NSFAS Status Check 2025: Step-by-Step Guide to Track Your Application

The Higher Education Department of South Africa introduced a program called NSFAS (Students’ Financial Aid Scheme) to provide financial aid to students. Candidates who applied to universities that accept NSFAS aid, look at my NSFAS status check 2025 after applying for NSFAS funding. Register yourself on the NSFAS portal, apply for NSFAS funding, and track your NSFAS application status from time to time. We will explain how to create an account and different methods to check your status, and we will guide you in solving the problems you are facing.

NSFAS Status Check Methods

NSFAS Status Check Using ID Number

There is an official web portal where you can submit your application for NSFAS 2025 and check your NSFAS status using your ID number. You can check the application status using the NSFAS student portal login method by following these steps:

Visit the NSFAS original website, www.nsfas.org.za.
Click on my NSFAS portal and log in by entering your ID number and password.
Click on ‘Application Status’ to see your NSFAS status.

Only students who already have an account can log in to the portal, while others who are not registered cannot log in.

NSFAS Check Status via Whatsapp

Many students worry whether their application will be accepted or rejected. You can check your application status online through the NSFAS portal. If this does not work for you, you just need to visit www.nsfas.org.za and collect the WhatsApp number +27 78 519 8006. Save this and contact on WhatsApp to NSFAS representative and he will ask for some details for verification such as:

Application No.
Application submission date
ID Number
Name
Father Name
CINIC
Date Of Birth

To give accurate data, he will check your application status and will give you updates.

Nsfas Status Check via SMS

You can check your NSFAS application status by using a USSD code. You can get your NSFAS application status through sms without any internet. The steps of this method are below:

Open your mobile’s dial pad.
Dial USSD code *120*67327#
Enter your South African ID number and other necessary details.
You will get sms about your NSFAS status.

If you are in a region where the internet is not accessible and you cannot check at www.nsfas.org.za or through WhatsApp, you can use this USSD method for NSFAS status check.

NSFAS Status Check Using the Reference Number?

Follow the steps given below for the NSFAS status check using the reference number.

Open the browser on your internet-connected device and visit the NSFAS portal.
To check your NSFAS application status, click on the ‘My NSFAS Account’ link on the homepage of the official site.
If you do not have an account, visit my NSFAS portal login page by entering your email and password. Then, create one by clicking on the register option.
After logging in, click ‘My Applications’ or ‘My Funding Applications’. Then you can access the section that contains ‘Check Status’ to track your application.
A field will appear; enter the reference number. The reference number that they provided when you applied.
Once you have entered the reference number, click on ‘Submit’ or ‘Check status’ to check your application status.
Now all is on your screen, whether your application status is accepted, rejected, or still being processed. You can also receive additional information.

You can contact the NSFAS helpline if you face any issues or have queries. You can access NSFAS student portal from here.

Method to Create NSFAS Account

You need to register your account on www.nsfas.org.za before submitting the NSFAS application. Many students do not know how to create an account. Follow the steps below to register:

Visit the official website www.nsfas.org.za.
There will be an ‘NSFASA Account’ button on the homepage; click on it.
Fill in the required data:

First Name
Last Name
ID
Username
Password
Household Income Proof ( upload documents to prove)
Academic details
Email

Prove you are not a robot by completing the CAPTCHA verification process.
Accept the terms and conditions.
Click on ‘Register’.

You will receive an email from NSFAS for verification purposes. Please click on the link in the email to verify. Once your account is created, you can submit your NSAFAS application and track its status.

NSFAS Application Status and Its Meaning

Status	Meaning
Application Submitted	It says your NSFAS application for funding has been submitted.
Filtering	NSFAS administration is verifying that you submitted all the details and information that is required.
Validation	NSFAS, your information from external sources like the home affairs department and Sassa, etc.
Evaluation	It means that your documents are being verified by NSFAS.
Funding Eligibility	NSFAS will verify your household income to confirm your eligibility for funding.
Waiting for Academic Results/Admission	NSFAS will confirm your academic details with the relevant institution.
Awaiting Registration	NSFAS is waiting for registration data from your institution to verify it and provide funding.
Signing of Agreement	If you meet the funding criteria, they will have you sign a financial agreement.
Payments	Your funding has been approved and will be sent soon.

‘NSFAS Status Check’ Common Problems

Common problems and their solutions for the NSFAS status check are given below:

A large number of NSFAS Applications can cause a delay in processing the applications. You can contact the NSFAS helpline for updates if you have been waiting for so long.
Technical Problems at the NSFAS site can disrupt the application approval process. You can contact NSAFAS to fix these errors or glitches.
No update can be due to technical problems or incorrect contact information. You can update or correct your information on NSFAS.
There can be any technical issue with the NSFAS system that hinders your application processing.
If NSFAS asks for additional information or documents, respond quickly and provide accurate data. Late response can cause delay.

Can we appeal if the NSFAS Application Got Rejected?

