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.
NSFAS allowances are divided into 10 payments during the academic year. The academic year commences in February and ends in November for most institutions and allowances are played for these months.
Unisa and VUT Outline Direct Payment Procedures
The University of South Africa (Unisa) will distribute NSFAS allowances for the initial six months of 2025, with release dates contingent on registration closure. Unisa students will receive Learning Material and Incidental Allowances, contingent on module registration.
Students must upload verified personal bank details and monitor submission status.
The Vaal University of Technology (VUT) will deposit book and meal allowances directly into student accounts. Both NSFAS-funded and privately sponsored students must update their banking details on the VUT ITS iEnabler platform. Payments follow registration and sponsor confirmation. VUT requires accurate bank details, active accounts, and a recent bank confirmation letter, and advises against using Tyme or Discovery Bank due to security concerns.
CPUT, UCT, and NMU Address Platform and Policy Variations
The Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) will disburse NSFAS allowances via the Fundi platform. Students were required to register their banking details by 24 February 2025. Students in private accommodation must ensure landlords register details and lease agreements on the Fundi portal. CPUT will initially use 2024 allowance values, pending NSFAS confirmation of 2025 amounts.
The University of Cape Town (UCT) confirmed NSFAS authorisation to distribute allowances to eligible students for the first semester of 2025, with a decision on the second semester pending.
Nelson Mandela University (NMU) acknowledged the Minister Nkabane’s allowance increase announcement but confirmed that students will receive 2024 amounts until official NSFAS communication is received.
As soon as communication is received, & it necessitates correction of allowances already paid: the office shall immediately make the adjustment & make the outstanding allowances available for students to utilise
Students will currently receive a living allowance of R1,650 and a book allowance of R2,730.
UFS, NWU, UP, SPU, and UJ Announce Funding and Payment Updates
The University of the Free State (UFS) has allocated NSFAS funding to 25,551 students, with 22,246 registered. Interim allowances were disbursed in two phases during February.
North-West University (NWU) experienced delays in scheduled payments due to technical issues, but has since commenced batch payments. Students who have not uploaded their banking details to the NWU DIY platform are excluded from payments.
The University of Pretoria (UP) has opened its 2025 NSFAS allowance application system via the UP portal. The University of Johannesburg (UJ) has published its funded list, enabling students to verify their funding status.
Sol Plaatjie University confirmed that the majority of its NSFAS funded students have been paid their allowances for February and March. They revealed that around 900 First Time Entering students were paid their Book Allowances and their February and March Meal Allowances while around 2900 Returning Students have been paid their Book Allowances and their February and March Meal Allowances.
The process of allowance disbursements is continuing and will continue until all funded students have been paid, as has been communicated on various platforms.
Universities Assume Payment Responsibility Due to Legal Challenge
In 2024, NSFAS delegated allowance distribution to universities, abandoning the NSFAS Bank Account system. This shift resulted from an ongoing court case preventing NSFAS from directly paying allowances into student accounts.
Universities are now tasked with ensuring timely and accurate disbursement of funds.
