The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has confirmed how university students will receive their allowances in February 2025. NSFAS provides crucial financial support to eligible students in South Africa, covering tuition, registration fees, and essential allowances for food, accommodation, and learning materials.
NSFAS allowances are typically disbursed in ten installments throughout the academic year, which usually runs from February to November.
How University NSFAS Allowances Will Be Paid For February 2025
Originally, NSFAS planned to directly deposit allowances into students' personal bank accounts. However, due to an ongoing legal matter, this change has been temporarily halted.
As a result, universities will continue to be responsible for disbursing allowances directly to students in February 2025. NSFAS said:
Allowances of students will be paid based on an approved NSFAS payment channel.
Students experiencing issues with their payments are advised to contact their campus financial office for assistance.
Which NSFAS Allowances University Students Will Receive In 2025
NSFAS has confirmed that for the 2025 academic year, students can expect to receive the following allowances:
Bursaries
- Learning materials
- Living/personal care
- Only for students in non-catered residences
- Accommodation
- Capped according to area
- Transport
- For students who are not living on residence
Distance Learning Students
Distance learning university students will however receive a different set of NSFAS allowances as their needs are different.
NSFAS has made it clear that only distance learning students who are studying towards less than 60 course credits will only qualify for a learning materials allowance. Students who have a full course load will qualify for a personal care allowance as well.
Loans
- Accommodation
- Learning materials
The Minister of Higher Education, Nobuhle Nkabane, will soon announce how much NSFAS allowances for 2025 will be during her state of readiness briefing.
