Not Every Tertiary Student in South Africa can Qualify for National Student Financial Aid System (NSFAS) Fund NSFAS Designed to Support Fund to the Universities and Colleges Students from Lower income Families.
What Is the Maximum Income for NSFAS? Parent Earnings Explained
NSFAS has stated that your combined household income should be under R350 000 per year for you to qualify. If you are a person living with a disability, your combined annual household income should be less than R600 000.
Other NSFAS requirements include the following:
- You are a South African citizen
- Financial constraints which doesn’t allow you to fund your own studies such as:
- You are a SASSA grant recipient
- You are applying to get a formal qualification from a public university or TVET College
- You passed grade 9 to 12 (for those applying for TVET funding)
- You passed grade 12 (for those applying for University funding)
Once approved for the bursary, the only requirement to stay funded is that students need to pass their modules.
NSFAS will fund students for the entire duration of their course or degree. Most degrees take about 3 to 4 years, whereas medical degrees for example take up to 7 years. However, they will fund an extra year of study should a student fail one year.
READ: How Does NSFAS Verify Household Income? Everything You Need to Know
What NSFAS Covers Financially
For successful applicants, NSFAS provides comprehensive funding that includes:
- Tuition Fees: Paid directly to your registered institution.
- Learning Materials: An allowance for books, stationery, and other required resources.
- Accommodation: Covered either for university-managed residence or private accommodation (capped at relevant institutional rates).
- Living Allowance: A personal care stipend for food and daily essentials.
- Transport Allowance: For students who do not reside in accredited accommodation.
This package is designed to be a full-cost bursary, meaning if you qualify and maintain academic performance, you do not have to repay the funds.
