NSFAS Requirements 2027: How to Qualify and Apply

Keagan HendricksWritten by Keagan HendricksStaff Writer (Unisa Alumnus)
Naledi KhumaloReviewed & verified by Naledi KhumaloSenior Admissions and Bursaries EditorVerified

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) funds more than a million students at public universities and TVET colleges each year. Meeting its requirements is the first step to getting tuition, accommodation and allowances paid for, so it pays to understand exactly who qualifies before you apply.

NSFAS requirements for 2027

  • South African citizen.
  • Combined household income of no more than R350 000 a year, or R600 000 for students with disabilities. SASSA grant recipients qualify automatically on income.
  • Registered, or accepted, at a public university or TVET college for an approved undergraduate qualification. Private colleges are not funded.
  • Studying for a first qualification. Students who already hold a degree or diploma are not funded, except for a short list of postgraduate qualifications such as the PGCE.
  • Within the N+2 rule: funding lasts for the minimum duration of the qualification plus two years (N+3 for students with disabilities).

NSFAS academic requirements

  • First-time entrants: meet the admission requirements of the university or TVET college. There is no separate NSFAS mark; a Matric that gets you into the course is enough.
  • Continuing university students: pass at least 50% of the modules registered for, rising to 60% under the new academic rules NSFAS has announced, and progress within the N+2 rule.
  • TVET students: pass the required subjects for each trimester or semester to keep funding.

Documents required for an NSFAS application

  • Certified copy of your ID, or a birth certificate if you are under 16.
  • Certified IDs of your parents, guardian or spouse.
  • Proof of household income: payslips, a SARS return, a pension letter or an unemployment affidavit. SASSA beneficiaries need no income proof.
  • The signed NSFAS consent form allowing NSFAS to verify your details with Home Affairs, SARS and SASSA.
  • Your Matric certificate or latest results, and your academic record if already studying.
  • A Vulnerable Child Annexure or Disability Annexure if applicable, completed by a social worker or medical practitioner.

How to apply for NSFAS

  1. Create a myNSFAS account at my.nsfas.org.za with your ID number, cellphone number and email address.
  2. Complete the online application and upload the documents above in PDF or image format.
  3. Apply to your university or TVET college separately, since NSFAS only funds you once the institution confirms your registration.
  4. Track your status on myNSFAS and respond to any request for outstanding documents within the time given.

Contact details

Next, read what the NSFAS bursary covers, how much NSFAS pays per month and how to do an NSFAS status check. Students above the income threshold should apply to ISFAP.

FAQs

1. What are the NSFAS requirements for 2027? +
You must be a South African citizen, studying or accepted at a public university or TVET college for a first undergraduate qualification, with a combined household income of no more than R350 000 a year (R600 000 for students with disabilities). SASSA grant recipients qualify automatically on income.
2. When do NSFAS applications close for 2027? +
Applications for 2027 opened on 18 September 2026 on the myNSFAS portal. They close on 31 October 2026, according to nsfas.org.za. Do not leave it to the last week: NSFAS only assesses an application once every document has been received.
3. Who does not qualify? +
Students who already hold a qualification, households above the income thresholds, students at private colleges, and students who have exceeded the N+2 rule (N+3 for students with disabilities) for the number of years funded.
4. What documents do I need? +
A certified ID or birth certificate, IDs of your parents, guardian or spouse, proof of household income or a SASSA letter, a signed consent form, your Matric certificate or latest results, and a Vulnerable Child or Disability Annexure if applicable.
5. What academic results do I need? +
First-time entrants need to meet the admission requirements of their university or TVET college. Continuing students must pass at least 50% of their modules (60% from 2027 under the new academic rules announced by NSFAS) and stay within the N+2 rule.
6. Does NSFAS fund postgraduate study? +
Only a short list of postgraduate qualifications, such as the PGCE and certain LLB and BTech routes. Other postgraduates should look at the NRF and university bursaries.
Update note (checked September 2026): NSFAS applications for the 2027 academic year opened on 18 September 2026 on the myNSFAS portal and close on 31 October 2026. Apply before 31 October 2026. NSFAS has moved deadlines in past cycles, so check nsfas.org.za for any change.

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