NSFAS provides comprehensive bursaries and student loans to deserving learners enrolled in approved courses at universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges. This includes money for tuition and registration fees as well as several allowances for food, accommodation and learning materials.
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has confirmed that 2025 NSFAS bursary applications will open on 1 September 2024. The government bursary scheme has unveiled its plans to manage the 2025 NSFAS application period.
Annually, the scheme received more than one million funding applications from students. This is set to increase following the introduction of NSFAS loans for missing middle students.
NSFAS 2025 Application Dates
NSFAS confirmed that 2025 applications will open on 1 September 2024. Applications are set to close on 30 November 2024.
This gives applicants 3 months to submit NSFAS applications.
Who Will Get Funded By NSFAS
NSFAS provided bursaries to students from poor and working-class backgrounds and student loans to individuals who fall within the missing middle.
NSFAS Bursary Requirements
To qualify for an NSFAS bursary, a student must be registered or intend to register in an approved qualification at a public university or TVET college in South Africa.
The household income threshold for NSFAS bursaries is R350,000 per annum. This means that students who come from homes exceeding R350,000 per annum do not qualify for NSFAS bursaries. These students can apply for NSFAS loans.
Students living with disabilities may have a household income of up to R600,000 per annum.
