NSFAS covers the full cost of study for eligible students at South African public universities and TVET colleges. This includes tuition fees, accommodation, a living allowance, learning materials (books), personal care, and transport. Students with disabilities receive additional allowances for assistive devices and human support.
The approved allowance caps for the 2025 academic year were finalised by NSFAS in consultation with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and published on 12 March 2025. At the time of writing (April 2026), the 2026 allowance caps have not yet been officially published — NSFAS has indicated that private accommodation rates for 2026 are under review. The figures below reflect the most recent published caps.
Who Qualifies for NSFAS Allowances?
To receive NSFAS allowances, you must first qualify for NSFAS funding. The key eligibility requirements are:
- South African citizen or permanent resident with a valid SA ID number
- Combined annual household income of R350,000 or less — this includes income from all sources for both parents, guardians, or spouse
- Students with disabilities: the income threshold is R600,000 or less
- SASSA grant recipients (Foster Care, Care Dependency, and Child Support grants) automatically meet the financial eligibility criteria
- Must be registered at a public university or public TVET college for a DHET-approved qualification
Once approved, allowances are paid in addition to tuition — you do not need to apply separately for each allowance type. The allowance type you receive depends on your living arrangement (on-campus, off-campus, or at home with family).
Tuition Fees
NSFAS pays the agreed institutional tuition cost for each student based on the institution’s approved fee handbook. This includes the registration fee. Students qualifying for NSFAS funding are not required to pay the initial registration fee — it is covered as part of the tuition payment.
NSFAS pays tuition directly to the institution, not to the student.
Accommodation Allowance
The accommodation allowance is the largest component of NSFAS funding after tuition. The amount depends on three factors: whether you are at a university or TVET college, whether your residence is catered or self-catering, and whether you are in a metro or non-metro area.
2025 University Accommodation Caps
| Accommodation Type | Metro (Standard) | Metro (Disability) | Non-Metro (Standard) | Non-Metro (Disability) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catered residence | R65,993 | R69,633 | R56,633 | R60,273 |
| Non-catered residence or private accommodation | R52,000 | R52,000 | R42,640 | R42,640 |
Disability students in catered residences receive a higher accommodation cap (R3,640 above standard) to cover additional catered-residence costs associated with disability support. Non-catered disability accommodation caps are the same as the standard caps — the disability uplift for non-catered students is captured through higher living, book, and dedicated disability allowances.
2025 TVET College Accommodation Caps
| Accommodation Type | Metro (Standard) | Metro (Disability) | Non-Metro (Standard) | Non-Metro (Disability) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catered residence | R65,993 | R69,633 | R56,633 | R60,273 |
| Non-catered residence or private accommodation | R52,000 | R52,000 | R42,640 | R42,640 |
The catered residence cap covers accommodation and meals. Personal care (R3,167) is paid separately to catered students. NSFAS pays accommodation directly to the institution or accredited private accommodation provider — it is not paid into the student’s bank account.
Metro vs Non-Metro Areas
NSFAS classifies the following as metro areas:
- Buffalo City (East London)
- City of Cape Town
- Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (East Rand)
- City of eThekwini (Durban)
- City of Johannesburg
- Mangaung Municipality (Bloemfontein)
- Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality (Gqeberha)
- City of Tshwane (Pretoria)
All other areas are classified as non-metro. Metro accommodation caps are higher because of the higher cost of living in these areas.
Key Accommodation Rules
- Students may either qualify for the accommodation allowance or the transport allowance, not both.
- Students living with immediate family or relatives do not qualify for accommodation allowances — they receive the transport allowance instead.
- Students can only qualify for one accommodation allowance type per academic term.
- If the institution’s residence is full, students may apply to NSFAS for private accommodation. Private accommodation must be accredited by the institution or NSFAS.
- Accommodation for Health Sciences students is covered for 12 months since their academic year starts earlier and ends later.
Living Allowance (Meals)
The living allowance covers food and incidental expenses. It is paid to students who are not in catered residences (since catered residents already receive meals as part of their accommodation package).
2025 Living Allowance Caps
| Student Type | Annual Amount | Monthly Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| University — non-catered accommodation | R17,160 | ~R1,560 |
| University — transport (living at home) | R17,160 | ~R1,560 |
| University — disability (non-catered) | R20,800 | ~R1,891 |
| TVET — non-catered* | R17,160 | ~R1,560 |
| TVET — disability (non-catered)* | R20,800 | ~R1,891 |
*For TVET students, the living allowance is inclusive of personal care.
