How To Renew NSFAS In South Africa

Are you in need of financial assistance to study at a tertiary institution? Apply for a National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) bursary.

NSFAS is a bursary scheme funded by the Department of Higher Education and Training for those who do not have the financial means to fund their studies and cannot access bank funding, study loans or bursaries.

Apply online(link is external). Applications open for a limited time at the end of each year. Should you require assistance, call the toll-free number 08000 67327 or visit your nearest NYDA office(link is external).

Note:

NSFAS financial support previously was in the form of loans and still need to be paid back when you find employment after completion of your studies. If you passed all your subjects, 40% of the NSFAS funding for that particular year/semester was converted into a bursary. This means you will only pay back 60% of the loan when you start working.

For more information contact: National Student Financial Aid Scheme(link is external)

What is needed when applying for NSFAS?

You can prepare for the next intake by understanding that there are several qualifications which applicants must satisfy before submitting their applications. It is also essential to keep track of important dates and stay up to date with NSFAS notifications. NSFAS bursary and financial aid are exclusively open for South African citizens willing to further their studies and satisfy the following conditions:

  • Only applicants with a combined annual household income of less than R350,000 annually are acceptable for subsidized study enrollments.
  • SASSA grant recipients who are first-time registrants for undergraduate qualifications at a public university or TVET College.
  • Those who have excelled in Grade 9 and 10 and require financial aid from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme to study at TVET college.
  • First-time registrants for an undergraduate qualification at a public university or already registered at a TVET college for one of the National Certificate Vocational or the report 191 programmes.
  • SASSA grant recipients that are already studying at a TVET college or public universities and registered before this year for different qualifications.
  • Already registered University learners with combined annual household income not exceeding R122,000 annually.
  • Learners who have already passed grade 12 to receive the National Student Financial Aid Scheme funding for university studies

NSFAS is accessible on the below platforms from 08h30 to 17h00, Monday to Friday:

  • Email: info@nsfas.org.za(link sends e-mail)
  • Facebook: National Student Financial Aid Scheme
  • Twitter: myNSFAS
  • Instagram: myNSFAS
  • NSFAS Connect: www.nsfas.org.za(link is external) and log into your myNSFAS account

Students who do not have myNSFAS accounts need to register to track their funding decisions, and to receive regular updates.

Media enquiries:
Phatisa Ntlonze
Cell: 078 144 5980
E-mail: media@nsfas.org.za(link sends e-mail)

*The above contact details are to be used for media purposes only. For any other inquiries contact 0800 067 327*