The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has released its Eligibility Criteria and Conditions for Financial Aid Policy Standard for the 2025 academic year. This is crucial information for anyone seeking financial support from the government bursary scheme.
NSFAS funding enables students from low-income and working-class backgrounds to obtain a tertiary qualification without financial barriers that could prevent them from graduating.
The scheme provides comprehensive bursaries and student loans to eligible students enrolled in approved courses at universities and TVET colleges. NSFAS funding covers tuition and registration fees, along with allowances for food, accommodation, and learning materials.
NSFAS provides comprehensive bursaries and student loans to deserving students enrolled in approved courses at universities and TVET colleges. NSFAS funding covers tuition and registration fees, as well as several allowances for food, accommodation, and learning materials
Who Qualifies for NSFAS in 2025?
Eligible students must meet both financial and academic criteria to qualify for funding.
Financial Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for NSFAS funding:
- Students must have a household income not exceeding R350,000 per year.
- Disabled students may qualify with a household income of up to R600,000 per year.
- Household income assessments vary based on the applicant's circumstances:
- Unmarried applicants: Household income includes the combined gross income of their biological or adoptive parents and their own income.
- Applicants under legal guardianship: Household income includes the gross income of their legal guardian and their own income.
- Married applicants: Household income includes the combined gross income of the applicant and their spouse.
Unmarried applicants who are financially independent from their parents are exempt from submitting an NSFAS declaration form.
Applicants receiving grants from the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) automatically meet the financial eligibility criteria, provided they are registered and academically eligible. However, only recipients of the Foster Care, Care Dependency, and Child Support grants qualify for NSFAS funding.
NSFAS will verify household income declarations using third-party data sources. Applicants must submit accurate and complete consent forms for the assessment process.
Academic Eligibility Criteria
New applicants must be registered for an approved course.
For students already receiving NSFAS funding, academic eligibility depends on performance in enrolled modules.
Academic Progression Requirements
- University students (Non-First-Time Entering - FTEN) must pass at least 60% of their modules to qualify for funding in the following academic year.
- TVET College students (Non-FTEN) must pass at least 70% of their modules or meet specific subject progression requirements:
- National Certificate Vocational (NC(V)): Students must pass at least five subjects to progress.
- Report 191 levels: Students must pass at least three subjects to progress.
Returning students may not exceed the N+ Rule, where:
- "N" represents the minimum time required to complete a qualification.
- "+1" allows for one additional year of funding.
- Students with disabilities qualify for N+2 (an additional two years of funding).
Progression Pathways
NSFAS funding is only available for approved academic progression pathways at universities and TVET colleges.
Additionally, university students are only funded for their first undergraduate qualification.