Students in catered residences do not receive a separate living allowance — their meals are included in the accommodation cap. Distance learning students studying fewer than 60 course credits do not qualify for a living allowance. Distance students studying an equivalent full-time credit load (120+ credits per year) qualify for the personal care allowance.
Learning Materials (Book) Allowance
The book allowance covers textbooks, stationery, and learning devices.
2025 Book Allowance Caps
| Student Type | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| University student | R5,678 |
| University student with disability | R6,240 |
| Distance learning / UNISA | R660 per module, capped at R5,678 maximum |
All university students qualify for a learning material allowance per academic year. The allowance must be used for academic books, materials, and/or a learning device. Only one book allowance is provided per student per year.
The 2025 NSFAS media statement does not list a separate book allowance for TVET college students. Book costs may be handled through a different process or included within other allowances — NSFAS has not clarified this publicly.
Personal Care Allowance
The personal care allowance covers hygiene products and other personal necessities. For university students, it is a separate allowance of R3,167 per year. It is provided to students in catered residences and distance learning students.
For university students in non-catered accommodation or on the transport allowance, personal care is included within the living allowance — they do not receive a separate personal care payment.
For TVET students, the living allowance is inclusive of personal care. TVET students in catered residences receive a separate personal care allowance of R3,167.
Transport Allowance
Students who live at home with family or relatives and commute to their institution receive a transport allowance instead of an accommodation allowance.
2025 Transport Allowance Caps
| Student Type | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| University student | R8,190 |
| University student with disability | R8,190 |
| TVET student | R8,027 |
| TVET student with disability | R8,027 |
Students who live with immediate family or relatives do not qualify for the accommodation allowance and automatically qualify for the transport allowance. TVET students who do not provide proof of their home address automatically qualify for the travel allowance rather than the accommodation allowance.
Transport students also receive the living allowance (R17,160 for standard students, R20,800 for students with disabilities) and the book allowance.
Allowances for Students with Disabilities
NSFAS provides additional allowances for students with disabilities at both universities and TVET colleges. To qualify, a student must submit a detailed medical report from a Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA)-registered medical professional.
2025 Disability Allowance Caps
| Allowance Type | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| Human support (scribes, note takers, carers, sign language interpreters, tutors) | R52,000 |
| Assistive devices (wheelchairs, hearing aids, Perkins Braille, specialised digital devices) | R54,080 |
| Increased book allowance | R6,240 (vs R5,678 standard) |
| Increased living allowance | R20,800 (vs R17,160 standard) |
Students with disabilities do not automatically qualify for the assistive device or human support allowances. These must be applied for separately, and the goods and services must be relevant to the nature of the disability. The institution must confirm the need for the support and ensure that accredited suppliers are used.
Students with disabilities also qualify for N+2 funding duration (one additional year beyond the standard N+1 rule) and the higher income threshold of R600,000.
How NSFAS Allowances Are Paid
Since mid-2024, NSFAS pays all student allowances directly into students’ personal bank accounts. NSFAS initiated termination of the four previous payment partners — Coinvest Africa, Ezaga Holdings, Norraco Corporation, and Tenet Technologies — in February 2024 following the Werksman Attorneys Report, with direct bank-account payments phased in through mid-2024.
How Each Allowance Type Is Paid
| Allowance | Paid To |
|---|---|
| Tuition and registration fees | Directly to the institution |
| Accommodation (institution residence) | Directly to the institution |
| Accommodation (accredited private) | Directly to the accredited provider |
| Living allowance | Into the student’s bank account via the institution |
| Book allowance | Into the student’s bank account via the institution |
| Personal care allowance | Into the student’s bank account via the institution |
| Transport allowance | Into the student’s bank account via the institution |
For university students, institutions disburse allowances and must submit monthly remittance returns to NSFAS documenting students paid, types of allowances, and dates of payment.
For TVET students, allowances are paid directly into students’ personal bank accounts. Students must ensure their banking details are accurately captured on the myNSFAS portal.
2025 Payment Schedule
NSFAS disbursed allowances in 11 instalments during the 2025 academic year:
| Instalment | Payment Date | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 January 2025 | Accommodation, books, and tuition |
| 2 | 5 March 2025 | Accommodation, books, and tuition |
| 3 | 31 March 2025 | Monthly allowances |
| 4 | 30 April 2025 | Monthly allowances |
| 5 | 30 May 2025 | Monthly allowances |
| 6 | 30 June 2025 | Monthly allowances |
| 7 | 31 July 2025 | Monthly allowances |
| 8 | 29 August 2025 | Monthly allowances |
| 9 | 30 September 2025 | Monthly allowances |
| 10 | 31 October 2025 | Monthly allowances |
| 11 | 28 November 2025 | Monthly allowances |
For the 2026 academic year, NSFAS issued the first upfront payment on 1 February 2026, covering the full book allowance and one month of accommodation, living, personal care, and transport allowances.
