The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has warned students against paying for bursary applications. This comes after several students were allegedly charged to submit funding applications.
NSFAS provides comprehensive bursaries and student loans to deserving learners enrolled in approved courses at universities and TVET colleges. This includes money for tuition and registration fees as well as several allowances for food, accommodation and learning materials.
2025 NSFAS bursary applications are open and thousands of students have already applied for funding. Prospective NSFAS beneficiaries have until 15 December 2024 to submit NSFAS applications.
NSFAS 2025 Applications Warning For Students
NSFAS reminded students that the NSFAS application process is free, and no fees are required for any part of the process.
Applicants are advised not to pay any fee to anyone to assist with NSFAS applications.
NSFAS has urged applicants to safeguard their personal information. Sharing personal details or login credentials, such as passwords, with anyone could put applicants at risk.
It is also important for applicants not to share their personal details. NSFAS Employees will never ask you to share your login details/passwords.
NSFAS employees will never request applicants’ login information or passwords, and such requests should be treated as suspicious.
The application process for NSFAS funding is strictly online, and applicants are encouraged to complete it only through official channels to avoid scams.
In cases where applicants encounter suspicious behaviour or believe they are being targeted by fraudulent schemes, they can report these incidents by visiting www.behonest.co.za or by calling the NSFAS Ethics and Fraud Hotline at 0800 007 396.