The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has confirmed the allowance amounts for the 2025 academic year and provided details on payment schedules. As the academic year progresses, students can now expect their NSFAS allowance payments to be processed accordingly.
NSFAS provides comprehensive bursaries and student loans to deserving students enrolled in approved courses at universities and TVET colleges. This funding covers tuition and registration fees. Students also receive several allowances for food, accommodation, and learning materials.
With the 2025 academic year underway, NSFAS made a second upfront payment to universities in the first week of March. Students should expect their March NSFAS allowances to be paid after 7 March.
NSFAS has also released funds to TVET colleges to ensure students receive two months’ worth of allowances. According to NSFAS, these payments are based on valid student registrations.
By the start of the business day on 4 March 2025, 18 TVET colleges had uploaded registration data, enabling NSFAS to process initial payments for their students. The scheme has committed to monitoring registration data uploads and will conduct a second payment run on 14 March 2025. NSFAS stated, "this payment will ensure that all students whose valid registration data which was uploaded since the initial cut-off date receive allowances within the month of March 2025."
With the 2025 allowance caps confirmed, the NSFAS portal is ready to process valid registration data. Institutions are urged to submit registrations promptly to prevent delays in student allowance payments.
2025 NSFAS Allowances For University Students
|
Category |
New Books |
Accommodation |
Living Allowance |
Travel Allowance |
Personal Care Allowance |
Human Support |
Assistive Device |
|
UNI Catered - Disability Metro |
R6,240 |
R69,633 |
- |
- |
R3,167 |
R52,000 |
R54,080 |
|
UNI Catered - Disability Non-Metro |
R6,240 |
R60,273 |
- |
- |
R3,167 |
R52,000 |
R54,080 |
|
UNI Catered - Metro |
R5,678 |
R65,993 |
- |
- |
R3,167 |
- |
- |
|
UNI Catered - Non-Metro |
R5,678 |
R56,633 |
- |
- |
R3,167 |
- |
- |
|
UNI Non-Catered - Disability Metro |
R6,240 |
R52,000 |
R20,800 |
- |
- |
R52,000 |
R54,080 |
|
UNI Non-Catered - Disability Non-Metro |
R6,240 |
R42,640 |
R20,800 |
- |
- |
R52,000 |
R54,080 |
|
UNI Non-Catered - Metro |
R5,678 |
R52,000 |
R17,160 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
UNI Non-Catered - Non-Metro |
R5,678 |
R42,640 |
R17,160 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
UNI Disability Transport |
R6,240 |
- |
R20,800 |
R8,190 |
- |
R52,000 |
R54,080 |
|
UNI Transport |
R5,678 |
- |
R17,160 |
R8,190 |
- |
- |
- |
2025 NSFAS Allowances For TVET College Students
|
Allowance Type |
Accommodation |
Living Allowance |
Travel Allowance |
Personal Care Allowance |
Human Support |
Assistive Device |
|
TVET Catered - Disability Metro |
R69,633 |
- |
- |
R3,167 |
- |
R54,080 |
|
TVET Catered - Disability Non-Metro |
R60,273 |
- |
- |
R3,167 |
- |
R54,080 |
|
TVET Catered - Metro |
R65,993 |
- |
- |
R3,167 |
- |
- |
|
TVET Catered - Non-Metro |
R56,633 |
- |
- |
R3,167 |
- |
- |
|
TVET Disability Transport |
- |
R20,800* |
R8,027 |
- |
- |
R54,080 |
|
TVET Non-Catered - Disability Metro |
R52,000 |
R20,800* |
- |
- |
- |
R54,080 |
|
TVET Non-Catered - Disability Non-Metro |
R42,640 |
R20,800* |
- |
- |
- |
R54,080 |
|
TVET Non-Catered - Metro |
R52,000 |
R17,160* |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
TVET Non-Catered - Non-Metro |
R42,640 |
R17,160* |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
TVET Transport |
- |
R17,160* |
R8,027 |
- |
- |
- |
Payment Methods for 2025
TVET college students will continue receiving their allowances directly into their personal bank accounts. Students are advised to update their banking details on the myNSFAS portal to ensure smooth transactions.
University students will receive allowances directly from their institutions in 2025 unless NSFAS announces changes to its payment system. Universities manage these disbursements differently, and students should consult their financial aid offices for institution-specific payment procedures
