The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is tasked with providing bursaries, and living allowances, for students who qualify each year. The funding is available for studying at public universities or TVET Colleges.
The NSFAS bursary covers the first qualification that SA citizens are studying towards, after Matric. To qualify financially the applicant must come from a household where the total income is not more than R350,000 per year. If the applicant has a disability then then the household income can be a maximum of R600,000 per year.
Although there isn't an age limit for NSFAS funding most of the applications each year are from learners who have just written then Matric final exams.
NSFAS management have issued a statement to confirm that they have completed bursary funding decisions for all applications that had all the necessary documentation.
All applicants can view the status of their application by logging in to their account on the MyNsfas.org.za web portal.
893,847 Applications Received
A total of 893,847 applications were received for funding for the 2026 academic year. This includes all university courses and qualifying full-year TVET College courses.
609,403 applicants have received good news - and have been approved for funding.
There was bad news for 49,538 people who were rejected for financial aid.
218,043 applications were considered incomplete because supporting documents are still needed.
16,863 applications were cancelled or withdrawn.
All applicants should logon to their account on the MyNsfas.org.za portal to see their personalised decision.
If documents are still needed they should be uploaded via the same web portal. NSFAS will still consider these applications, which they say are usually delayed because of thee parental consent forms. NSFAS have to check with SARS if the applicant's parents earn more than the qualifying amounts - how the parents have to first give permission for these checks to be competed as all tax information in South Africa is confidential.
For the majority of students, the final step, even after a qualifying application, is a Matric pass. Matric results will be available for students in 10 days. The Minister will announce the national and provincial results on the evening of the 12th January. Individual results will be available from schools and online from the 13th January.
Funding for tuition fees is not paid to the applicants - it is paid directly to the university or TVET College. So the student must complete their registration with the university or college in January or February to complete the process.
More NSFAS Articles
- NSFAS Announces Who Will Be Funded
- How To Submit a NSFAS Appeal
- I Can't Access The NSFAS Appeal Functionality What Should I Do?
- What Documents Do You Need For A NSFAS Appeal?
- What A Finalized NSFAS Appeal Status Means
- How To Do A NSFAS Appeal Status Check
- What An Approved NSFAS Appeal Status Means
- Here Are The Appeal Reasons For NSFAS
- What An Approved NSFAS Appeal Status Means
- Who Can Appeal Their NSFAS Applciation?
