NSFAS bursaries aim to provide students with access to further their studies at any of the 26 public universities or 50 TVET Colleges including students who previously studied without NSFAS.
After the #FeesMustFall, the NSFAS funding criteria changed.
Currently, to qualify for NSFAS funding, one needs to be meet the following requirements:
- South African citizens
- All SASSA grant recipients
- Applicants whose combined household income is not more than R350 000 per annum
- Person with disability: Combined household income must not be more than R600 000 per annum
- must comply with the N+Rule
As of 2024, continuing and First Time Entering Students (FTEN) university students must achieve a credit pass rate of 50%. Continuing and FTEN university students must achieve a course credit pass rate of 60% for the end of the 2024 academic year to succeed academically for the 2025 funding year
What does the bursary cover?
Amounts indicated of accommodation, living allowance, transport and learning materials need to be aligned with the approved latest DHET guidelines.
UNIVERSITY Allowances
- Living Allowance
- R16 500 per year (R3045 personal care allowance + R13,455 meal allowance)
- NSFAS Accommodation Allowance 2024
- Institution owned or leased accommodation and private accommodation allowance in metro areas will be capped at R50 000 per annum. Accommodation in other areas will be capped at R41 000 per annum
- Institution-catered accommodation will have their accommodation allowances capped at R66 500 in metro areas and R57 500 in all other areas per annum.
- Institutions in non-metro areas can request that NSFAS review these caps in exceptional circumstances.
- Travel allowance
- Students who make their own accommodation arrangements or live with relatives won’t qualify for an accommodation allowance but would then qualify for a NSFAS travel allowance, up to a maximum of R7 875 per annum
- Learning material allowance (NSFAS Book Allowance 2024)
- All university students qualify for a learning material allowance which is set at a maximum of R5 460. This is a once-off payment at the beginning of the academic year for the purchase of books and devices.
TVET College NSFAS Allowances
The TVET college living allowance is R10,000 per annum.
TVET college's self-catered accommodation in metro areas is capped at R60,000 and in other areas is capped at R51,000. This is calculated on a per-annum basis.
Students who opt to make their own accommodation arrangements with immediate family or with relatives do not qualify for the accommodation allowance. Instead, these students qualify for a travel allowance determined by the institution, up to a maximum of R7,875 in 2024.
TVET College students may either qualify for the travel allowance or the accommodation allowance.
TVET College students who are registered on an occupational qualification may qualify for allowances ONLY if in simulated training, students registered on an occupational qualification that have an employment contract and are paid stipend do not qualify for NSFAS allowances.
The TVET College learning material allowance is included in the cost of tuition.
