The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is a government bursary aimed at providing financial support to disadvantaged students. Funding is only provided to students pursuing their tertiary studies.
Applications for NSFAS funding are open to the following groups:
- All South African citizens
- All SASSA grant recipients
- Applicants whose combined household income is not more than R350 000 per annum
- Person with disability: Combined household income must not be more than R600 000 per annum
- Students who started studying before 2018 whose household income is not more than R122 000 per annum.
In addition to this, NSFAS covers other study related expenses for students attending universities and TVET colleges. The expenses covered depend on the tertiary institution that the student is attending.
University students can expect the following expenses to be covered should they qualify and be accepted for NSFAS funding:
- Accommodation
As per the actual costs charged by the university (costs for private accommodation must not exceed costs for university residence) - Transport (up to 40 km from institution) R7 500 per annum
- Living allowance R15 000 per annum
- Book allowances R5200 per annum
- Incidental/personal care allowance R2900 per annum for students in catered residences
NSFAS covers the following expenses for students studying at TVET colleges:
- Accommodation in an urban area R24 000 per annum
- Accommodation in an peri-urban area R18 900 per annum
- Accommodation in an rural area R15 750 per annum
- Transport (up to 40 km from institution) R7 350 per annum
- Transport R7 000 per annum
- Incidental/personal care allowance R2 900 per annum
