VerifiedNo. NSFAS does not give TVET college students laptops in 2026, and TVET students do not receive a learning materials allowance, except students with disabilities. University students are different: their yearly learning material allowance can be used for books or a learning device.
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What the 2026 rules say
| Student | Learning materials or device support |
|---|---|
| TVET college student | None; allowances are personal care plus accommodation or transport |
| TVET student with a disability | Learning materials and assistive devices can be funded |
| University student | One learning material allowance a year for books, materials or a learning device |
Source: NSFAS’s 2026 eligibility criteria, clauses 5.3.1, 5.4.1.2 and 5.2.8.
What about the NSFAS laptop programme?
NSFAS ran a Digital Learning Device programme during COVID-19. For TVET students it was limited to continuing students registered in both 2020 and 2021, who ordered through their college’s financial aid office. There is no official sign that it runs in 2026.
Messages or websites asking you to pay a fee or share your myNSFAS password to “apply for an NSFAS laptop” are scams.
Other ways to get a device
- Ask your college whether its library or computer labs offer access for students.
- Ask whether any college or sponsor device project runs on your campus.
- Students with disabilities should ask the disability unit about assistive devices through NSFAS.
See what NSFAS pays for.
Frequently asked questions
Does NSFAS give laptops to TVET students in 2026?
No. TVET students receive no learning materials allowance under the 2026 criteria, except students with disabilities.
Can university students use NSFAS money for a laptop?
Yes. The 2026 criteria allow the learning material allowance to cover books, materials or a learning device.