NSFAS is free government funding for university and TVET study.
If your household earns R350,000 a year or less (or you receive a SASSA grant), the NSFAS bursary covers tuition, accommodation, and allowances at a public university or college. Earning up to R600,000? The missing-middle loan can still help. Here is everything you need.
The 2026 funding cycle
Published figures as of 12 Jun 2026 - confirm officiallyFor 2026, NSFAS approved roughly 700,000 students and rejected about 132,000 applications, and more than 100,000 students lodged appeals. If you were rejected, you have 30 days from your outcome to appeal on myNSFAS with supporting documents. Funded students who need accommodation should sign and submit their lease early, as unsigned leases delay accommodation payments.
Two ways NSFAS funds you
The bursary
Fully subsidised study - tuition, accommodation, and allowances. You do not repay it as long as you pass and meet the academic rules. SASSA grant recipients qualify automatically.
Missing-middle loan
For families who earn too much for the bursary but cannot pay fees. You apply the same way, sign a loan agreement, and a consent form is required. Covers fees, learning materials, and accommodation or transport.
What the bursary covers
Latest published guideline amounts - confirm the current figures on the official NSFAS site.
University students
| Allowance | Amount (per year) |
|---|---|
| Accommodation | Actual cost charged by the university (private accommodation capped at residence cost) |
| Living allowance | R15,000 per year |
| Book / learning materials | R5,200 per year |
| Incidental / personal care | R2,900 per year (catered residences) |
| Transport (within 40 km) | R7,500 per year |
TVET college students
| Allowance | Amount (per year) |
|---|---|
| Accommodation (urban) | R24,000 per year |
| Accommodation (peri-urban) | R18,900 per year |
| Accommodation (rural) | R15,750 per year |
| Transport (within 40 km) | R7,350 per year |
| Incidental / personal care | R2,900 per year |
Registration and tuition fees are paid in full to the institution on top of these allowances.
Who qualifies
- You are a South African citizen.
- You receive a SASSA grant - SASSA recipients qualify automatically.
- Your combined household income is R350,000 per year or less (the bursary).
- You have a disability and your combined household income is R600,000 per year or less.
- You started studying before 2018 and your household income is R122,000 per year or less.
Who should not apply
- You have already completed an undergraduate qualification and want a second one.
- Your combined household income is more than R350,000 per year (you may qualify for the loan instead - see below).
- You already receive 100% funding from another source.
- You study at a private institution, or your qualification is not DHET-approved / SAQA-accredited.
- You are already NSFAS-funded - you stay funded for your qualification as long as you pass and meet the academic rules. No need to re-apply.
How to apply for NSFAS
Go to the official NSFAS site
Visit nsfas.org.za - this is the only official place to apply. Applying is free. Never pay anyone to register or "fast-track" you.
Create a myNSFAS profile
Register with your South African ID number, a working email, and a cell number you control. You will use this same profile to track your status later.
Complete all required information
Fill in your personal, household, and study details, and upload your documents: certified ID copies (yours and your parents/guardians where needed), proof of income or SASSA confirmation, a signed consent form, and disability documents if they apply.
Submit before the window closes
Submit your application before the cycle closes, then track it on myNSFAS. Apply to your university or TVET college separately - NSFAS funds your studies but does not apply for your place.
How to track your NSFAS status
Open myNSFAS
Go to nsfas.org.za and click the myNSFAS button at the top right, or go straight to my.nsfas.org.za.
Log in
Sign in with your registered email and password and complete the CAPTCHA. Never share these details with anyone.
Open Track Application Progress
Find the Track Application Progress or Application Status tab to see where your application is.
Read your status
Application Submitted means it is received and processing; Documents Missing means you must upload something; Under Review means eligibility is being confirmed. Act on anything it asks for quickly.
Rejected? How to appeal
If you applied to NSFAS and were turned down, you can appeal on myNSFAS within 30 days of receiving your result. Read the exact rejection reason first, then upload documents that address it.
Valid reasons to appeal
- Your household income changed since you applied - for example a breadwinner became incapacitated or passed away.
- A court declared you independent of your parents, or a divorce decree places education costs on one qualifying parent.
- You are from a child-headed household (with a social worker report).
- You missed academic requirements due to serious illness (2+ months), a death in the immediate family, a violent crime, pregnancy and birth, or a disability-related reason.
NSFAS questions
Official NSFAS contact
Toll free 08000 67327 · info@nsfas.org.za · nsfas.org.za. AskSmarty is not NSFAS - we cannot check or change your application; contact NSFAS directly through these official channels.
Not funded by NSFAS?
Above the threshold, or NSFAS does not cover your programme? Look at the missing-middle loan, private and company bursaries, and institution aid. Apply early - many close before the year starts.