National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) Complete Guide

Each year, the South African Department of Higher Education and Training announces the National Student Financial Aid Scheme to make education accessible to all across the country. For the 2025 academic year, the scheme has been announced and is currently open for applications. It is a great opportunity for qualified students to fund their higher education during their college years.

Are you planning to apply for the NSFAS scheme but have no clue about where to start? Don’t worry. Here is a complete guide on the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, its eligibility criteria, the documents required, and a step-by-step application process.

About NSFAS National Student Financial Aid Scheme

NSFAS or National Student Financial Aid Scheme is a South African government-run program that offers qualified candidates funding to complete their higher education. It aims to bridge the financial gap among the South African student body and make higher education accessible to all qualified individuals. Currently, the applications for the NSFAS scheme are open for the 2025 academic year.

Is NSFAS a Bursary or a Loan?

NSFAS is a bursary scheme, operated under the Department of Higher Education and Training of the South African government. It is designed to help students who have no financial means to fund their education through study loans, bank funding, or any other means. Previously, NSFAS funding used to come in the form of loans and needed to be paid back when you find employment after completing your studies.

That said, depending on your qualifications and financial requirements, NSFAS might apply their hybrid financial model, which is the combination of a bursary and a loan. In this case, 40% of your NSFAS funding was converted into a bursary if the student passed all subjects, meaning you only had to pay back 60% of the funding. You can also visit the official NSFAS website for more information.

Who Qualifies for the NSFAS Scheme?

To qualify for the NSFAS scheme, you must fulfill the following requirements. Do note that fulfilling the eligibility criteria does not mean you will necessarily get the scholarship though it increases your chances of getting the funding.

• The candidate must be a South African national.
• The candidate must be a permanent resident of South Africa and must be living in the country at the time of application.
• The candidate’s gross household income (combined) should not be more than R350,000 per year.
• The candidate with disabilities must not have a household income of R600,000 per year.
• The candidate must provide their SASSA-registered email account and cell phone number.
• The candidate must be a SASSA grant recipient.

Required Documents

Before you apply for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, gather the following documents. It will ease the application process.

• A completed and signed Disability Annexure A Form (from the official NSFAS website). It applies to candidates with disabilities.
• A candidate who is recognized as a vulnerable child by the Department of Social Development should provide a Vulnerable Child Declaration form. It must be completed by an authorized social worker.
• All candidates are required to provide the death certificate of the guardian or parent.
• Candidates must provide a divorce decree if it applies to them.
• Candidates must provide proof of legal guardianship.
• Candidates must provide a marriage certificate.
• All candidates must provide the retrenchment letter.

NSFAS Application Process

Once you are satisfied with meeting the eligibility requirements and have gathered all the above-mentioned documents, it is time to login at NSFAS and start the application process.

Create a Profile

The first step to apply for the NSFAS scheme is creating a myNSFAS account. You can do this directly from their official website or download the NSFAS app from the App Store or Google Play Store. For the username, enter your student ID and set the password.

Apply for NSFAS Account

Log into your account and click Apply from the pop-up menu. Go to the Personal Information tab and enter all the required information.

Next, provide your academic details. Double-check all the information and make sure there are no mistakes.

Submit the Application

On the next page, upload all the documents one by one. Double-check all the documents and hit the Submit button. The committee will get back to you after careful evaluation with an approval or rejection.

NSFAS Funded Courses

Please note that NSFAS finances a variety of programs in numerous disciplines. For the 2025 academic year, here are a few fields to which NSFAS funding applies. Do note that the funding is not restricted to only these fields and more information can be obtained from your university’s student affairs office.

• Engineering and Technology: Electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, information technology, and computer science.
• Humanities and Social Science: Psychology, sociology, anthropology, political science, economics, and language.
• Health Sciences: Medicine, pharmacy, nursing, dentistry, and other health professions.
• Natural Sciences: biology, physics, mathematics, environmental science, and related subjects.
• Business and Commerce: Accounting, finance, marketing, economics, and business administration.
• Education: Teaching, education, and related subjects.
• Agriculture and Environmental Sciences: agriculture, forestry, environmental studies, horticulture.

The NSFAS funding does not apply to the following fields;

• Short courses.
• Courses that are offered at a private college or any other private higher education institution.
• Part-time studies.
• Postgraduate and second-degree studies.

National Student Financial Aid Scheme Contact Details

For further application queries or check NSFAS application status contact NSFAS directly.

• Tel: 08000 67327
• Email: [email protected]

The NSFAS scheme is an excellent way for qualified students to fund their education, get rid of financial burdens, and focus on their studies while they are in college. Applying for the scheme is pretty straightforward, as all you have to do is make an account, and upload some documents. Finally, I hope this guide has been helpful for anyone interested in applying for the NSFAS scheme