NSFAS: South Africa's Student Funding Guide and Latest Updates

When you're a student in South Africa and money is tight, NSFAS, the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, is the main government program that pays for tuition, accommodation, and living costs for eligible students. Also known as the student bursary scheme, NSFAS doesn't give loans you have to repay — it gives grants that cover your education so you can focus on passing, not worrying about rent. This isn’t just about paying fees. It’s about keeping kids in school when their families can’t afford it. For many, NSFAS is the only reason they make it to university at all.

NSFAS works closely with SASSA, South Africa’s social security agency that handles grants for older people, disabled individuals, and children. While SASSA supports families on the ground, NSFAS targets the next generation — students who need help crossing the gap between high school and a degree. The two systems sometimes overlap: if your family gets a SASSA grant, you’re more likely to qualify for NSFAS. But NSFAS has its own rules: you need to be a South African citizen, studying at a public university or TVET college, and your household income must be under R350,000 a year. No exceptions. No shortcuts.

NSFAS isn’t static. Every year, changes happen — new deadlines, updated application forms, shifts in how payments are made. In 2025, the system is under more pressure than ever. With inflation rising and unemployment still high, more students are applying. But funding hasn’t kept up. That’s why you’ll see stories in this collection about payment delays, students missing out, and officials promising better support. You’ll also find updates on who got funded, what’s changed in the application process, and how students are fighting back when things go wrong. Some posts mention how NSFAS interacts with universities — like when a student gets approved but the university doesn’t release their funds. Others show how NSFAS is trying to fix digital glitches that leave applicants stuck.

This page pulls together everything real students and families need to know. No theory. No jargon. Just what’s happening now, who’s affected, and what you can do if you’re waiting for your money. Whether you’re applying for the first time, stuck in a payment loop, or just trying to understand how this system actually works, you’ll find answers here — straight from the people living it.