The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) provides financial assistance to eligible South African students who want to study or are already studying at public universities and TVET colleges.
The NSFAS bursary can help cover approved costs such as tuition, learning materials, accommodation or transport and certain living or personal-care allowances, depending on the student’s institution, qualification and circumstances.
For students preparing for the 2027 academic year, it is important to understand the application process early, prepare the required documents and use the official NSFAS channels.
Important 2027 update: As of 16 August 2026, the official NSFAS website is still displaying information for the 2026 application cycle. I have therefore not treated the 2027 application window, closing date or 2027 allowance amounts as officially confirmed. Students should check the official NSFAS website and myNSFAS portal for the announcement of the 2027 application period.
What Is NSFAS?
NSFAS is a South African government entity responsible for providing financial support to eligible students from financially disadvantaged and working-class backgrounds.
The scheme supports students studying at public universities and TVET colleges and provides funding according to the applicable NSFAS eligibility criteria and annual funding guidelines.
For eligible students, funding can include tuition and approved allowances. NSFAS states that funded students at universities can receive support for learning materials, living expenses and either accommodation or transport, depending on their circumstances.
NSFAS Application 2027
The 2027 application cycle is expected to be important for:
Grade 12 learners planning to enter university or TVET college in 2027.
Students who are already studying and need NSFAS funding.
Students continuing their studies who meet the applicable funding requirements.
Eligible students who need financial assistance to continue their tertiary education.
However, applicants should wait for the official 2027 application announcement before relying on a specific opening or closing date.
NSFAS’s current bursary information states that eligible applicants generally include South African citizens who plan to study or are already studying at a public university or TVET college and meet the financial and other eligibility requirements.
The current published criteria include:
South African citizenship.
Study at, or plans to study at, a public university or TVET college.
Combined household income of R350,000 or less per year under the general threshold.
Applicants with disabilities may qualify under the higher household-income threshold of R600,000 per year, subject to the applicable requirements.
SASSA grant recipients qualify for financial eligibility under the current NSFAS criteria.
The exact 2027 eligibility rules should be checked against the official 2027 NSFAS guidelines once published because NSFAS funding rules and annual allowances can be updated.
Grade 12 Learners Can Prepare Now
If you are currently in Grade 12 and want to study in 2027, you should start preparing before applications open.
You should:
Decide whether you want to study at a university or TVET college.
Research the qualifications you want to study.
Apply for admission to the institution where appropriate.
Prepare your identification and supporting documents.
Make sure you have an active cellphone number.
Make sure you have access to an email address.
Create or prepare your myNSFAS account.
Monitor the official NSFAS website for the 2027 application announcement.
Remember that applying for NSFAS does not replace applying for admission to a university or TVET college. Students should deal with both processes.
NSFAS Requirements
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Applicants should prepare documents that may be requested during the application process.
Depending on the applicant’s circumstances, NSFAS may request documents such as:
South African ID document.
Parent or guardian information.
Proof of income where applicable.
Consent documentation.
Declaration forms where applicable.
Disability documentation for students with disabilities.
Orphan or Vulnerable Child documentation where applicable.
Other supporting documents relating to specific circumstances.
NSFAS states that the system can generate a list of required documents based on the applicant’s application type.
Important
Do not upload random documents simply because somebody on social media tells you to.
Log into your myNSFAS account and check which documents NSFAS actually requests.
If you do not already have a profile, create one using your own details.
You should have:
Your South African ID details.
Your own cellphone number.
An active email address.
A secure password.
NSFAS’s application guidance describes the process as creating a myNSFAS profile, completing the required information and submitting the application.
Step 4: Log Into Your Account
After creating your account, log into myNSFAS using your username and password.
Keep your login details secure.
Never give your NSFAS password or one-time PIN to another person.
Step 5: Select the Application Option
When the 2027 application period is officially opened, select the appropriate application option on your myNSFAS profile.
Step 6: Complete Your Personal Information
Enter your information carefully.
Check details such as:
Full name.
ID number.
Contact information.
Residential information.
Parent or guardian information.
Household information.
Make sure your information matches your official documents.
Step 7: Provide Household Information
NSFAS assesses financial eligibility using household information and other verification processes.
Provide truthful and accurate information.
Do not attempt to hide household income or provide false information.
Step 8: Upload Supporting Documents
If NSFAS requests supporting documents, upload them through your myNSFAS account.
The documents required can depend on your personal circumstances.
Step 9: Submit Your Application
Before pressing submit, carefully check the information you entered.
Once everything is correct, submit your application.
Do not assume that creating a profile means that you have submitted an application.
Step 10: Save Your Application Information
After submitting, keep evidence of your application.
You should also regularly log into your myNSFAS account to monitor:
Application status.
Missing documents.
Funding decisions.
Registration information.
Appeals.
Other NSFAS notifications.
NSFAS currently advises applicants to monitor their myNSFAS accounts for missing-document notifications and other application updates.
What Happens After Applying?
After submitting your application, NSFAS assesses the application against the applicable financial and academic eligibility requirements.
