The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has released its Eligibility Criteria and Conditions for Financial Aid for the 2025 academic year. One of the most pressing questions students have is: Will NSFAS cover historic debt?
What Is Historic Debt?
Historic debt refers to unpaid student fees from previous years. This applies to students who may have funded part of their studies themselves before qualifying for NSFAS.
Unfortunately, this outstanding debt prevents many students from registering for a new academic year or even receiving their qualifications after graduation.
Does NSFAS Settle Historic Debt?
According to the latest NSFAS funding criteria:
Financial aid received cannot be used to settle historic debt unless it is specified as such by NSFAS.
This means that NSFAS does not cover historic debt. Funding is only applicable from the time a student is approved for financial aid and will not be used to pay outstanding fees from previous years.
The Impact of Historic Debt
Many students have faced financial exclusions due to outstanding university fees, leading to nationwide protests at institutions of higher learning in recent years. The inability to pay off historic debt continues to be a major barrier to higher education access in South Africa.
What Does NSFAS Cover?
Students approved for NSFAS bursary funding will receive:
- Tuition and registration fees
- Allowances for accommodation, transport, learning materials, and other student-related costs
For students funded through an NSFAS loan, tuition and registration fees are covered, but transport allowances are excluded.
While NSFAS provides crucial financial assistance, students struggling with historic debt may need to explore alternative funding solutions such as university financial aid programs or external bursaries.