If your NSFAS application got rejected, you can find out the reason from NSFAS. Review the reason why it is rejected, it can be due to a late application, missing documents, or not meeting eligibility criteria. You can appeal the decision of rejection. Below, the details are provided on whether you can or cannot appeal.

Who Can Appeal?

If you are application is rejected due to missing documents or a slight eligibility criteria difference, you can appeal the rejection decision. Your NSFAS appeal depends on the available funds, even if it is valid. NSFAS may not have funds remaining for 2025.

Who Cannot Appeal?

Courses not covered by NSFAS NSFAS covers specific undergraduate courses at TVET colleges and public universities. Your appeal will be rejected if you are enrolled in a course that NSFAS does not fund.
Academic Performance Below Standard To keep receiving NSFAS funds, you must have good academic performance and get high marks. If you fail to meet the academic performance standard, you will not be eligible for NSFAS funding, and funds will be stopped. You cannot appeal because you did not meet the academic performance requirement.
Exceed N+ Rule NSFAS funds for the standard duration of the courses (N) plus an additional two years (N+2). Students with disabilities have plus additional three years (N+3). If you exceed this limit, you will receive no funds and cannot appeal it.
Registration Record Issues If there is an error in the registration record or details provided by your institution, you cannot appeal to NSFAS. You need to contact your institute administration and ask them to send updated details to NSFAS.

NSFAS Application Cycles

At the start of each first semester and trimester, National Certificate Vocation (NCV) is available both online and in person to submit.
DHET will accept in-person applications for Inclusive capture in May and September.
There will be a period for assistive capture between June and July to submit walk-in applications.

NSFAS in 2025: Facts

You do not need to repay NSFAS funding.
Applicants, while they are in their thirties or fifties, can acquire NSFAS funding to complete their higher education.
The NSFAS allowance is paid for ten months of each year at the start of every month.
This was founded to provide students from backward areas with quality higher education.
About 690,000 students was funded in 2025.
To continue receiving funds, students must meet academic program requirements, passing courses with a certain percentage.

NSFAS-Funded Courses in 2025

NSFAS funding is available for students enrolled in public universities and TVET colleges. However, only first-year undergraduate degree programs are funded by it.

Accounting
Adult learning
Building and Construction
Business and Management
Cleaning, Domestic, Hiring, Property, and Rescue Services
Communication Studies
Consumer Services
Cultural Studies
Curative Health
Design Studies
Drawing Office Practice
Early childhood development
Earth and Space Sciences
Electrical infrastructure construction
Engineering and Related Design
Environmental relations
Environmental Sciences
Fabrication and extraction
Film, Television, and Video
Finance, Economics, and Accounting
Forestry and wood technology
General social science
Generic
Generic management
Human Resources
Horticulture
Hospitality, Tourism, Travel, Gaming and Leisure
Higher Education and Training
Information Technology and Computer Science
Industrial and Organizational Leadership and HR Management
Information Studies
Justice in society
Language
Life Science
Literature
Manufacturing and assembly

Marketing
Mathematical Sciences
Mechatronics
Media Studies
Music
Nature conservation
Occupationally Directed ETD Practice
Office Administration
People-/human-centered Development
Performing arts
Personal care
Physical Planning, Design, and Management
Physical Sciences
Preventive health
Process Instrumentation
Primary agriculture
Process Plant Operations
Procurement
Project Management
Promoting health and developmental services
Psychology
Public Administration
Public Policy, Politics, and Democratic Citizenship
Public relations
Rehabilitative Health Services
Religious and Ethical Foundations of Society
Rural and agricultural
Safety in society
Schooling
Secondary agriculture
The State’s sovereignty
Sport
Traditions, History, and Legacies
Transport, Operations, and Logistics
Urban and Regional Studies
Visual Arts
Wholesale and retail

What Benefits Does NSFAS Offer Students?

NSFAS (National Students’ Financial Aid Scheme) helps students in South Africa get higher education. Nsfas gives students benefits in the following ways:

Tuition Fees

NSFAS covers the course fees at public universities, TVET colleges, or any other vocational learning institute, ensuring that students get higher education free of cost.

Accommodation

NSFAS covers accommodation only in university residence housing and does not extend private accommodation funding.

Living Allowance

A Living allowance worth R14,400 is provided.

Transport Allowance

Students traveling up to 40km from their university can receive R10,000 annually for travel expenses.

Book Allowance

The R5000 book allowance is also provided to students who want to buy books.

NSFAS Funds Provided at TVET Institutions

Accommodation There are three categories of accommodation: Urban, Rural, and City Centre.

Urban R24,000 per year
Rural R15,000 per year
City Centre R18,000 per year

Transport A transport allowance of R10,000 is given to students who come from a distance of 40km away from the university.
Personal Care Allowance R2750 is provided as a personal care allowance to students.
Personal Care Fund Students living in catered accommodations are provided a personal care budget of R2,850.

