The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is continuing to review funding applications for the 2025 academic year. Despite the application period closing more than six months ago and the academic year reaching its halfway point, qualifying students still face uncertainty regarding their funding.
NSFAS explained these funding challenges are due to several reasons, including application discrepancies, late registration confirmations, and budget constraints for appeals.
In a joint statement with the Department of Higher Education and Training, NSFAS confirmed they are working to resolve the 2025 funding challenges.
Their efforts include reviewing applications from students who applied during the TVET application cycle, providing funding for students whose registration was submitted late, and exploring options to allocate additional resources to support students with approved appeals.
We remain committed to ensuring that all eligible students have access to the funding necessary to continue their studies without undue disruption. We appreciate the patience and understanding of students and stakeholders as we work diligently to resolve these issues swiftly.
The bursary scheme received 1,047,618 applications for the 2025 academic year. NSFAS approved 857,881 applications while rejecting 124,116.
2025 NSFAS Funding Challenges Explained
Applying During the Wrong Application Window
Only once an approved applicant's registration is confirmed at a university or TVET college will they begin receiving funding from NSFAS.
This year, NSFAS blocked funding for more than 12,800 university students. It was later revealed that while NSFAS received the registration data for these students, they were found to have applied during the TVET college application window.
This block will remain in place until NSFAS makes a final decision on whether these students will ultimately receive funding. Should NSFAS decide to fund these 12,800 students, it will come at a cost of more than R730 million.
Late Registration
Another major funding challenge is related to late student registration. Certain students, whose registration statuses were only confirmed after the official registration deadline, are currently facing delays in accessing funding support.
NSFAS Appeals
The final challenge is related to NSFAS appeals. NSFAS allows rejected applicants to submit an appeal application. The scheme received 78,081 appeal applications in 2025.
As of now, 34,645 students successfully appealed their rejected applications, while around 13 students appealed unsuccessfully. Approximately 5,000 students are required by NSFAS to submit documents to support their appeal, which will enable NSFAS to make a final funding decision for these students for the academic year.
Funding for successful NSFAS appeal applicants is based on budget availability. If there is no budget to fund them, unfortunately, they will not receive the benefits of NSFAS funding.
