The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) provides the NSFAS bursary which offers to cover all a student needs by covering tuition fees, registration and allowances to cover accommodation, transport, meals and learning materials. Every year, thousands of student apply for NSFAS.
NSFAS 2025 applications opened on 21 September and will close on 15 December. If you haven't applied yet, this is your last chance to apply for NSFAS funding.
Higher Education and Training Minister, Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, has said:
Let me remind everyone that we are moving towards the closing date of the NSFAS application process for the 2025 academic year. The NSFAS application [window] is closing on 15 December 2024. Apply while there is still time to avoid any disappointments.
“Our priority is to increase access to all parts of the country, with... NSFAS presence on all campuses at the beginning of the academic year... We have started the process of regionalisation to ensure that we expand access to everyone, and no one must be left behind,” Nkabane said.
No NSFAS 2025 Application Closing Date Extension
Higher Education and Training Deputy Minister, Buti Manamela has encouraged prospective students to act quickly and submit their funding applications. Manamela emphasized that the NSFAS 2025 application period will not be extended.
There will not be any extension beyond the 15 December, this year.
He explained that the Department of Higher Education has undertaken extensive efforts to raise awareness about the 2025 NSFAS application process. Notably, Grade 12 learners do not need to have their final results to apply for NSFAS funding.
How To Apply For NSFAS
For your NSFAS application, you will need your own cell phone number and email address and a copy of your ID or birth certificate. There are other documents as well but this depends on your circumstances.
You will have to apply online using the NSFAS student portal called myNSFAS.
Step 1 is to go to the NSFAS wabsite and click on the 'myNSFAS' tab then create a myNSFAS account.
Once you've created your myNSFAS account and logged in, click on the 'APPLY' tab and complete the sections on the screen. After you’ve finished this, you must upload required supporting documents where applicable and then click on 'Submit' when you’re done.
How To Check Your NSFAS Status
Once you apply, you should regularly check your NSFAS status. To do this, go to myNSFAS and log in.
After this, click on the "track funding progress" option. Your NSFAS application status will be displayed on the screen.
What Your NSFAS Status Means
- Application Submitted: The student has completed and applied for NSFAS funding.
- Application in Progress: The application is being reviewed to confirm:
- Student type (FTEN/Senior/Continuing)
- Sassa indicator
- Disability indicator
- Application type (Active/Automated/Hybrid)
- DHA relationships (Mother/Father/Spouse/Guardian)
- Verification: The application is being verified for:
- Unverified parent/spouse/guardian details
- NSFAS Consent Form
- NSFAS Disability Annexure
- NSFAS Orphan/Vulnerable Child Form
- Case statuses:
- Awaiting verification (checking completeness)
- Awaiting documents
- Verification completed
- Case closed (no documents provided in 30 days)
- Requesting Financial and Academic Data: Awaiting data confirmation to assess financial and academic eligibility.
- Assessing Financial Eligibility: Assessing income threshold using:
- SARS data
- Exceptions data
- Credit bureau data
- Declared household income data
- Awaiting Academic Results: Evaluating academic eligibility criteria but awaiting results.
- Assessing Academic Eligibility: Evaluating academic eligibility criteria and/or TVET and University N+ Rule.
- Duplicate: A duplicate application submitted for the same cycle.
- Funded subject to registration and availability of funds: The application passed all evaluations, met funding criteria, and is pending registration and fund availability.
- Registration Received: The application passed all evaluations, met funding criteria, and has received registration from an institution.
- Cancelled application: The student has cancelled the submitted application.
- Rejected: The application did not meet NSFAS funding criteria and conditions. The student will not receive funding.
NSFAS has provided financial aid to more than 5 million students since it's inception. For the 2024 academic year, NSFAS offers support to 1.2 million students, with the number anticipated to grow in 2025.
