The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is a public entity reporting to the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET). It provides financial assistance in the form of study bursaries to qualifying students who plan to study at Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges and public universities.
This is what the scheme does:
- Supports access to, and success in, higher education and training for students from poor and working-class families who would otherwise not be able to afford the cost of studying at a TVET college or university.
- Provides bursaries to qualifying students at TVET colleges and public universities.
What is required during the Application Process?
NSFAS may need more information from you to process your application, check what supporting documents are required and ensure that you have all the relevant information:
You will need the following to complete your NSFAS application:
- Your own cellphone number and email address
- Copy of your ID or birth certificate
- ID copies of parents, guardian or spouse (If applicable)
- Your proof of income or 1 year’s IRP5 (if applicable)
- Your parents, guardian or spouse’s proof of income
- If you are a SASSA grant recipient, no proof of income will be required
- Applicants with a disability must submit a completed and signed Disability Annexure A Form, click here to download
- An applicant who is recognised as a Vulnerable Child by the Department of Social Development must provide a completed and signed Vulnerable Child Declaration and Consent Form, click here to download.
More details, please follow this link: NSFAS
What does the NSFAS bursary cover?
Once your funding application becomes successful, NSFAS will cover your costs for:
- Accommodation
- Transport
- Living allowance
- Learning material allowance
- Personal care allowance
- Tuition
- Books (subject to the number of modules registered)
- Personal care allowance
More details please follow this link: NSFAS
Who qualifies for NSFAS funding?
You qualify for a NSFAS bursary if you are a South African citizen who plans to study in 2025 or you are already studying at a public university or TVET college and you meet the following requirements:
1: SASSA recipients automatically qualify on financial eligibility
2: Your combined household income is not more than R350 000 per year or
3: Person with a disability with a combined household income of not more than R600 000 per year or
4: Must have email and cell phone number
More details please follow this link: NSFAS