Complete 2025 Allowance Summary — University Students
| Allowance Type | Standard | With Disability |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | Full institutional cost | Full institutional cost |
| Book allowance | R5,678 | R6,240 |
| Accommodation (catered, metro) | R65,993 | R69,633 |
| Accommodation (catered, non-metro) | R56,633 | R60,273 |
| Accommodation (non-catered, metro) | R52,000 | R52,000 |
| Accommodation (non-catered, non-metro) | R42,640 | R42,640 |
| Living allowance | R17,160 | R20,800 |
| Personal care (catered/distance only) | R3,167 | R3,167 |
| Transport allowance | R8,190 | R8,190 |
| Human support | — | R52,000 |
| Assistive devices | — | R54,080 |
All figures sourced from the NSFAS Media Statement on the Payment of the 2025 Student Allowances, 12 March 2025. Disability students in catered residences receive an additional R3,640 above the standard catered accommodation cap. For non-catered students, the disability uplift is captured through the higher living allowance (R20,800 vs R17,160), the increased book allowance (R6,240 vs R5,678), and the dedicated human support and assistive device allowances.
Complete 2025 Allowance Summary — TVET College Students
| Allowance Type | Standard | With Disability |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (catered, metro) | R65,993 | R69,633 |
| Accommodation (catered, non-metro) | R56,633 | R60,273 |
| Accommodation (non-catered, metro) | R52,000 | R52,000 |
| Accommodation (non-catered, non-metro) | R42,640 | R42,640 |
| Living allowance (incl. personal care) | R17,160 | R20,800 |
| Personal care (catered only) | R3,167 | R3,167 |
| Transport allowance | R8,027 | R8,027 |
| Human support | — | Handled directly by NSFAS* |
| Assistive devices | — | R54,080 |
*For TVET students with disabilities, allowances excluding human support are supported directly by NSFAS. TVET colleges are expected to collaborate with NSFAS on revised processes for disability allowance management. The 2025 NSFAS media statement lists human support as R0 for TVET categories, indicating a separate process applies.
All figures sourced from the NSFAS Media Statement on the Payment of the 2025 Student Allowances, 12 March 2025.
Distance Learning Students
Distance university students (including UNISA students) receive a reduced set of allowances based on their course credit load:
- Fewer than 60 credits: Learning materials allowance only (R660 per module, capped at R5,678)
- 60+ credits but below full-time load: Allowances are calculated based on the number of courses registered
- 120+ credits (equivalent full-time load): Qualify for the personal care allowance of R3,167
Distance TVET students qualify for the personal care allowance only.
What NSFAS Does Not Cover
NSFAS funding is limited to the full cost of study as defined in its policy. It does not cover:
- Private institution fees — only public universities and TVET colleges
- Postgraduate study (honours, master’s, doctoral programmes)
- A second undergraduate qualification if one has already been completed with NSFAS funding
- Historic debt owed to an institution — financial aid cannot be used to settle historic debt
- Students who receive full funding from another source — if you receive a full bursary from another provider, you must notify NSFAS within 10 days and the NSFAS bursary will be withdrawn
How to Apply for NSFAS
Applications for NSFAS are submitted through the myNSFAS portal. For a step-by-step guide, see our NSFAS application guide. To check whether your application has been approved, see our NSFAS status check guide. If you have questions about the application process, our NSFAS FAQ page covers the most common queries.
For a broader overview of available bursaries in South Africa beyond NSFAS, see our bursaries for 2026 guide.
FAQ
Are NSFAS allowances the same every year?
No. NSFAS reviews and publishes allowance caps annually in consultation with DHET. The amounts may increase to account for inflation and cost-of-living changes. Institutions must obtain written approval from NSFAS before paying any allowance above the published caps.
Can I receive both the accommodation and transport allowance?
No. You qualify for one or the other. If you live in residence or private accommodation, you receive the accommodation allowance. If you live at home with family and commute, you receive the transport allowance.
What happens if I receive a bursary from another source?
If the other bursary covers your full cost of study, you must notify NSFAS and your institution within 10 days. NSFAS funding will be withdrawn. If the other bursary only partially covers your costs, NSFAS may reduce its funding accordingly.
When will the 2026 or 2027 allowance caps be published?
NSFAS has indicated that 2026 accommodation rates are still under review. Caps are typically published in a media statement early in the academic year, similar to the 12 March 2025 announcement. We will update this page when the 2026 figures are confirmed.
