VerifiedNSFAS pays tuition to your college and allowances to you. For TVET college students, allowances are paid directly into the student’s own bank account. NSFAS has not published a fixed yearly number of payments; it gives colleges a payment schedule.
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TVET college students: the 2026 pattern
| Payment | 2026 date |
|---|---|
| Upfront tuition to colleges (20% of each college’s 2025 allocation) | 31 January 2026 |
| First TVET allowance disbursement | 7 February 2026 |
| March disbursement, including accommodation | 2 March 2026 |
After the upfront payment, tuition follows the registration data your college submits.
What TVET allowances include
- Personal care allowance.
- Accommodation or transport, not both.
- A living allowance for students not in catered residences.
- Distance students receive the personal care allowance only.
University students
For 2026, allowances at universities are paid through the universities, which report monthly to NSFAS. The 2026 upfront payment in February covered the full book allowance and one month of other allowances.
Private accommodation
Since 2026, NSFAS pays accredited private accommodation providers directly, once you have a signed lease and your funding is confirmed.
The old NSFAS black card for TVET allowances is no longer used. If your allowance is late, check that your bank details and registration are correct, then contact your college financial aid office.
See when TVET students receive NSFAS allowances and what NSFAS pays for.
Frequently asked questions
How are NSFAS allowances paid to TVET students?
Directly into the student’s own bank account, according to NSFAS in January 2026.
Does NSFAS pay every month?
Allowances are paid in scheduled disbursements during the academic year. NSFAS shares the full schedule with institutions rather than publishing a fixed number of payments.