NSFAS Eligibility Tool
Answer a few quick questions to see whether you qualify for NSFAS bursary funding. This tool checks the four gates NSFAS applies to every application: citizenship, household income, first-qualification status, and study destination.
Your details
NSFAS core rules
- Household income must be R350,000 or less per year (R600,000 for applicants with a disability).
- You must be a South African citizen, permanent resident, or an approved refugee.
- NSFAS funds public universities and public TVET colleges only. Private institutions are not covered.
- NSFAS will not fund a second qualification at the same or lower level than one you already hold.
What counts as household income
NSFAS defines "household" as the people who financially support you. In practice this is your parents or legal guardians, or your spouse if you are married. Siblings and grandparents are excluded unless they are your legal caregivers.
| Income source | Counts | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Parent(s) or legal guardian(s) gross salary | Yes | Combined pre-tax income of both parents / guardians. |
| Spouse's gross salary (if you are married) | Yes | Only the person you are legally married to. |
| Rental, business, and investment income of parents | Yes | Anything declared on their tax return. |
| Social grants received by the household | No | SASSA grants are excluded from the R350k calculation. |
| Your own salary or savings | No | Applicant income is not counted — NSFAS assumes you have none because you are a full-time student. |
| Sibling / grandparent income | No | Unless they are your legally appointed guardian. |
What NSFAS covers if you qualify
An approved application unlocks the following for every year of your undergraduate qualification (subject to academic progression):
- Full tuition paid directly to the institution.
- Registration fees paid up-front.
- Accommodation allowance at accredited residences (private or on-campus).
- Meal allowance of about R1,650 per month for university students, R700 for TVET.
- Book / learning-materials allowance of R5,460 per year (2026 rate).
- Transport allowance if you commute (max ~R7,875 per year).
- Personal-care allowance for students at residences (~R3,045 per year).
Key application dates (2027 cycle)
NSFAS runs on a fixed annual cycle. Miss the window and you have to wait 12 months.
- September to end November: application window opens for the following academic year.
- December to February: NSFAS finalises approvals and issues funding decisions.
- January to March: appeal window opens for declined applicants (30 days from decline notice).
- Registration: your institution submits your registration data to NSFAS, triggering fund release.
If you do not qualify, look at these instead
Funza Lushaka Bursary
Full-cost teaching bursary (BEd, PGCE) in priority subjects. Placement obligation at a public school.
NYDA Grant Programme
R1,000 to R250,000 for youth entrepreneurs (ages 18-35). Not a study bursary, but funds a first business.
PYEI · Presidential Youth Employment
Fixed-term work placements with a monthly stipend of ~R4,000. Alternative to full-time study.
Private sector bursaries
Sasol, Anglo, Standard Bank, MTN and hundreds more offer bursaries with fewer income restrictions than NSFAS.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still apply if I already started at university this year self-funded?
Yes. NSFAS accepts "returning" students who are already enrolled but did not receive funding in prior years. You apply at the normal window and, if approved, funding starts from the following academic year.
What if my parents refuse to give their income details?
You can submit a signed affidavit explaining the situation. NSFAS will still verify against SARS, credit bureaus, and Home Affairs data. If they genuinely cannot be contacted, the "household" is treated as yourself.
Does the R350k cap apply if my parents are self-employed?
Yes. NSFAS uses declared income from their tax return. If they are informal traders with no tax return, an affidavit of estimated monthly earnings is required.
What happens if I fail a module?
You must pass at least 50% of your modules each year to keep NSFAS funding. If you fail more, you get one written warning; a second year of failure ends the funding.
Do I need to pay it back?
The NSFAS bursary from 2018 onwards is a full grant, not a loan. There is no repayment. Older NSFAS loans (before 2018) do still need repayment.
Can I take a gap year and reapply?
Yes. NSFAS accepts new applications every year regardless of gap-year history, as long as you are applying for a first qualification NSFAS has not funded before.