The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) provides comprehensive bursaries and student loans to deserving learners enrolled in approved courses at universities and TVET colleges.
NSFAS bursaries cover tuition and registration fees, as well as several allowances for food, accommodation, and learning materials.
NSFAS Allowances In December
NSFAS typically does not pay allowances in December, which falls outside the academic calendar. Academic programmes generally run from February to November each year, and by December, most universities and colleges have already completed their academic schedules.
Allowances support students during active academic months, covering essentials like accommodation and food while they attend classes.
NSFAS divides allowances into ten payments annually, distributed from February to November. As a result, students will not receive an allowance in December 2024.
NSFAS Allowance Payments For 2024
University Students
- Living Allowance: R16,500 per year (R3,045 allocated for personal care, R13,455 for meals)
- Learning Material Allowance: Up to R5,460
TVET College Students
- Living Allowance: R10,000 per year
- Learning Material Allowance: Varies depending on the course
Several special allowances are also available for students with disabilities, including higher living allowances and a larger learning materials allowance, subject to certain conditions.