NSFAS: What It Covers and What It Doesn't

What NSFAS Covers

1. Tuition Fees

NSFAS pays your tuition fees directly to your university or TVET college. You never receive this money — it goes straight from NSFAS to the institution. This covers the cost of your enrolled programme in full, as long as you're at a public institution studying an approved qualification. You don't receive a partial payment and top up the rest yourself.

2. Accommodation

The accommodation allowance is one of the biggest components of NSFAS funding. How it works depends on your living situation.

University residence (on-campus): NSFAS pays the actual cost charged by the university, up to the approved cap. The payment goes directly to the institution.

Private accommodation (off-campus): NSFAS covers private accommodation costs, provided the accommodation is accredited by both your institution and NSFAS. Private accommodation costs must not exceed the equivalent cost of university residence. Payment goes to the accommodation provider or, in some cases, directly to you.

According to the official NSFAS bursary scheme page, accommodation for TVET students varies by location: approximately R24,000 per year in urban areas, R18,900 in peri-urban areas and R15,750 in rural areas.

One important rule: you qualify for either an accommodation allowance or a transport allowance — not both.

3. Living Allowance

The living allowance is designed to help with food, toiletries and everyday personal expenses. For the 2026 academic year, the living allowance is approximately R1,650 per month for university students, paid monthly over the academic year.

4. Transport Allowance

If you commute from home to your institution and live within 40 kilometres of campus, you may qualify for a transport allowance of up to R7,500 per year for university students and up to R7,350 per year for TVET students. This is paid to your bank account or e-wallet.

As noted above, you receive either an accommodation allowance or a transport allowance — not both.

5. Learning Materials (Book Allowance)

NSFAS provides a learning materials allowance to cover the cost of prescribed textbooks and study materials. For 2026, university students may receive up to R5,678 per year. According to NSFAS guidelines, this allowance can also be used to purchase laptops or other essential digital tools needed for your studies.

6. Personal Care Allowance

Students living in catered university residences receive a personal care allowance of approximately R2,900 per year to cover incidentals not included in meals and accommodation.

7. Disability Allowances

Students living with disabilities receive additional support beyond the standard allowances. This includes:

• An enhanced living allowance (R20,800 versus the standard R17,160 for non-catered students)

• An enhanced book allowance (R6,240 versus the standard R5,678)

• Allowances for assistive devices

• A human support allowance

These disability allowances are not automatic — you need to apply for them separately and have the application approved. Simply declaring a disability on your NSFAS application is not enough.

For a detailed breakdown of all allowance amounts by category, see FundiConnect's NSFAS allowances breakdown.

When Does NSFAS Pay?

NSFAS disbursements generally work as follows:

• February 1: First upfront payment covering the full book allowance and one month of accommodation, living, personal care and transport allowances

• Monthly thereafter: Living, transport and accommodation allowances are paid monthly through the academic year (typically February through November)

• Tuition: Paid directly to the institution at the start of each term based on your registration

Payments go to your bank account or NSFAS wallet. It's important to make sure your banking details on myNSFAS are correct and up to date — wrong details are one of the most common reasons payments are delayed.

What NSFAS Does NOT Cover

This is the part most students don't find out until it's too late. NSFAS has real and significant gaps.

Private Colleges and Private Universities

NSFAS does not fund students at private institutions. Full stop. This applies to well-known private colleges like Damelin, Boston City Campus, Rosebank College, City Varsity and Richfield — even when they offer the same courses as public TVET colleges and use the same NATED curriculum. If you enrol at a private college expecting NSFAS to cover your fees, it won't. This is one of the most common and costly mistakes students make.

If you're considering a private college, you'll need to fund your studies through a bursary, a private study loan or personal funding. A Fundi study loan is one option designed specifically for this. For a full comparison of public and private study options, see our Private Colleges vs Public Universities guide.

Postgraduate Studies

NSFAS primarily funds first undergraduate qualifications. If you already hold a degree or diploma and want to study further, NSFAS will generally not fund your postgraduate studies. There are limited exceptions — some postgraduate teaching and nursing diplomas may be covered — but the default rule is that postgraduate study is excluded.

If you need postgraduate funding, look at institution-specific bursaries, the NRF (National Research Foundation) for research-focused postgraduate study, or SETA funding relevant to your field.

Second Qualifications

NSFAS funds your first undergraduate qualification. If you've already completed a degree and want to study something new, or if you want to study a second diploma after finishing your first, NSFAS won't cover it.

