What is NSFAS, how can they help me secure funding & which universities support NSFAS grants?

NSFAS, or National Student Financial Aid Scheme is a government-linked organisation that provides funding for students wishing to study at public universities as well as technical and vocational education and training institutions in South Africa.

The NSFAS provides tertiary institutions with funding for university applicants that need financial support to enter into their studies.

Students who apply and are accepted into the scheme will receive funding from the NSFAS to cover aspects of studies such as tuition fees, accommodation fees, as well as a set budget for purchasing perishable items like food, and a personal care allowance which was added in early 2019.

Please note: NEST is not NASFAS accredited

Unpacking what’s covered by a NSFAS loan:

students researching nsfas funding for south african universities

For national universities:

- Tuition fees: NSFAS will cover the cost of your course at a university or technical and vocational education and training institution, as long as you meet your academic requirements and pass the modules set out within your coursework.
- Accommodation: NSFAS will cover the standard cost charge by a university residence & will not cover private accommodation alternatives if they exceed the cost of staying in a university residence.
- Transport: Travelling to university can be a huge challenge, and the NSFAS provides funding to support travelling up to 40km from a university. This amount is typically R10 000 a year.
- Students are also allocated a living allowance amounting to R14 400 per annum and a book allowance of R5 000 per annum.

For TVET institutions:

Technical and vocational training institutions are slightly different and incur different allowances for students.

- Accommodation: In an urban area this amount totals R24 000 a year, in a peri-urban area (locations based between the city center and the outskirts of a central town) the budget is R18 000 per annum and lastly an allowance of R15 000 is allocated for students living in a rural area.
- Transport is covered, again up to 40km from an institution and the budget amounts to R10 000 per annum.
- In addition there is a personal care allowance which amounts to the same budget set out for universities, at R2 750 per annum.
- There is also a personal care budget which amounts to R2 850 p/a for “students in catered residences”.

How do I know if I qualify for NSFAS funding?

students sitting in a circle in a library at a university campus

- - All S.A citizens can apply.
  - All SASSA grant recipients qualify for funding.
  - If your combined household income is less than R350 000 per annum; and for disabled individuals, a household income can not exceed R600 000 per annum.
  - Lastly, if you started studying before 2018 and you do not have a household income of more than R122 000, then you can also apply.

Who does not qualify for NSFAS funding?

Apart from the household income brackets described above, foreign students may not apply, as well as students that have completed a previous qualification or students that have already applied, qualified and received funding from NSFAS.

Which university campuses are affiliated with NSFAS?

stellenbosch university campus with cape winelands in the background

As mentioned, private universities will not be covered by NSFAS and only associated public tertiary institutions are eligible for funding.

In South Africa a number of universities are affiliated with NSFAS and we’ve chosen to break down the list into provincial categories.

Please note, you can only be funded for one qualification at a time.

So if you’re really hardworking and plan on studying two courses at once, NSFAS will be unable to fund your tuition or related academic, accommodation or personal care costs.

Western Cape

Universities

- - University of Cape Town
  - University of the Western Cape
  - Cape Peninsula University of Technology
  - Stellenbosch University

TVET institutions (Technical and Vocational Education Traning)

- - Boland TVET College
  - College of Cape Town
  - False Bay TVET College
  - Northlink TVET College
  - South Cape TVET College
  - West Coast TVET College

Eastern Cape

Universities

- - Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
  - Rhodes University
  - University of Fort Hare
  - Walter Sisulu University (Buffalo City Campus)
  - Walter Sisulu University (Butterworth Campus)
  - Walter Sisulu University (Mthatha Campus)
  - Walter Sisulu University (Queenstown Campus)

TVET institutions (Technical and Vocational Education and Training)

- - Buffalo City TVET College
  - East Cape Midlands TVET College
  - Ikhala TVET College
  - Ingwe TVET College
  - King Hintsa TVET College
  - King Sabatha Dalindyebo TVET College
  - Lovedale TVET College
  - Port Elizabeth TVET College