The Ministry of Higher Education and Training, in partnership with the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS 2026), formally invites eligible South African students to submit applications for the 2026 academic funding cycle. This announcement is a signal of the government’s continuous commitment to expanding access to tertiary education.
Minister Buti Manamela announced the official launch on 16 September, confirming that this is the gateway through which hundreds of thousands of young people, particularly those from working-class and poor households, will realise their educational aspirations at public universities and TVET colleges.
Crucially, this bursary scheme remains one of the largest instruments of social justice in South Africa. It assures students that financial barriers will not prevent them from accessing knowledge and skills. Readiness for the academic year, as the minister emphasised, is about the “lived experience of every student and family”. This ensures that the doors of learning open fairly, on time, and without unnecessary barriers.
Why Financial Aid in the PSET System
South Africa’s Post-School Education and Training (PSET) system is extensive and designed to serve millions seeking knowledge, skills, and livelihoods. It’s a vast landscape.
What constitutes this system? It includes universities, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges, Community Education and Training (CET) colleges, the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, and 21 Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs). Together, these institutions form a single, unified system dedicated to expanding access, driving transformation, and building the essential skills base required for the national economy.
The scale of support is enormous: universities accommodate approximately 1.1 million students; TVET colleges support about 527,000 students; and, through this funding program, around 900,000 students receive bursaries and loans annually.
Contextualising Opportunity
While the PSET system aims to serve the people, competition for spaces remains high. For the 2026 academic year, projections suggest there will be approximately 235,000 first-year university spaces. Because this number cannot absorb every qualifying matriculant, early application is vital.
It’s worth noting that TVET colleges and SETA-funded programs are equally important pathways to the labour market. This institution offers practical, work-orientated training that speaks directly to industry needs. The system is ultimately designed to expand freedom—the freedom to learn, to work, and to contribute to South Africa’s future.
Who Qualifies for NSFAS 2026/2027 Funding?
The 2026/2027 funding is strategically targeted at South African citizens from low- and middle-income families who plan to study at public universities or TVET colleges. If you meet these essential criteria, you should definitely prepare your application.
To be eligible for this funding opportunity, applicants must satisfy several critical requirements:
- Citizenship and Residency – You must be a South African citizen or a permanent resident with a valid ID number.
- Institutional Enrolment – You must be accepted or planning to study at a public university or public TVET college in South Africa. The programme does not fund students attending private institutions.
- SASSA Status – All applicants who are recipients of an SASSA grant automatically qualify for funding.
- Income Thresholds – These thresholds require careful reporting of combined household income:
- Standard Applicants – The total combined annual household income cannot exceed R350,000 per year.
- Applicants with a Disability – If you are a person living with a disability, the combined household income limit is increased significantly to R600,000 per year.
- Continuing Students (Pre-2020) – Students who started their university studies before 2020 must adhere to a specific threshold: their household income should not exceed R122,000 per annum.
- Understanding Rejection Reasons – Even if the basic income criteria are met, certain factors can lead to an unsuccessful application:
- Income Verified as Too High – If third-party checks confirm your household income exceeds the required threshold (R350,000 or R600,000).
- Existing Full Funding – You are not eligible if you are already receiving comprehensive financial aid from another bursary scheme.
- Prior Qualification – Students who have already received a qualification may not be eligible.
Exceeding the N+ Rule
This is a frequent point of misunderstanding. The N+ rule governs the maximum years you can be funded. In simple terms, it is calculated based on the total number of years you have been registered for tertiary study at any public university in South Africa, not just the years you received funding. If this limit is exceeded, the application will be rejected.
Academic Failure – Continuing students who failed to meet the required academic requirements may have their funding discontinued.
Late Application – Applications received after the closing date (15 November 2025) will be rejected, as late submissions are strictly not accepted.
Simplified Application Process – The application process for the 2026 funding cycle is both simplified and strengthened to enhance accessibility and accelerate approvals. The application window runs from September and closes on 15 November 2025.
