Thousands of students apply for NSFAS every year in hopes of receiving financial aid to go study. But, thousands of those that apply might not be successful.
However, getting rejected by NSFAS is not the end of the road. Here's what you can do if NSFAS rejected your 2025 application.
If your NSFAS application was rejected, you will see a 'Rejected' message when doing a NSFAS status check. If you feel NSFAS was incorrect to decline your funding application, you can submit a NSFAS appeal.
How To Submit A NSFAS Appeal
- Click here to visit the myNSFAS website.
- Log into your myNSFAS account.
- Click the ‘Track Funding Progress’ option.
- Check the application progress tabs.
- If your application status reflects an unsuccessful message, you may submit an appeal by clicking on the ‘Submit Appeal Tab’.
- Once you are on the ‘Application Appeal’ page, you can see the reason for your unsuccessful application status.
- You are then able to choose the appeal reason.
- Upload certified supporting documents to support your reason.
- Click ‘Submit Appeal’.
Students may track the progress of their appeal on their myNSFAS account. NSFAS should respond to the appeal within 30 days.
NSFAS confirmed that all students who are rejected from receiving a NSFAS bursary will be assessed for a NSFAS student loan.
2025 NSFAS applications opened on 21 September and closed 15 December.
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.
For 2025, NSFAS received a total of 890 599 bursary applications and 17 369 loan applications bringing the total applications to over 900 000.
