NSFAS 2027: Who Qualifies and How to Apply

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) funds students from poor and working-class households at South Africa’s public universities and TVET colleges. If your family income is within the limit, NSFAS should be one of the first applications you make.

Who qualifies for NSFAS?

• South African citizens and permanent residents
• Combined gross household income of R350,000 or less per year
• Combined gross household income of R600,000 or less per year for students with disabilities
• SASSA grant recipients automatically meet the financial requirement
• Studying, or planning to study, an approved qualification at a public university or TVET college

What NSFAS covers

NSFAS pays tuition and registration fees and provides allowances for accommodation or transport, living costs and learning materials. The exact allowances depend on whether you study at a university or TVET college and where you live.

Documents you need

• Your ID or smart ID card
• ID copies of your parents, guardian or spouse
• Proof of income where applicable
• A disability annexure form if you are applying as a student with a disability

How to apply

1. Go to the official myNSFAS portal at my.nsfas.org.za.
2. Create an account with your ID number, email address and cellphone number.
3. Complete the application form and upload your documents.
4. Submit and keep your reference number.

Applying is free, and you can do it on a cellphone. Remember that NSFAS does not apply to university for you. You must also apply for admission to your chosen institution.

When to apply

NSFAS applications for the following academic year normally open in September and run for about two months. For the 2027 academic year, the window opened on 18 September 2026, and the myNSFAS page showed a closing date of 31 October 2026. Always check the official portal for the latest date, and do not wait until the last day.

Understanding your application status

• Submitted / filtering: your application has been received and is being checked.
• Evaluation: your financial eligibility is being verified with third parties such as SARS.
• Awaiting academic results / admission: NSFAS needs proof of your results or registration from your institution.
• Approved / provisionally funded: you qualify, subject to registration at your institution.
• Unsuccessful: you can usually lodge an appeal on myNSFAS within the appeal window.

If your application is rejected

Read the reason given on your myNSFAS profile. If your household income has changed, or the information NSFAS used is wrong, submit an appeal with supporting documents within the appeal period. Meanwhile, keep applying for other bursaries in our bursary directory, especially those aimed at the “missing middle”, such as ISFAP.

NSFAS on StudentBursaries