The Digital Gateway and Security – Applications must be submitted through the myNSFAS portal, accessible via any internet-enabled device. The steps are clear: visit the official website, create or log into your myNSFAS account, complete all required fields, upload necessary documents, and submit before the deadline.
That said, applying online sometimes presents technical hurdles. Many applicants find the paperwork challenging, but they can also encounter technical blockages. For example, the website sometimes uses security services that trigger a validation request requiring you to type in text from an image (CAPTCHA) to confirm you are not a bot. If you get blocked completely, it might be due to actions that the security service flagged, such as submitting malformed data or submitting a suspicious word or phrase. If you’re blocked, you should email the site owner with details of your action and the event ID to resolve access.
To streamline the process, NSFAS is working with partners like SASSA, SARS, and the Department of Home Affairs to automatically verify information. This collaboration significantly reduces the required paperwork and helps ensure data integrity. Furthermore, NSFAS is extending its physical footprint through localised and regional service centres, ensuring that even those in rural areas can access hands-on help.
Key Supporting Documents
Even with automatic verification, certain certified documents are essential for a complete application:
- Your own cellphone number and email address.
- A copy of your ID or birth certificate.
- National ID copies for your parents, guardians, or spouse.
- Evidence of your income or 1 year’s IRP5 (if applicable), and the proof of income for your parents, guardian, or spouse.
Note: If you are a SASSA grant recipient, you don’t need to provide income evidence.
- Disability – Applicants with a disability must submit a completed and signed Disability Annexure A Form.
- Vulnerable Child – An applicant recognised as a vulnerable child must provide a completed and signed Vulnerable Child Declaration and Consent Form.
What NSFAS 2026 Funding Covers
If approved, the NSFAS bursary offers comprehensive financial support, covering tuition, registration, and crucial non-tuition allowances. This funding is paid out over a 10-month period and ensures students can cover their daily living costs.
For University Students (2026/2027 Coverage), university students receiving full funding can expect coverage for:
- Registration and Tuition Fees: Fully covered.
- Accommodation – Covered based on the actual costs charged by the university. Crucially, costs for private accommodation must not exceed the costs set for university residence.
- Living Allowance: R15,000 per annum.
- Book Allowance -R5,200 per annum, allocated to ensure students acquire necessary learning materials.
- Transport Allowance – R7,500 per annum, designated for students living within 40 km of the institution.
- Incidental/Personal Care Allowance – R2,900 per annum, typically provided for students staying in catered residences.
- For TVET College Students (2026/2027 Coverage)
- The government views TVET colleges as central to the country’s industrialisation. Consequently, TVET students are fully funded on a fee-free basis, aligning with the Heher Commission recommendations.
- Allowances are structured based on accommodation location:
- Registration and Tuition Fees is fully covered.
- Accommodation Allowances per annum 0 R24,000 for urban areas, R18,900 for peri-urban areas, and R15,750 for rural areas.
- Transport Allowances – R7,350 per annum for transport if living up to 40 km from the institution, or a general R7,000 transport allowance.
- Incidental/Personal Care Allowance – R2,900 per annum.
- It’s easy to overlook how life-changing even R7,000 for transport can be when a student is simply trying to get to class and focus on their education. This comprehensive coverage minimises financial distraction.
- Focus on Student Accommodation Standards
- Readiness for the academic year necessarily includes tackling the quality of student accommodation. NSFAS is working to ensure that accommodation is accredited, safe, and dignified, while eliminating confusion regarding administration and payments.
- The scheme utilises a detailed grading system to standardise accommodation quality and the maximum monthly rent payable per bed over 10 months.
Minimum Spatial Requirements
To be considered suitable for accreditation, rooms must meet specific minimum size requirements:
- A single room must be at least 8 m².
- A sharing room for two beds must be at least 14 m².
- A sharing room for three beds must be a minimum of 19 m².
- Phasing and Location Rates
Property grades are systematically being improved. For instance, Grade E accommodation is scheduled to be phased out in 2026, and Grade D was scheduled for phase-out in 2025.
