National Student Financial Aid Scheme
NSFAS Bursary
At a glance
Who qualifies
- South African citizen or permanent resident with valid ID
- Household income R350,000 per year or less (R600,000 for the SRC missing-middle bursary)
- Accepted or currently registered at a public university or TVET college
- Persons with disabilities: household income cap R600,000 per year
- First-time undergraduate students (any age) or continuing students meeting the N+2 rule
- Consent to SASSA, SARS, and Home Affairs verification of your income and identity
Who does not qualify
- Household income above the threshold for your category
- Studying at a private higher-education institution
- Already hold an undergraduate degree (with limited exceptions)
- Exceeded N+2 years for your qualification without an approved appeal
- Failed more than 50% of modules in your prior funded year (subject to appeal)
Documents you bring
- Certified copy of your 13-digit ID (or Smart ID)
- Certified copies of parents' / legal guardians' IDs (or death certificate if deceased)
- Latest available proof of household income (payslips, SASSA letter, or affidavit)
- Proof of registration or provisional acceptance at a public institution
- Consent Form W-9 (myNSFAS in-portal digital consent)
- Disability form (if applying under the disability category), completed by a medical professional
Every document must be certified within the last 3 months. NSFAS also runs a live verification against Home Affairs and SARS, so give consent inside the portal even if you upload proof.
How to apply
- Create a myNSFAS account at my.nsfas.org.za using your ID and cellphone.
- Verify your account with the OTP sent by SMS and set a strong password.
- Complete the online application form: personal details, guardians, income, chosen institution.
- Upload the required certified documents (ID copies, income proof, consent).
- Submit and record your reference number. NSFAS processes applications between February and July.
- Track your status in myNSFAS. Provisional decline? Appeal within 30 days of the decline SMS.
- Once approved, register at your institution. NSFAS pays tuition directly and allowances into your bank account.
NSFAS 2027 applications open on 1 September 2026 and close 21 January 2027. Late applications are only considered during university registration week and are not guaranteed.
The N+2 rule most students misread
N+2 is not "years since first registered" but "minimum registered years for your qualification plus two grace years". A 3-year BCom gets 5 funded years; a 4-year BEng gets 6. Repeats, module carries, and change of qualification all eat into the buffer. If you have used 4 of 5 on a BCom, you get one more shot even if you have only completed second year.