Accommodation That's Not NSFAS-Accredited

If you choose to live in private accommodation that hasn't been accredited by your institution and NSFAS, your accommodation costs won't be covered — even if it's cheaper than the university residence. Always verify accreditation before signing a lease.

Costs That Exceed the Approved Caps

NSFAS allowances are capped. If your accommodation costs more than the approved cap, you cover the shortfall yourself. If you need more for transport than the R7,500 cap allows, the rest comes out of your own pocket. Understanding these caps before you make housing and transport decisions is important.

Supplementary and Repeat Exam Fees

Most institutions charge separately for supplementary examinations, and NSFAS doesn't cover these. If you fail a module and need to write a supplementary exam, that cost is on you.

Gap Year Students

If your NSFAS application was approved but you didn't register at an institution in the relevant year, your approval lapses. You'll need to reapply. NSFAS funding is tied to active registration, not just approval status.

The Academic Progression Rule

NSFAS doesn't fund you indefinitely regardless of your results. To keep receiving funding, you need to meet academic progression requirements each year. Specifically:

• You need to pass a minimum percentage of your registered modules each year

• If you fail too many modules, NSFAS can withdraw your funding

• Continued funding is not guaranteed — NSFAS can reassess eligibility at any point

This is worth taking seriously. Students who treat NSFAS funding as unconditional often find themselves without funding mid-degree when their pass rate drops below the required threshold.

NSFAS vs What You Might Still Need

Even with full NSFAS coverage, there are costs that many students find they need to fund separately.

A device to study on is one of the most common gaps. While the book allowance can technically be used for a laptop, the cap (around R5,678) may not stretch to a device capable of running the software your course requires. If you need a proper study device, the Fundi Shop offers device financing that can be set up alongside your studies.

Data costs are another gap. NSFAS doesn't include a data or connectivity allowance, even though most modern courses require regular online access. Some universities provide campus Wi-Fi, but off-campus students often need to budget for data separately.

Transport costs beyond the R7,500 cap are also a gap for students who commute long distances. If you live more than 40 kilometres from campus, you won't receive a transport allowance at all — you'd qualify for accommodation funding instead.

Applying for NSFAS

NSFAS applications for the 2027 academic year are expected to open between September and November 2026 at my.nsfas.org.za. You need to submit a university application first — NSFAS requires a reference number from an active institutional application before it can finalise your funding.

For everything you need to know about the NSFAS application process, see our 10 NSFAS FAQs and our full NSFAS guide.

FAQs

Does NSFAS cover a laptop?

Not directly. The learning materials allowance (up to R5,678 for university students) can be used to purchase a laptop or essential digital tools. If the device you need costs more than this, you'll need to cover the difference separately. The Fundi Shop offers device financing as a practical option.

Can I get NSFAS if I study at a private college?

No. NSFAS only funds students at public universities and public TVET colleges. If you're at a private institution, NSFAS won't cover your fees or allowances regardless of your household income.

Does NSFAS cover postgraduate study?

Generally no. NSFAS funds first undergraduate qualifications only. Some postgraduate teaching and nursing diplomas may be exceptions — check directly with NSFAS or your institution's financial aid office.

What happens if I fail modules?

You need to meet NSFAS's academic progression requirements to continue receiving funding. If your pass rate drops below the required threshold, NSFAS can withdraw your funding. Check your institution's financial aid office for the specific requirements that apply to your qualification.

Can I get both an accommodation allowance and a transport allowance?

No. You qualify for one or the other, not both. If you live on or near campus in NSFAS-funded accommodation, you receive the accommodation allowance. If you commute from home within 40 kilometres of campus, you receive the transport allowance.

What if my accommodation costs more than the NSFAS cap?

You cover the shortfall yourself. NSFAS pays up to the approved cap, and anything above that is your responsibility. This is worth factoring into your accommodation decision before you sign a lease.

Still Need Funding Beyond NSFAS?

NSFAS covers a lot, but it doesn't cover everything — and it doesn't cover everyone. If you don't qualify for NSFAS, or if you need to bridge a gap that NSFAS doesn't fill, Fundi has been helping South African students fund their studies since 1996. You can apply for a Fundi study loan to cover tuition, accommodation or other study costs. Use the Fundi loan calculator to see what your monthly repayments would look like before you apply. And for device financing, the Fundi Shop lets you spread the cost of a study device over time.

Visit loans.fundi.co.za, fill in the form, and someone will get back to you.

For more guidance on NSFAS, bursaries and study funding, visit www.fundiconnect.co.za.

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