What is NSFAS?
NSFAS is the National Student Financial Aid Scheme which is a government loan and bursary fund for students who need financial assistance, which is delivered through the NSFAS bursary scheme. The NSFAS bursary online application and registration opens in the later part of the year for students with the NSFAS closing date usually being in the next calendar year.
When Must You Apply For NSFAS?
University applications run on an annual basis and the application period for university courses is in the final quarter of the calendar year. The application period for courses in 2027 are open now, and will close on the 31st October 2026.
For students who want to study at TVET Colleges there are multiple application periods. These are linked to whether the TVET courses that the student will attend will be a full-year course, or if it is trimester or semester based.
It is essential to make sure you apply at the right time, as an application for one TVET period is not transferrable to another period.
Trimester 2
If you want funding for a course that starts in trimester 2 NSFAS applications for this period are not open at the moment.
Semester 2
If you want to apply for semester 2 funding keep a look out for the application period.
Occupational Programmes
A big focus from 2027 is the roll out of Occupational Programmes at TVET Colleges across the country and have taken the place of the previous Nated courses.
Trimester 3
Funding applications are not transferable so if you apply for one funding period, but then want to start at another time, you will need to make a new application.
What Funding NSFAS Provides
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) provides bursaries and financial assistance to students from poor and working class backgrounds which goes beyond just paying for your fees. They’ll also pay for your higher education costs including, registration, accommodation, transport, books through NSFAS's various allowances which are detailed on the NSFAS website.
Funding is available for higher education students at public universities, universities of technology or TVET colleges.
So what are the requirements for a NSFAS application?
The most important requirement for your NSFAS financial assistance application form is that your combined gross household income should come to R350 000 or less per year. This means that if you add up everyone’s salaries in your house for the year and it comes to over R350 000, you won’t qualify. You have to be South African citizens to qualify for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme NSFAS funding.
This financial limit has not changed over the last few years so many families are no longer eligible where family income has increased. However there have also been many job losses in the economy so other families have found that they do qualify again for this funding.
Usually, students and future students start the NSFAS application process by submitting their NSFAS online application for NSFAS bursaries using the myNSFAS student portal. This is also where you check your Nsfas status. You must submit your application before the closing date.
Careers Portal has everything you need to know about the NSFAS bursary, NSFAS applications and NSFAS allowances. We also provide a guide on how to submit your online application.
How To Apply For NSFAS
When you decide you want to make a NSFAS financial aid application you must have internet access to apply online. Before you apply online at NSFAS you will need to first create a myNSFAS account, which you can do by clicking here. Once your account is up and running you will follow the following steps.
- Click on the 'APPLY' tab and complete all the sections provided.
- You need to supply your own cellphone number and ID number.
- Upload required documents where applicable - usually in 2026 when you submit your application supporting documents aren't needed. Sometimes ID number and ID document or your birth certificate will be required.
- And then you click submit. Make sure you complete your application before the closing date.
- Another way to apply is to download NSFAS app from the app store.
What Supporting Documents Are Needed For NSFAS Applications?
The good news for applications for funding in 2027 is that the NSFAS application process has been simplified so you don't need as many documents as you used to. So these are all the required documents you might need - but you might be lucky and not need all of these.
When you make your application supporting documents and information for your National Student Financial Aid Scheme NSFAS online application may include:
- Certified copies of your South African ID number document or birth certificate
- a working cellphone number/contact details
- Other documents might include a statement providing proof of your financial eligibility (proof of income)
- your current email address
- your spouse's ID (if applicable)
- your SARS consent form is one of the other documents that are sometimes needed
Once you completed all these steps, your NSFAS application will be officially submitted. You must of course make sure you submit your NSFAS application and supporting documents before the closing of applications date.
The NSFAS application period and the application period for the university or college that you want to study at usually don't align. So we would encourage applicants to make sure they apply for the university or college they want to study at before they apply for NSFAS.
Look out for the closing date which will be widely publicised and submit all your documents and submit them before that date. Once you have submitted successfully to your college or university you will be in a good position to apply for NSFAS.
What Does NSFAS Do?
NSFAS provides bursaries to prospective students from poor and working class backgrounds which goes beyond just paying for your fees. The financial assistance will also pay for your registration, accommodation, transport, books through NSFAS allowances. Most courses at public TVET colleges are funded by NSFAS. You can make an online application via the website as long as its before the closing date.
NSFAS Funding Requirements
So what are the requirements for NSFAS if you require assistance and apply online? NSFAS identifies eligible students based on the information you provide about you Matric results and your family's income for the year.
The most important requirement for NSFAS is that your combined gross household income should come to R350 000 or less per year. This means that if you add up everyone’s salaries in your house for the year and it comes to over R350 000, you won’t qualify.
If you are a student with a disability then this amount increases to R600 000 because NSFAS supports access to higher education for students with disabilities.
It is important not to lie about the financial eligibility requirements as NSFAS will check with organisations like SARS. The National Student Financial Aid Scheme each year retracts funding from students who lied about their families' financial status.
The government has said it aims to support all students from working class families who qualify to study further. Sassa grant recipients are automatically approved for NSFAS bursary funding so it's easier when you make a NSFAS application.
How To Submit A Request For Financial Aid To NSFAS
Usually, students and future students will submit their NSFAS online application for NSFAS financial assistance using their myNSFAS account, which is the NSFAS official website and student portal. You will also check the status of your NSFAS application for financial assistance on the MyNsfas online application portal. We encourage applicants to apply early and we also encourage applicants to apply for the university or college they are interested in before the NSFAS applications open.
Should I Wait Until I Get My Matric Results?
If is very important that you apply now for NSFAS funding and not wait until you have your Matric results. By the time the results are released it will be too late to apply for Nsfas bursary support. You should apply now for NSFAS and if you don't qualify for studies next year your Nsfas application will fall away.
However it is also important to remember that Matric is not a requirement for Nsfas funding. TVET Colleges offer courses that don't require a Matric pass, and if you secure one of those places you may also qualify for Nsfas funding.
What Are The Nsfas Contact Details?
If you can't track funding progress of your financial aid application online you can also contact NSFAS on their toll free number (08 000 67327) and they will be able to give out your NSFAS application status. You have to confirm your identity before they will confirm your NSFAS status.
When Should You Apply For NSFAS Funding?
There is a relatively simple process for you to apply online. You should complete the Nsfas online application form on the NSFAS portal and submit your supporting documents as soon as you decide that you want to study at a public university or one of the TVET colleges. The annual application period usually opens some time in November and the closing date will be early in the calendar year. The exact dates will be widely publicised.
Don't wait until you have been accepted into university or college, as that will be too late to go through the NSFAS bursary funding process. NSFAS will cover registration and tuition fees - as well as an allowance.
Is NSFAS A Loan Or A Bursary?
Although you might have heard from other people that they have student loan repayments to NSFAS, things have changed. In previous years the National Student Financial Aid Scheme provided student loans that usually had to be paid back when the student graduated and started earning.
All payments and financial aid these days to NSFAS beneficiaries are bursaries and don't have to be paid back.
How Much Has NSFAS Paid Out In Financial Aid?
For the 2026 academic year, the South African government has allocated more than R51 billion to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) to fund students at public universities and TVET colleges.
Key NSFAS funding figures for 2026:
• Total NSFAS budget: Over R51 billion
• Students funded: More than 1 million students
• First-time funded students: About 626,935
• Continuing funded students: About 427,144
Overall, NSFAS remains the largest source of financial aid for tertiary students in South Africa, helping more than a million young people access higher education each year.
Frequently Asked Questions About NSFAS
1. Who qualifies for NSFAS funding? National Student Financial Aid Scheme NSFAS funding is primarily for South African citizens who are studying or intend to study at public universities or TVET colleges, come from a family with a combined gross household income of less than R350,000, and meet the specific admission criteria of the institution. Applications open near the end of the year.
2. How do I apply for NSFAS? Applications are submitted online via the NSFAS official website. You'll need to create an account, fill in the NSFAS application form, and upload the required supporting documents with your online application.
3. What does NSFAS support cover? NSFAS provides coverage for a range of student necessities, including tuition fees, accommodation, meals, transport, and learning materials.
5. Is NSFAS a loan or a bursary? Since 2018, NSFAS has been converted into a bursary scheme for qualifying students, which means it does not need to be repaid. Prior to that, it functioned as a loan system.
4. How do I check my NSFAS application status? You can check your NSFAS application status by logging into your account on the NSFAS website. Once logged in you will be able to see your NSFAS status.
5. What documents do I need to apply for NSFAS? Typically, you'll need a copy of your ID or birth certificate, consent form, and proof of income or social grant/pension receipts if applicable. Parents or guardians' IDs and proof of income are also required.
6. Can I apply for NSFAS if I'm already a university student? Yes, students already enrolled at a university or TVET college can apply for NSFAS funding, provided they meet the qualifying criteria.
7. Does NSFAS fund postgraduate studies? NSFAS funding is typically for undergraduate courses.
