National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS)

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is a South African government program that helps students pay for higher education. It gives financial support to eligible students who want to study at public universities and TVET colleges. 

NSFAS covers costs like tuition fees, registration fees, accommodation, and study materials. The scheme aims to make education possible for students from low-income families. 

To qualify, students must meet the set requirements and apply through the official NSFAS process. This support allows many young people to get the education they need to build better futures for themselves and their communities.

Find out how to apply for NSFAS, what the eligibility criteria are for 2026, and how to check NSFAS status online.

What is the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS)?

Scheme Name	National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS)
Established	1996
Minister of Higher Education (2026)	Mr. Buti Manamela
Students Supported	800,000+
Institutions Covered	Public universities and TVET colleges in South Africa
Budget 2026	R48.7 billion
Application Method	Online via NSFAS Student Portal
Main Costs Covered	Tuition fees, registration fees, accommodation, and learning materials
Website	https://www.nsfas.org.za/

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) started in 1996 to help South African students pay for higher education. In the 2026 academic year, NSFAS has a budget of R48.7 billion. Also, the current minister’s name is Mr. Buti Manamela.

This will grow to R51 billion in 2026 and R53.4 billion in 2027. The scheme supports more than 800,000 students who study at public universities and TVET colleges across the country. 

NSFAS pays for tuition fees, accommodation, and learning materials for eligible students. Its main goal is to give financial help to students from poor and working-class families so they can complete their studies and improve their future prospects.

NSFAS 2025 Payment Dates

Institution Type	Payment Date
Universities – First Cycle	31 March 2025
TVET Colleges – First Cycle	15 April 2025
Universities – Second Cycle	30 June 2025
TVET Colleges – Second Cycle	15 July 2025
Universities – Third Cycle	30 September 2025
TVET Colleges – Third Cycle	15 October 2025
Universities – Fourth Cycle	15 November 2025
TVET Colleges – Fourth Cycle	30 November 2025

NSFAS Eligibility Criteria for 2026

As I mentioned earlier, only eligible students will get the NSFAS financial assistance. So here are the complete eligibility criteria for 2026.

• Citizenship: You must be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
• Household Income: Your combined household income must be R350,000 or less per year.
• Income Limit for Disabilities: For students with disabilities, the household income limit is R600,000 per year.
• Enrollment: You must be accepted or enrolled at a public university or TVET college in South Africa.
• Academic Requirements: You must meet the academic standards set by your institution.
• Previous Qualification: You cannot already hold a completed qualification, except in specific approved cases.
• Supporting Documents: You must submit all required and accurate documents during the application process.

NSFAS Application Process

At the time I am writing this article (December 2025), the NSFAS TVET Semester 2 applications are officially closed. However, I am sharing my tested and working method to apply for NSFAS online.

1) Create Your Account on the NSFAS Student Portal

You need to make your account on the NSFAS student’s portal to start the application process. Here is how to do it.

1. Go to the NSFAS student’s portal online at https://www.nsfas.org.za/.
2. You will see the “myNSFAS” button on the left side of the header. Tap on it.
3. It will take you to the registration page, where you will see the “Create profile” button. On that page, you need to provide the following details for the registration:
   1. First name
   2. Last name
   3. ID number
   4. Married or not
   5. Disabled or not
   6. Race
   7. Province
   8. Email
   9. Phone number
4. Now choose a strong password and solve the captcha.
5. Click on the “Proceed to apply for funding” button to complete the application process.

2) Upload the Required Documents

Now you need to upload the required documents for the completion of your application. You need to login to your portal with your ID number and password and then go to your dashboard to upload the documents.

3) Submit the Application

Once you have uploaded all the required documents, you can proceed to submit the application. This will complete your process, and the next step is to check your NSFAS status online.

NSFAS Status Check Online

The NSFAS status check is very important as this will inform you whether your application is approved or declined. So you should keep checking your myNSAFS status. Follow my steps to check the status without any issues.

