How to apply for NSFAS 2025: A step-by-step guide

Applications for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) for 2025 are now open. Here’s what you need to know about applying for financial assistance.

What are the criteria to be considered for NSFAS financial aid?

According to bizcommunity, Higher Education and Training Minister, Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, launched the opening of the application process during a media briefing held in Pretoria on Friday, 20 September 2024.

To qualify for consideration to receive NSFAS 2025 funding, applicants must:

• be South African citizens or permanent residents
• come from a household with a combined gross income that is not more than R350 000 per year
• study or intend to study at a public university or TVET college in South Africa that the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) approved and/or the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) accredited.

How to apply

To apply for funding, visit the NSFAS website, click on the ‘Click here to apply now’ link and follow the steps. Applicants must create a profile on the website before completing all the required information. Thereafter, you can submit the application.

As part of the application process, you will have to provide supporting documentation including a consent form and a declaration form.

Students with disabilities must provide a completed and signed Disability Annexure Form which includes a medical report.

It is important to note that applications will close on 15 December 2024.

Also important to note is that learners who are currently in matric do not have to wait for their matric results to apply for NSFAS.

Students who will not qualify

The following exclusions apply, i.e. students who will not be considered to receive financial support are:

Students who:

• have received full study funding from another source
• hold an undergraduate qualification and want to study for a second undergraduate qualification
• hold a certificate qualification and want to study for a second certificate qualification
• want to study at a private institution

Improvements in the system

As reported by The South African, Dr Nkabane stated that they have worked on improving the online application system to make the user experience better. There have been issues in the past with the application process including system crashes and delays in fund disbursement, which led to people criticising the fund for its inefficiency.