The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) offers comprehensive bursaries and student loans to eligible students, covering all study-related costs. This government-funded support applies to most courses available at South Africa’s 26 public universities and 50 TVET Colleges.
NSFAS funding covers tuition and registration fees, along with various allowances provided to students.
These allowances are distributed in 10 payments throughout the academic year, which typically runs from February to November for most institutions. As a result, NSFAS disburses allowances only during this period.
In February, Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane announced an increase in NSFAS allowances for 2025.
How Much NSFAS Allowance Payments Will Be For March 2025
The Higher Education Minister has revealed that students will see a boost in their payments from last year.
University students will receive a 4% increase in NSFAS allowances while TVET College students will receive an increase in NSFAS allowances from R10 000 per annum to R14 600 per annum, which represents a 46% increase.
Here's how much students will receive for NSFAS allowances in March 2025:
University
Learning Materials Allowance
This allowance is paid once-off at the beginning of the year. Once it's paid for the year, it won't be paid again. For 2025 students will receive a Learning material allowance as follows:
- Students living in a Catered residence: R5 678
- Students living in a Non-catered residence: R5 678
- Students with disabilities living on residence: R6 240 (Catered and Non-catered)
- Students who receive a transport allowance: R5 678
- Students with disabilities who receive a transport allowance: R6,240
Accommodation Allowance
This allowance is paid monthly, for 10 months. Students who don't receive this allowance will receive a transport allowance.
- Students living in a Catered residence (Metro): R6 599
- Students living in a Catered residence (Non-metro): R5 663
- Students living in a Non-catered residence (Metro): R5 200
- Students living in a Non-catered residence (Non-metro): R4 264
- Students with disabilities living in a Catered residence (Metro): R6 963
- Students with disabilities living in a Catered residence (Non-metro): R6 027
- Students with disabilities living in a Non-catered residence (Metro): R5 200
- Students with disabilities living in a Non-catered residence (Non-metro): R4 264
Living Allowance
This allowance is paid monthly, for 10 months. Only specific categories of students, listed below, receive this allowance.
- Students with disabilities living in a Catered residence (Metro): R1 716
- Students living in a Non-catered residence (Non-metro): R1 716
- Students with disabilities living in a Non-catered residence (Metro): R2 080
- Students with disabilities living in a Non-catered residence (Non-metro): R2 080
- Students who receive a transport allowance: R1 716
- Students with disabilities who receive a transport allowance: R2 080
Travel Allowance
This allowance is paid monthly, for 10 months. Students who receive a transport allowance, both able-bodied students and students with disabilities will receive a transport allowance of R819 in March 2025.
Personal Care Allowance
This allowance is paid monthly, for 10 months. Only students who live in catered residences receive this allowance which is around R316 per month.
TVET College
Accommodation Allowance
This allowance is paid monthly, for 10 months. Students who don't receive this allowance will receive a transport allowance.
- Students living in a Catered residence (Metro): R6 599
- Students living in a Catered residence (Non-metro): R5 663
- Students living in a Non-catered residence (Metro): R5 200
- Students living in a Non-catered residence (Non-metro): R4 264
- Students with disabilities living in a Catered residence (Metro): R6 963
- Students with disabilities living in a Catered residence (Non-metro): R6 027
- Students with disabilities living in a Non-catered residence (Metro): R5 200
- Students with disabilities living in a Non-catered residence (Non-metro): R4 264
Living Allowance
This allowance is paid monthly, for 10 months. Only specific categories of students, listed below, receive this allowance.
- Students with disabilities living in a Catered residence (Metro): R1 716
- Students living in a Non-catered residence (Non-metro): R1 716
- Students with disabilities living in a Non-catered residence (Metro): R2 080
- Students with disabilities living in a Non-catered residence (Non-metro): R2 080
- Students who receive a transport allowance: R1 716
- Students with disabilities who receive a transport allowance: R2 080
Travel Allowance
This allowance is paid monthly, for 10 months. Students who receive a transport allowance, both able-bodied students and students with disabilities will receive a transport allowance of R802 in March 2025.
Personal Care Allowance
This allowance is paid monthly, for 10 months. Only students who live in catered residences receive this allowance which is around R316 per month.
How NSFAS Allowances Will Be Paid In March 2025
NSFAS has confirmed that for 2025, TVET College students will continue to have their allowances paid directly into their personal bank accounts. Students are urged to update their bank account details on the myNSFAS portal.
Universities will continue to pay allowances to students directly in 2025, until NSFAS announces a change in the payment strategy. Universities will have different ways of making these payments and it is important that students consult their financial aid offices at their institutions to find out what steps to take next to secure their allowances.
