The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) provides funding to thousands of university and TVET college students each year. To qualify for NSFAS bursaries, applicants must meet specific financial eligibility requirements by falling below a set income threshold.
NSFAS funding covers tuition and registration fees. In addition, students receive allowances for food, accommodation, transport, and learning materials.
Due to the comprehensive nature of NSFAS support, thousands of students apply for funding each year. The household income threshold plays a key role in determining funding eligibility.
How the Household Income Threshold Affects NSFAS Eligibility
NSFAS defines household income as “the combined annual gross income of the applicant or the applicant’s parents, adoptive parents, spouses, or legal guardians”.
This includes income from both the formal and informal sectors such as salaries, wages, pensions, government transfers (like food stamps), grants, business income, and investment returns.
Most students who apply for NSFAS funding undergo a household income verification process.
However, applicants who receive South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) grants—including the Foster Care, Care Dependency, and Child Support Grants—are exempt from household income checks.
Any student who is a validated Sassa grant recipient automatically qualifies for NSFAS financial eligibility. If they are registered at a recognised institution and meet the academic criteria, they will be awarded a bursary.
NSFAS Household Income Thresholds
To qualify for an NSFAS bursary, an applicant’s household income must not exceed R350,000 per year. Applicants whose household income is above this threshold will not qualify for a bursary but may be considered for an NSFAS loan instead.
Students with disabilities qualify for NSFAS funding if their combined household income is R600,000 or less per year.
NSFAS verifies financial eligibility not only through self-declared income but also by using third-party data sources.
Applicants must submit a signed NSFAS consent form, which authorises the scheme to conduct financial checks through external data sources.
