More than six months after the application window closed, the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is still finalising funding decisions for the 2025 academic year—leaving many eligible students in limbo halfway through the academic year.
NSFAS cited application discrepancies, late registration confirmations, and budget limitations for appeals as the key reasons behind the delays.
In a joint statement with the Department of Higher Education and Training, NSFAS said it is actively working to address these issues. Efforts include reviewing TVET-cycle applications, funding students with late registration submissions, and seeking additional resources to support approved appeals.
We remain committed to ensuring that all eligible students have access to the funding necessary to continue their studies without undue disruption. We appreciate the patience and understanding of students and stakeholders as we work diligently to resolve these issues swiftly.
For the 2025 academic year, NSFAS received 1,047,618 applications. Of these, 857,881 were approved and 124,116 were rejected.
Key 2025 NSFAS Funding Issues
Incorrect Application Window
More than 12,800 university students were blocked from receiving funding because they applied during the TVET college application window instead of the correct university application cycle.
Although registration data was submitted for these students, NSFAS has yet to decide on their funding status. If approved, funding them would cost over R730 million.
Late Registration Confirmations
Students whose registrations were confirmed after the deadline are experiencing delays in accessing NSFAS support. The scheme is currently working to process these cases.
NSFAS Appeals and Budget Constraints
NSFAS received 78,081 appeal applications in 2025. So far, 34,645 appeals have been successful, 13 were rejected, and around 5,000 students must still submit supporting documents for a final decision.
Funding for successful appeals depends on available budget. If funds are unavailable, approved students may still be excluded from receiving financial aid.