The process can involve verification of information and supporting documentation.
Your application may show different statuses while it is being processed.
Students should therefore avoid assuming that their application has been rejected simply because a final funding decision has not yet appeared.
Keep checking your myNSFAS account.
How Much Does NSFAS Pay Students?
One of the most common questions is:
“How much money does NSFAS give students every month?”
There is not one universal monthly NSFAS payment that every student receives.
The amount depends on factors such as:
Institution.
Qualification.
Accommodation arrangements.
Whether the student receives transport or accommodation support.
Applicable annual NSFAS funding guidelines.
Whether the student receives a living or personal-care allowance.
For example, the currently published NSFAS bursary information lists a university living allowance of R15,000 per year, while other allowances such as transport, accommodation and learning materials are handled separately.
If a R15,000 annual living allowance were divided across 10 months, that would work out to an average of R1,500 per month. However, applicants should not advertise R1,500 as a guaranteed 2027 monthly payment, because the 2027 allowance schedule may change.
NSFAS publishes allowances annually according to the applicable funding guidelines.
NSFAS Accommodation Allowance
Eligible students may receive accommodation support, subject to NSFAS rules and the applicable annual allowance limits.
For university students, NSFAS states that students may qualify for either transport or accommodation, rather than both.
Accommodation arrangements can also affect how funds are paid. In some situations, accommodation-related funds are paid to the institution or accommodation provider rather than being deposited into the student’s personal account.
NSFAS Transport Allowance
Students who qualify for transport support may receive an allowance subject to the applicable NSFAS guidelines.
The current published NSFAS bursary information lists a university transport allowance of up to R7,500 per annum for students living within the specified distance from their institution.
Again, applicants should check the official 2027 guidelines once released.
NSFAS Learning Material Allowance
NSFAS also provides support for approved learning materials under the applicable funding rules.
The current NSFAS university information lists R5,200 per annum for book allowances.
This is not necessarily money that every student receives as cash every month.
Where Do NSFAS Students Receive Their Money?
NSFAS allowance payments are not simply a situation where every student goes to a particular shop or government office to collect cash.
The payment method depends on the student’s institution and NSFAS payment arrangements.
For TVET college students, NSFAS currently states that funded students can receive allowances through a bank account of their choice, provided the required banking information is submitted and verified.
Students should therefore make sure that their banking information is correct.
How to Submit Bank Details
For students who are required to submit banking information through myNSFAS:
Log into your myNSFAS account.
Go to the relevant banking details section.
Enter your own bank account information.
Save the information.
Allow NSFAS to verify the banking details.
NSFAS specifically warns students to use an account belonging to themselves and not to share their banking information with other people.
Do Students Still Collect NSFAS Money at Shops?
Students should not assume that they need to collect their NSFAS allowance at a shop or through an old NSFAS card.
NSFAS currently instructs TVET beneficiaries to use a bank account of their choice and has warned students not to use the previous NSFAS Direct Payment Black Card.
For university students, the payment process can differ, with institutions also involved in disbursing certain allowances. A July 2026 NSFAS statement, for example, explained that allowance funds for UNISA students were transferred to the university, which then handled disbursement to eligible students.
Therefore, students should follow the payment instructions shown by NSFAS and their institution rather than relying on old information circulating online.
NSFAS for TVET College Students
NSFAS also provides funding for eligible students at public TVET colleges.
The current NSFAS information states that TVET applicants can qualify if their combined household income falls within the applicable threshold and they are admitted or have a firm offer for enrolment at a TVET college.
Students considering TVET studies should check whether their intended programme is an approved NSFAS-funded qualification before relying on funding.
Students should be extremely careful when applying for NSFAS.
NSFAS applications should be completed through official NSFAS channels.
Never pay someone who claims:
“I can guarantee NSFAS funding.”
“Pay me and I will approve your application.”
“Send me your NSFAS password.”
“Send me your OTP.”
“Give me your bank PIN.”
“I can change your NSFAS results.”
NSFAS has warned students to protect their personal and banking information and states that officials will not ask students to share their passwords.
Final Advice for 2027 Applicants
If you are a Grade 12 learner planning to study in 2027, do not wait until the last day to prepare.
Start by choosing your institution and qualification, prepare your documents and create your myNSFAS profile when appropriate.
Once the official NSFAS 2027 application window is announced, complete your application through the official portal.
Students who are already studying should also monitor their myNSFAS profiles and institution communications for information about continuing funding.
Most importantly, remember that NSFAS funding is not automatically guaranteed simply because you apply. You must meet the applicable financial, academic, citizenship, qualification and institutional requirements.
Important 2027 Reminder
At the time of publishing this guide, NSFAS’s official website is still presenting 2026 application information, so applicants should not rely on unofficial posts claiming that a specific 2027 closing date or allowance amount has already been confirmed.
The safest approach is to check the official NSFAS website and myNSFAS portal regularly for the official 2027 opening date, closing date, eligibility rules, required documents and allowance amounts.
Apply through the official portal when the 2027 application window opens:
