NSFAS

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NSFAS Applications For 2025 Are Open

NSFAS is the National Student Financial Aid Scheme NSFAS which provides financial aid in the form of a bursary fund for higher education students through NSFAS. NSFAS 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.

The organisation is controlled by the Nsfas board, who give direction to the Nsfas management on running the financial assistance organisation. The South African government minister responsible for Nsfas is Dr Blade Nzimande who is the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation.

NSFAS gives bursaries to students from poor and working class backgrounds which goes beyond just paying for your fees. They’ll also pay the NSFAS students' registration, accommodation, transport, books through NSFAS allowances using the NSFAS bank account.

The NSFAS bank account is part of NSFAS' new direct payment system.

So what are the NSFAS requirements?

The most important requirement for financial eligibility is that your 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 living with a disability and you're wanting financial aid, this household income threshold is R600 000 per annum.

What does NSFAS funding cover?

NSFAS financial aid gives bursaries to students from poor and working-class backgrounds which goes beyond just paying for your fees. They'll also provide financial support for your registration and tuition fees, accommodation, transport, and books.

NSFAS funded students living in self-catering residence will also benefit from receiving monthly living allowances and is perfect for working class families.

This financial aid is for any NSFAS students studying at one of the 26 public universities or one of the 50 technical vocational education and training colleges. If you are successful with your application you will be funded for your whole multi-year qualification if you meet the academic eligibility.

How does NSFAS applications work?

Usually, university students and future students will submit their NSFAS online application for a NSFAS bursary using myNSFAS in hopes of becoming NSFAS beneficiaries. You will receive funding if you meet the financial eligibility criteria. It is widely communicated when applications open and information provided will explain when the closing date is as well.You will hopefully find the NSFAS online application process to be a simple one.

Being that NSFAS is the most sought-after bursary funding scheme in the country, many students who require funding will be forced to practice patience whilst awaiting confirmation for funding. Nonetheless, having NSFAS funding proves extremely beneficial to students in financial need.

To submit a NSFAS funding application through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme Nsfas, you will need to create a myNSFAS account and do a myNSFAS account login. Then you will submit your supporting documents. It is important to submit the correct information because if Nsfas investigations find differing information even students who were initially funded can later be rejected. They even say they will take legal action against applicants who give incorrect information.

You will then need to provide the required details such as your ID number and your own cellphone number and other personal details about you before the application closing date. Then, you will need to submit supporting documents such as your ID document with your NSFAS online application form.

NSFAS filtering your application will then be NSFAS conducting third party checks with the home affairs database and SARS to check things such as your combined household income. This is their way of checking if you qualify for NSFAS funding.

Check NSFAS Status

It's therefore important for NSFAS applicants to constantly check their NSFAS status and on the myNSFAS screen, upload all the documents NSFAS needs for their NSFAS bursary online application to be valid. We have full details for you on how to check your NSFAS status. NSFAS funding is based on their higher education admission status and NSFAS will then mark your NSFAS status as 'awaiting registration' after there has been qualifications validation.

How To Create A myNSFAS Login Account

Creating a myNSFAS account is the first step to starting your NSFAS funding journey with the National Student Fin We hancial Aid Scheme. You will need this myNSFAS account to apply, check your NSFAS application status and to keep up with your NSFAS journey.

You can create a myNSFAS account by going to the NSFAS website, clicking on myNSFAS and providing NSFAS with the information they require.

How To Log Into Your myNSFAS Account

Doing your myNSFAS login, account details such as your ID number and myNSFAS password will need to be entered. It's important that you don't share your myNSFAS account login details with anyone and to keep it safe and secure.

For NSFAS beneficiaries, their myNSFAS account is very important. You will be signed up for one of the financial providers Nsfas negotiated with to distribute allowances. It is important to consider money transfer costs whenever you make a withdrawal or transfer. These are similar to bank charges.

NSFAS Mastercard Service Providers 

NSFAS teamed up with four financial technology service providers to bring the new payment solution to students. Students are required to register with the partner allocated to their university or TVET college before they receive their NSFAS bank card. 

Tenet Technologies will provide services to students at the Cape Peninsula University Of Technology, University Of KwaZulu Natal, University of Venda, University of Pretoria, University of Witwatersrand and Walter Sisulu University. 

Students attending Rhodes University, Sefako Makgatho Health Science University, Stellenbosch University,  University of Cape Town,  University of Mpumalanga and University of South Africa must register with Coinvest. 

Norraco has been tasked with paying allowances directly to students enrolled at theCentral University Of Technology, Mangosuthu University Of Technology, Nelson Mandela University, North West University, University Of Fort Hare, University Of Johannesburg And University Of Western Cape. 

Ezaga will distribute allowances to students registered at Durban University Of Technology, Tshwane University Of Technology University Of Free State University Of Limpopo University Of Zululand and the Vaal University Of Technology. 

Where To Collect Your NSFAS Mastercard 

Students who completed the NSFAS bank account onboarding process with the relevant service provider will be issued a physical and a virtual NSFAS mastercard. Students can collect their physical NSFAS mastercard at the institution they attend.

Benefits of the NSFAS Mastercard

NSFAS believes that the new direct payment solution that is the NSFAS bank account will give them greater control over when students receive their allowances while also teaching them financial responsibility.

They added that the  NSFAS MasterCard will give students access to value-added services, the ability to make online purchases, tap-to-pay functionality and a virtual card to pay securely at retail merchants. 

While the NSFAS mastercard has promised students several benefits, including financial responsibility, stakeholders have noted their concern as several challenges arose when the new direct payment system was first introduced for university students earlier this year. 

Where To Withdraw Your NSFAS Allowances: You can withdraw your NSFAS allowances from the following locations:

1. Nedbank ATMs
2. Pick n Pay stores
3. Shoprite stores
4. Checkers stores
5. Boxer stores
6. Usave stores

How To Contact NSFAS

You can reach NSFAS through their toll-free number: 08 000 67327.

Careers Portal has everything you need to know about NSFAS, NSFAS applications and NSFAS allowances.