The 2025 National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) applications opened on 20 September 2024. The opening of NSFAS 2025 applications provides the opportunity for young people in South Africa to apply for financial aid to fund their higher education journey at tertiary education institutions in the country.
NSFAS provides comprehensive bursaries and student loans to deserving learners enrolled in approved courses at universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges. This includes money for tuition and registration fees as well as several allowances for food, accommodation and learning materials.
In less than 10 days of applications being open, NSFAS received 235,780 applications. Notably, 202,044 applicants have already been provisionally approved for funding in 2025.
Provisionally funded applicants received their funding decisions due to their status as a South Africa Social Security Agency (Sassa) grant beneficiaries. Sassa grant beneficiaries automatically qualify for NSFAS funding due to their household income falling within NSFAS requirements.
To date, NSFAS has received a total of 235 780 applications from prospective recipients in need of financial aid. Within a week of opening of applications, almost 202 044 SASSA beneficiaries applicants are provisionally approved for funding.
Of the total NSFAS applications, 60,021 are pending evaluation, 3,660 have been withdrawn, and 1,862 have been unsuccessful.
Applications Received Per Province
- KwaZulu-Natal: 109,026
- Gauteng: 31,491
- Limpopo: 21,234
- Eastern Cape: 13,478
- Mpumalanga: 10,704
- Free State: 6,314
- North West: 6,098
- Western Cape: 6,051
- Northern Cape: 849
NSFAS emphasises that non-Sassa grant beneficiaries are required to submit a NSFAS consent form.
This form grants NSFAS permission to obtain information from third parties, such as the South African Revenue Service (SARS), to assess financial need. Failure to submit the consent form can delay the confirmation of funding.
NSFAS has also encouraged prospective applicants from Grades 9 to 12 to apply early without waiting for final results.
NSFAS calls upon prospective applicants who are currently in Grade 9, 10, 11 and 12 not to wait for their final results or for the closing date before they submit their application.
The 2025 NSFAS application period is set to close on 15 December 2024.
