Who Does the NSFAS Fund?

NSFAS funds South African citizens and permanent residents who study an approved qualification at a public university or public TVET college and come from a household earning R350,000 a year or less. The limit is R600,000 for students with a disability. Children of SASSA grant recipients qualify on the income test.

Who qualifies

Group	Funded?	Condition
First-time students at public universities and TVET colleges	Yes	Meet the income and citizenship rules
Students with a disability	Yes	Household income up to R600,000; an extra funded year (N+2)
Continuing students	Yes, if progressing	University: pass 50% of modules. TVET: pass 70% of modules plus the subject rules
Households earning R350,001 to R600,000	Loan, not a bursary	The NSFAS Student Loan covers tuition and accommodation or transport, not living allowances

Who NSFAS does not fund

• Students at private colleges and private higher education institutions.
• Anyone already fully funded by another bursary.
• A second undergraduate qualification or certificate.
• Unaccredited qualifications.
• Postgraduate studies.

Age is not a barrier

The NSFAS eligibility criteria set no age limit. Older applicants are judged on the same income and academic rules. See applying for NSFAS at 35.

TVET students in particular

• NC(V) and Report 191 tuition is covered, as are approved occupational programmes.
• To move to the next NC(V) level, you need at least five subjects of the previous level; for Report 191, at least three subjects of the previous N-level.
• Allowances are paid into a bank account in your own name.

Being funded one year does not guarantee the next. NSFAS checks your academic results every year.

See which qualifications NSFAS funds and common reasons for rejection.

Frequently asked questions