NSFAS Application 2025-2026: Fund Your Higher Education

NSFAS Application 2025-2026, NSFAS application 2025 opening date was in September 2024 and closed on 15 December. The NSFAS late applications 2025 were submitted in the first month of 2025. NSFAS (National Students’ Financial Aid Scheme) provided South African students with funding to help them pursue higher education. The NSFAS applications for 2026 are expected to be opened from September 2025.
In this article, everything about the NSFAS online application 2025 is explained like the opening date, the closing date, and the eligibility criteria.

NSFAS Applications 2025 Overview

Applications for NSFAS 2025 were accepted from September to 15 December 2024. Later, the applications were opened at the start of 2025 for those who missed the first opportunity.

NSFAS 2025	Opening date	Closing date
NSFAS application 2025	September 2024	15 December, 2024
NSFAS late application for 2025	13 January 2025	24 January 2025

NSFAS Application 2026 Expected Dates

The NSFAS online application submission date is expected to be from September to December 2025. If you are willing to get a higher education and are not stable financially, this can be an excellent opportunity to pursue your studies. NSFAS covers all your tuition fees and provides different allowances for transport, accommodation, personal care, and books. This is the gateway for you to get higher education in South Africa with all the financial help from NSFAS.

Key Steps to Apply for NSFAS

To submit the application for NSFAS funding aid, you have to follow these steps:

Check Eligibility

If you fulfill the following criteria, you are eligible for NSFAS funding:

You must be a South African Citizen.
Your household income does not exceed 350,000.
You are currently enrolled or intend to enroll in tertiary institutions (public universities and TVET colleges) in South Africa.
You have not already completed any qualification

Gather Your Documents

South African ID You must have a South African ID card or birth certificate.
Academic Documents Collect your last academic transcript or result card.
Proof of Income Collect documents that prove that your household income does not exceed 350,000. You will need an income certificate from your guardian if you rely on them financially.
Additional Documents If you are an orphan, you need to have the death certificate of your parents, or if you are disabled, you need to have proof of disability.

Also check if any other doucuments are required on the official website.

Create an NSFAS Account

First, you must register yourself on the NSFAS portal.

Visit the NSFAS portal and click on the ‘Register’ option.
You need to follow the instructions and provide the details required, and create a username and password.

Submit Your Application

After creating an account, log in to your account, fill out the application form for NSFAS with accurate details, and upload all the required documents. Recheck your application thoroughly to ensure that you have entered the correct details, and submit your application. “Your application has been submitted” will be shown on your application status.

Track Your Application Status

You can track your application status by logging in to your account at the NSFAS portal. There, you can check NSFAS status by tapping on ‘Application Status’. The NSFAS application processing takes a few weeks. You can access NSFAS portal from here.

NSFAS Bursary

The NSFAS bursary is provided to students of South Africa who have permanent residence and whose household income is less than R350,000.
A bursary is provided to disabled students whose household income is less than R600,000.
NSFAS was founded to help all the students who are willing to get higher education but cannot afford it financially.

What is Covered by NSFAS Funding?

Tuition fees
Registration fee
Accommodation
Book Allowance
Transport Allowance
Living Allowance
Personal Care Allowance

Allowances for University Students

Transport (up to 40km)	R 7500 per year
Living Allowance	R 15,000 per year
Book Allowance	R 5200 per year
Personal Care Allowance	R 2900 per year

Allowances for TVET College Students

Accommodation in Urban areas	R 24,000 per year
Accommodation in Peri-urban areas	R 18,900 per year
Accommodation in Rural areas	R 15,750 per year
Transport (up to 40km from the institute)	R 7350 per year
Personal Care Allowance	R 2900 per year

Supporting Documents

Verified copy of ID card or birth certificate
Verified copies of your parents’ ID cards
Income proof of guardian to prove your household income does not exceed R350,000.
If you are disabled, you have to provide disability signed A-form to prove it.
You also need to be recognized as a vulnerable child by the Department of Social Development. You have to provide the Declaration Form signed by the Social Development of South Africa.

Non-Eligible People

Students who have already done a qualification.
Students are not citizens of South Africa.
Students have high household incomes.
Students who are not accepted at tertiary institutions ( TVET colleges and public universities).
Students who do not meet academic requirements.
Students violate the policies of NSFAS.

How to Cancel Application for NSFAS?

NSFAS was founded to give a golden opportunity to students who cannot pursue their higher education due to financial problems. With NSFAS funding, they can fulfill their wish for higher education. If you submit your application, and now you want to cancel it due to some particular reason, we will guide you on how you can cancel your application. Follow these steps below:

Visit the official website of NSFAS nsfas.org.za, and enter your login details to log in.
Go to the section of ‘my applications’ and select the application you want to cancel.
Click on ‘cancel application’ or ‘withdraw application’ next to your selected application. Submit the request, and your application will be cancelled shortly.

NSFAS is a gateway for bright students who have the thirst to pursue higher education in tertiary institutions. This can be a great opportunity for you if you are willing to get higher education; you just have to meet the given requirements.

Tips for a Successful NSFAS Online Application

Apply Early: You should submit your application at an early stage after the opening date of the application. Try to avoid applying late; there can be a rush, and you may have to face some errors or delays.
Submit Clear and Accurate Documents: Ensure the documents you upload are accurate, clear, and meet NSFAS’s specifications.
Check Eligibility: Make sure you fulfill the criteria required for NSFAS funding, like citizenship and household income.
Stay Updated: Keep checking your NSFAS status to make sure that you do not miss any updates about your application.
Check-In: If you have not gotten any updates for a long time, do not hesitate to contact the NSFAS administration.

FAQs

How much does NSFAS pay?

NSFAS funding covers registration and tuition fees when applicants are approved. Later, accommodation, transport, personal care, books, and living expenses are also covered when funding is verified.

What documents do I need to submit with my NSFAS online application?

You need to submit the following documents:

Certified copy of ID card or birth certificate.
Household income proof
Recent academic transcript or result
Additional documents if you are an orphan or disabled

What is the NSFAS closing date for 2025?

15 December was the last date of NSFAS 2025. Later, NSFAS applications were opened if you missed the first duration. 24 January 2025 was the last date to submit your late application for NSFAS 2025.

What does the NSFAS application in progress mean?

It means your application is submitted to NSFAS, now they will process it. It can take a few weeks for NSFAS to process your application.

What if my application for NSFAS 2025 got rejected?

If your application is rejected due to an error, you are eligible for funding. You can appeal the decision, you just need to correct the error and have the documents that prove you fulfill all the requirements.

How much time does NSFAS take to process an application?

It can take a few weeks to proceed with your application after submission. If it takes so long, you can contact to NSFAS administration for this.

How to apply for the NSFAS?

You just have to visit the NSFAS portal and create your account. After creating an account, log in with your login details and apply for funding with supporting documents.. All steps are explained above to apply for NSFAS.

Is NSFAS open for 2025?

No, the NSFAS 2025 application date is closed. Now the NSFAS application for 2026 will be opened at the end of 2025.

Conclusion

NSFAS provides financial support to students of South Africa. By understanding the NSFAS application process, eligibility criteria, and required documents, you can apply smoothly without any hurdles. Hope all your confusions are cleared.