The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) provides essential financial assistance to South African students pursuing higher education. Here’s how university students will receive their NSFAS allowances in March 2025.
NSFAS has confirmed the allowance amounts for university students in March 2025. The scheme offers comprehensive bursaries and student loans to deserving students enrolled in approved courses at universities and TVET colleges.
These bursaries cover tuition and registration fees, as well as allowances for food, accommodation, and learning materials.
NSFAS distributes allowances over ten instalments during the academic year, which typically runs from February to November. Consequently, payments are only made within this period.
Changes to NSFAS Allowance Payments
In the latter half of 2024, NSFAS announced that it would discontinue the NSFAS Bank Account system. Instead, university students will receive their allowances directly through their institutions.
Allowances will be processed via an approved NSFAS payment channel. Initially, NSFAS planned to transfer funds directly to students’ personal bank accounts. However, due to an ongoing court case, this system has not yet been implemented.
As a result, universities will continue to distribute allowances to students directly in March 2025.