Rental allocation is strictly determined by whether the property is located in a metro or non-metro area. Metro status applies specifically to properties located within the municipal boundaries of Buffalo City Metro, the City of Cape Town, and Nelson Mandela Bay Metro. All other properties must claim the rental allocation under the non-metro rate. For example, monthly rent payable for a high-standard single room (Grade 1) is R4,750.00 in a metro area but R3,895.00 in a non-metro area.
How to Appeal if Application is Rejected
If you receive a “Rejected” status, don’t despair. This means your application did not meet the funding criteria during the initial assessment. If you believe the rejection was unfair, or if your circumstances have changed (e.g., a parent lost employment), you have the right to appeal.
- Applicants are typically given 30 days upon receiving the decision to submit a formal appeal.
- Submitting a Formal Appeal
- The entire appeal process is digital and must be conducted through your myNSFAS account:
- Log into your MyNSFAS account on www.nsfas.org.za.
- Click the ‘Track Funding Progress’ option.
- If the status shows an unsuccessful message, click on the ‘Submit Appeal Tab’.
- The system will display the reason for your unsuccessful application status.
- You must then choose the specific appeal reason that applies to your situation.
You must upload certified supporting documents that directly support your chosen appeal reason. For instance, if you were rejected for income, you’ll need updated proof that your household income is now below the threshold.
Finally, click ‘Submit Appeal’.
You can monitor the progress of the appeal directly on your myNSFAS account. Many applicants overlook this step, assuming the initial decision is final.
Stabilising the System and Looking Ahead (Authoritativeness)
The government is committed to stabilising the post-school system and restoring public confidence. Significant effort went into resolving issues in the previous cycle.
For instance, R13.3 billion was reprioritised to support 34,000 students with blocked registrations and facilitate second-semester registrations for 15,000 students in 2025. This stability also allowed student accommodation providers to receive outstanding payments.
That said, the scheme still faces real financial risk. This is due to the increasing number of qualifying students, the escalating cost of living (which expands eligibility criteria), and declining state resources in real terms. Steps toward announcing sustainable funding reforms for NSFAS are planned for later this year.
Operational Readiness – The War Room
To ensure stability and responsiveness moving into 2026, a war room will be established.
This collaborative effort brings together the leadership of the Department, NSFAS, universities, colleges, student formations, and quality councils to meet weekly. Its purpose is dedicated to rapid decision-making and problem-solving, ensuring clear communication with stakeholders.
Through the War Room, outstanding issues will be tackled head-on: from the timely payment of NSFAS allowances to the accreditation of student accommodation, the finalisation of examination certificates, and the resolution of disputes that can otherwise disrupt teaching and learning. It functions as an early-warning system, ensuring that when problems emerge, no student, parent, or institution is left without answers.
The TVET College Revolution
Technical and Vocational Education and Training colleges remain at the centre of the strategy to transform the post-school system. These institutions are viewed as the engines of industrialisation and entrepreneurship, offering more than 527,000 places in 2026.
A key policy shift is the progressive phasing out of outdated Nated programmes and the introduction of modern occupational qualifications and part-qualifications. This transition is crucial for ensuring the curriculum is industry-aligned and future-focused.
A Ministerial Task Team (MTT) will lead the implementation, advising on curriculum alignment, lecturer readiness, and funding implications to minimise disruption to students. The commitment to fully fund TVET students on a fee-free basis further illustrates the intent to grow enrolments in this critical sector.
Final Call to Action
The launch of the NSFAS 2026 application cycle provides a necessary and tangible pathway for aspiring students. We cannot stress enough the importance of applying early and accurately.
We call on all stakeholders—schools, teachers, parents, and community centres—to actively assist learners in applying before the hard deadline of 15 November 2025.
By leveraging the simplified application process, understanding the detailed eligibility rules, and preparing supporting documents ahead of time, applicants significantly increase their chances of securing the financial support needed to realise their potential. As the Freedom Charter proclaimed, and as our democracy demands, the doors of learning and culture shall be opened.