NSFAS 2026 Applications : Good news for students throughout South Africa: the National Student Financial Aid Scheme has now opened applications for the 2026 academic year. Learners who need financial help for further studies ought to be able to apply online. The deadline for all submissions is set for 15 November 2025, giving just under two months to students to complete the application process.
Who Can Apply?
The NSFAS is designed to assist students from poor and working-class households who wish to proceed to study at a public university and TVET college. In general, applicants must meet these requirements:
- Household income up to R350,000 per year combined (or R600,000 for disability grant applicants).
- Must be a South African citizen.
- They must have applied for admission to a recognized public university or TVET college for the academic year 2026.
How To Apply Online
The application process has been made much simpler and completely online. The students can apply as follows:
- Go to the official NSFAS website.
- Either register at myNSFAS or simply log in.
- Upload all required supporting documents: ID, proof of income, academic records.
- Fill in the form and submit it online.
NSFAS again warns applicants not to wait to apply until the last minute when the server becomes overloaded with traffic.
Important Dates To Remember
- Date of opening of the call: 20 September 2025
- Date of closure of the call: 15 November 2025
- Deadline date: Early 2026, before the start of lectures
All applicants are urged to send in their forms way ahead of the deadline to be rejected. Any form will be discarded if it is submitted late.
Why Should One Apply Early?
The earlier applications are submitted, the earlier shall students be able to resolve matters pertaining to missing personal documentation or faulty information. NSFAS has made an undertaking to improve dissemination turnaround times for feedback on applications. However, this will rest ultimately on whether applicants submit the right information from the outset.
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