?

The Compensation Fund offers financial assistance to deserving individuals to help them pursue certain qualifications and fields of study. Individuals can apply for the COID Bursary program only if they plan to pursue fields or qualifications funded by the program. As stated above, the COID Bursary is awarded to two groups.

Group One

The first group consists of unemployed individuals or pensioners under COID who are permanently disabled due to an occupational injury and disease. Individuals who fall under the group one category have the opportunity to pursue any qualification that enhances their chances for reintegration into the labor market. The bursary fund is provided to individuals in this category who wish to pursue vocational training in different courses, including but not limited to:

• Carpentry
• Dressmaking
• Plumbing
• Poultry Farming
• Electrical
• Traditional and Hydroponic Vegetable Cultivation and Agro-Processing
• upholstery and Furniture Making
• Wielding and other vocational training

Group Two

This second group is dedicated to dependents who are aged between 17 and 25, including dependents of COID pensioners. This category also includes the permanently disabled COID beneficiaries who have not yet been officially classified as COID pensioners. Furthermore, this bursary is specifically designed for both prospective and current undergraduate and postgraduates in the following fields:

• Accounting Science/BCom(Honours) in Accounting/CTA
• Agriculture
• Actuarial Science and Financial Mathematics/Statistics/Data Science
• Aeronautical Engineering/Aerospace Control/Aviation
• Analytical Chemistry/Biochemistry/Biotechnology/Microbiologist
• Architectures/Town Planning/Construction Management
• BSc in Computer Science and Informatics/Information Technology/Quantum Computing/Software Engineering
• Design Graphics
• Economic Science/ Econometric
• Food and Beverage Technician
• Investment Management
• Operations Management/Industrial Engineering/Production Management
• Quality Control and Planning
• Risk Management and Forensic Science
• Teaching
• Full apprenticeship program (open to eligible candidates who completed their formal education at Grade 9, possess a General Education Certificate (GEC), and demonstrate the potential to succeed in this program)- applicants should submit pre-entry assessment outcomes

What Are The Expenses Covered by the COID Bursary Program?

The Compensation Fund covers all the individual’s study-related costs. The expenses covered by the COID Bursary are as follows:

• Tuition fees
• Book allowance
• Monthly living allowance
• Accommodation (accredited institutions only) in accordance with the NSFAS/DHET guidelines

Bursaries are granted for one academic year at a time and can be renewed annually based on excellent academic qualifications and available funds. If you don’t hear back within two months after applying, consider your application unsuccessful.

What Are the Eligibility Requirements For the COID Bursary Program?

The Compensation Funds have set certain criteria for the application process to identify individuals facing financial crises who deserve support. Every applicant must fulfill these requirements before applying, or their application will not be considered. Additionally, the eligibility requirements for Group 1 and Group 2 differ; they are as follows:

Group One

• The applicant should be a South African citizen.
• You should currently not have employment and should be within the working age range.
• The applicant should have permanent disability due to work-related injuries or diseases.
• You should either be currently enrolled or intend to enroll in one of the fields discussed above (studying full-time if not disabled or part-time if disabled).
• The applicants must have the motivation to improve their skills and abilities to reenter the workforce or pursue self-employment.
• You should have received acceptance or preliminary acceptance to pursue studies at a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College, Community Education and Training (CET), or Higher Education Institute (HEI).

Group Two

• The candidate should be a South African citizen.
• You should be in the age range of 17 to 25 years.
• The applicant should be a dependent of a COID pensioner or a dependent of individuals under COID who have become permanently disabled due to occupational injuries or diseases.
• You should be currently studying or enrolled to study in one of the above-discussed fields of study (studying full-time if not disabled or part-time if disabled).
• The applicant must have acceptance or preliminary acceptance to study at a public TVET College or HEI.

What Are The Documents Required For The COID Bursary Application Process?

When submitting the COID Bursary application, there are certain documents that every applicant must submit along with the application. Every document is important, so if you forget to submit even one, your application will not be accepted. The following are the documents that every applicant must submit:

Group One

• A certified copy of the applicant’s ID.
• COID pension identification or COID claim identification.
• Current academic transcript, if currently enrolled in studies.
• Evidence of acceptance or preliminary acceptance from an accredited institution.
• Official tuition fee quote (from the institution’s letterhead).
• Quotation for Required Learning Resources, if applicable (on the institution’s letterhead).
• Residence proof.
• Disability verification, if applicable (attested by a Healthcare Professional or Disability Support Office).

Group Two

• Certified copy of Identity Document (ID).
• A certified copy of the applicant’s unabridged birth certificate.
• Parent’s/guardian’s ID documents (certified copy)/death certificate if deceased (certified copy).
• COID pension identification or COID claim number.
• If currently in Matric, provide current Matriculation June results.
• Current academic transcript, if currently enrolled in studies.
• Evidence of acceptance or preliminary acceptance from an accredited institution.
• Proof of residence.
• Official tuition fee quote (from the institution’s letterhead).
• Quotation for Required Learning Resources, if available (on the institution’s letterhead).
• Evidence of disability, if applicable (validation by a Healthcare Professionals or Disability Support Office).
• Pre-entry assessment is required for apprenticeship program applicants.
• Evidence of income (certified copy of the latest payslip if employed, affidavit if unemployed or working informally, proof of SASSA grant if applicable, proof of pension if applicable, or alternative proof of income).

COID Bursary Application Process

The application process for COID does not involve any complex process and can be done in a few simple steps. Furthermore, you can submit the application through various methods. They are as follows;

Submit Via Email

• First, download the Compensation Fund Bursary application form.
• Complete the application form and make sure to provide authentic and up-to-date details.
• After completing the application form, you can send it via email to [email protected].

Submit Personally

Alternatively, you can also personally deliver your application after completing it. Send it to the following address:

Compensation Fund Head Building

167 Thabo Sehume & Madiba Street

Delta Heights Building

Pretoria

0002

Contact Detail

You can contact the COID administrators with any questions about the Compensation Fund Bursary program. Contact them through the following means:

Telephone Number: 012 319 9264/012 319 5774

Email Address: [email protected]

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, the Compensation Fund, a division under the South African Department of Labour, offers bursaries to deserving individuals facing financial crises. Only those individuals who fulfill the eligibility criteria set by COID can apply for the bursary program. The criteria requirements are mentioned in this guide, so before applying, thoroughly read them.

You can apply for the COID Bursary by either submitting your application via email or delivering it in person. Furthermore, make sure to apply before the deadline, or your application will not be considered.