1. Go to the official portal of NSFAS.
2. Now tap on the “myNSFAS” button.
3. Login to your account with your ID number and password.
4. Go to the “Track Funding Progress” section and enter your ID number and phone number to check your NSFAS status online.

myNSFAS Status Check Responses and Their Meanings

• Application Submitted: Your application has been received and is waiting to be reviewed.
• Filtering: NSFAS is checking your personal details and documents to confirm you meet the basic requirements.
• Evaluation: NSFAS is verifying your academic results and financial information.
• Funding Eligibility: NSFAS is checking if you qualify for financial assistance based on your income and academic records.
• Awaiting Academic Results: NSFAS is waiting for your final marks from your school or institution.
• Awaiting Registration: NSFAS is waiting for your institution to confirm that you have registered for your course.
• Application Approved: Your funding has been approved, and NSFAS will pay your fees according to their schedule.
• Application Declined: Your application did not meet the funding requirements.
• Application Withdrawn: You or NSFAS have cancelled the application before approval.
• Payment in Progress: NSFAS has started paying funds to your institution or to you for allowances.

NSFAS Login

Let me help you login to your NSFAS account if you are not sure how to do it. Please follow my step-by-step guide and learn how to login to your myNSFAS account.

1. Visit the website https://my.nsfas.org.za/.
2. Choose the “Login” tab from the above menu.
3. Now enter your South African ID number in the first box.
4. Enter your password in the second box.
5. Tap on the “Login” button, and that’s it.

How to Recover Your Forgot Password?

If you forgot your NSFAS account login password, then no need to worry, as you can recover it easily. Follow my steps.

1. Switch to the “Forgot password” tab from the menu.
2. Enter your ID number in the first box.
3. Now you need to choose one of the following options from “I still have access to my:
   1. Contact number
   2. Email address
   3. None of the above
4. Solve the captcha and tap on the “Send Code” button.
5. This will send a code to your email or phone number, and then you can reset your password.

How to Appeal for NSFAS Declined Status?

If NSFAS has declined your application, you can appeal the decision online. Follow these steps to submit your appeal:

1. Log in to your myNSFAS Account: Visit https://my.nsfas.org.za/ and log in with your ID number and password.
2. Go to the Appeal Section: Once logged in, click on the “Appeal” tab in your dashboard.
3. Read the Guidelines: NSFAS will show you the reasons for the decline. Read them carefully to understand why your application was rejected.
4. Provide the Required Documents: Upload supporting documents that address the reason for rejection. Examples include proof of income, proof of disability, or updated academic results.
5. Write a Clear Motivation: Explain why you believe the decision should be overturned. Keep your explanation short, clear, and relevant.
6. Submit Your Appeal: Once all documents and your motivation are ready, click “Submit Appeal.”
7. Check Your Appeal Status: Log in regularly to track the progress of your appeal in the “Track Funding Progress” section.

Appeals must be submitted within the NSFAS deadline for the specific academic year. Late appeals are not accepted.

NSFAS Allowance Caps 2026

University Students

University Funding Item	Annual Allowance (2025)
On-Campus / Official Residence	Covered in full, up to the set NSFAS limit
Meal Plan – Catered	R5,460
Meal Plan – Non-Catered	R16,500
Books & Learning Tools	Included in annual living allowance
Local Transport – Metro Areas	R7,718
Local Transport – Non-Metro Areas	R7,000
Accessible Housing (Students with Disabilities)	R20,000
Living Support (Students with Disabilities)	R20,000
Transport Support (Students with Disabilities)	R7,000

TVET College Students

Support Type	Yearly Allocation
Accommodation – Metro Areas	R60,000
Accommodation – Non-Metro Areas	R51,000
Private Housing Assistance	R45,000
General Living Support	R6,000
Transport – Metro Routes	R7,718
Transport – Non-Metro Routes	R7,000
Disability Support – Accommodation	R20,000
Disability Support – Living Expenses	R20,000
Disability Support – Transport	R7,000

NSFAS Contact Information

• Toll-Free Number: 0800067327
• Email: info@nsfas.org.za
• Website: https://www.nsfas.org.za/
• X: @myNSFAS