The maximum length of NSFAS is five years, based on the funding of NSFAS each year. If someone’s graduation takes more than five years, he/she has to pay for their studies.

NSFAS Advantages And Disadvantages

Advantages of NSFAS

NSFAS pays for all courses, including tertiary education, training facilities, and vocational schools. It is also compulsory for students to get high-grade marks and pass all the courses.

NSFAS also covers accommodation in university residences. For private residences, students have to pay for them. NSFAS also gives a travel allowance for students who travel 40km to university.

A living allowance worth R14,400 and a book allowance of R5,000 are provided to students as part of NSFAS funding. SO, NSFAS covers many expenses of students to provide them with essential education.

Disadvantages of NSFAS

The major drawback of NSFAS is that not all students in South Africa can avail this opportunity to pursue their studies. It takes a long time for the distribution of funding, it becomes difficult to manage their expenses. If students can manage their funds, they will handle them well.

NSFAS also funds postgraduate courses, but many postgraduate programs are not covered by NSFAS, so each course is not guaranteed to be covered by it.

The additional hurdle for orphan students to get funds is the requirement for social workers to sign secondary documents.

NSFAS Eligibility Criteria 2025

The following NSFAS requirements need to be filled in to get NSFAS funding:

You must have citizenship in South Africa.
You must be enrolled in a bachelor’s programme or willing to enroll.
Only tertiary institution (university and TVET college) students are eligible to qualify for NSFAS funding.
To keep receiving funds, you need to fulfill the academic performance standards. Otherwise, it will be withdrawn.
You have not completed any previous qualification.
You must fulfill one of the following categories:

Recipient of SAAS grants.
Household income does not exceed R350,000 annually.
If you have a disability, your family income does not exceed R600,000 annually.

FAQs

What is NSFAS?

NSFAS (National Students Financial Aid Scheme) was developed to provide funding to students of South Africa enrolled in higher education.

How often does NSFAS pay?

NSFAS allowances are provided early in the month. Allowances are paid for ten months of each year. NSFAS’s last payment for TVET colleges and public universities of the year is received in October.

How long can I use NSFAS?

As long as you meet the criteria of academic performance above standard and are eligible for funding, you will keep receiving an NSFAS allowance for five years. If you change course or graduation takes more than 5 years, you have to pay for it yourself.

How many days do we have to wait to get NSFAS funding?

It depends on your living situation, citizenship, and background. Proceeding with the application and approving it can take more than a week for NSFAS.

Can I check my NSFAS status by SMS?

Yes, you can receive sms about NSFAS status by dialing *120*67327# USSD code.

Can I withdraw from NSFAS at an ATM?

Yes, you can withdraw funds at any ATM within the Nedbank network or by visiting Nedbank-partnered retail outlets such as Pick ‘n Pay, Shoprite, Checkers, Boxer, and Usave.

NSFAS updates application status after how much time?

NSFAS takes more than a week to process your application and update your status. You can expect an NSFAS status update within a few weeks after the submission of the application.

How much does NSFAS funding 2025 cover?

NSFAS covers all the tuition fees of qualified students. NSFAS covers all expenses, including transport, accommodation, books, personal care, etc.

Can I apply for NSFAS 2025 after my application was rejected last year?

Yes, you are eligible to apply again for NSFAS, whether you were not selected last year.

How much does NSFAS pay?

NSFAS pays 24,000 Rand annually to urban location students and 18,900 Rand to peri-urban and rural areas of South Africa.

What is the deadline to apply for NSFAS in 2025?

15 December 2024 was the deadline to apply for NSFAS 2025. Students had to apply before the deadline.

What if I forgot my NSFAS login details?

You can change your NSFAS login details using your ID number at the NSFAS login page at www.nsfas.org.za.

What does “Provisionally Funded” mean?

Provisionally funded NSFAS means that you are meeting the criteria and selected for financial aid, but NSFAS is waiting for registration data from your institution.

How can I appeal if my NSFAS application is rejected?

You can appeal the decision to reject your application. Visit the My NSFAS login portal status check at www.nsfas.org.za to submit your appeal and provide additional supporting documents proving you are eligible for NSFAS funding.

How long does NSFAS pay for accommodation?

NSFAS pays accommodation allowance every first week of the month for the next ten months of the year.

Does NSFAS pay for private accommodation?

No, NSFAS pays only for accommodation in the university residence. Students living in private residences do not get an accommodation allowance.

What does NSFAS awaiting evaluation mean?

NSFAS awaiting evaluation means that your documents are being verified by NSFAS.

Conclusion

Students can track their application through the NSFAS Status Check process at www.nsfas.org.za. You can simply go to the NSFAS login page and enter your ID number and password to check your application status, whether it is accepted or rejected. NSFAS covers tuition fees for students who cannot afford higher education. NSFAS also pays book allowance, transport allowance, accommodation allowance, and personal care allowance. You just have to meet the criteria for funding to avail this financial help for higher education in tertiary institutions.
Stay connected and keep receiving updates about NSFAS.