NSFAS Status: What “Funding Eligible” Means for Your 2025 Application

If you check your myNSFAS portal and see the status Funding Eligible, it is a good sign, but it doesn’t mean your money is ready yet. This status is a specific middle step in the application process.

What Does Funding Eligible Mean?

Being Funding Eligible means NSFAS has checked your financial background and decided that you qualify for the bursary based on your income.

To get this status, NSFAS has verified that:

• Household Income: Your family earns less than R350,000 per year (or R600,000 if you have a disability).
• Verification: NSFAS has cross-checked your ID and parents’ details with SARS (tax office) and Home Affairs to make sure the income you reported is honest.
• SASSA Status: If you get a SASSA grant, you likely moved to this status quickly because your financial need is already proven.

Note: This status does not mean you have the money. It simply means you have passed the “money test.”

The Next Step: From Eligible to Paid

Even if you are eligible, NSFAS will not pay a cent until they know where you are studying. The bursary money is not sent to your personal bank account for fees; it is sent directly to the school.

Why you might be stuck on “Funding Eligible”

If your status stays on “Funding Eligible” for a long time, it is usually because of one of these reasons:

1. No University/College Placement: You haven’t been accepted at a public university or TVET college yet.
2. Registration Data: You have registered at a school, but the school has not sent your registration file to NSFAS.
3. Document Issues: There might be a slight problem with your submitted documents that NSFAS is still reviewing.

What you must do now

• Apply and Register: If you haven’t done so, make sure you are fully registered at a public institution. Private colleges are not funded by NSFAS.
• Talk to Financial Aid: Go to your school’s Financial Aid Office (NSFAS office on campus). Ask them if they have uploaded your “registration template” to NSFAS.
• Sign the Agreement: Keep checking your email and SMS. NSFAS will send a link for you to sign your Bursary Agreement online. You won’t get paid until this is signed.

Summary of NSFAS Progress

Once “Funding Eligible” is cleared, your status will change to:

• Provisionally Funded: You are approved, pending the final registration check.
• Fully Funded: Everything is 100% complete. Payments for tuition and your monthly allowances will begin.

NSFAS Contact Details and Application Portal

If you have questions about your eligibility or if your status hasn’t moved in weeks, use the details below to get help:

• Application Portal: https://my.nsfas.org.za/
• Physical Address: 4 Christiaan Barnard Street, Cape Town City Centre, 8000
• Toll-Free Call Centre: 0800 067 327
• WhatsApp Number: +27 78 519 8006
• Email: info@nsfas.org.za

Important Facts for Students

Requirement	Detail
Household Income Limit	R350,000 per year
Disability Income Limit	R600,000 per year
Covered Expenses	Tuition, Books, Accommodation, Transport, and Living Allowance
Institutions Covered	All 26 Public Universities and 50 TVET Colleges