Student funding · Bursaries & loans
Everything a first-time applicant needs to know about who qualifies, what the funding covers, which forms to complete, and how to apply through myNSFAS.
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Thresholds are based on gross combined household income — total income before tax and other deductions — and differ by applicant category.
| Requirement | SASSA recipients | Non-SASSA | Persons with disabilities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who can apply | All South African citizens and permanent residents who plan to study, or are already registered, at a public university or TVET college. | ||
| Bursary Income threshold |
Verified SASSA grant recipients automatically meet the financial requirement. | R350 000 or less per year. | R600 000 or less per year. |
| Loan Income threshold |
Postgraduate studies: R600 000 or less per year. | Undergraduate: between R350 000 and R600 000 per year. Postgraduate: R600 000 or less per year. |
Postgraduate studies (university): R600 000 or less per year. |
| Financial verification | Third-party data sources are used to determine financial eligibility. Every applicant must submit an accurate, completed and signed consent form. Without it, the application is closed and marked “REJECTED”. | ||
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All South African citizens and permanent residents who plan to study, or are already studying, at a public university or TVET college can apply.
A bursary provides financial support that generally does not need to be repaid if you meet the applicable conditions. A loan is financial support that must be repaid according to the loan terms.
The income limit depends on your applicant category:
No. Verified SASSA grant recipients automatically meet the financial requirement for a bursary.
Your gross combined household income must be R350 000 or less per year.
Your gross combined household income must be R600 000 or less per year.
Yes. For undergraduate studies, your gross combined household income must be between R350 000 and R600 000 per year to fall within the loan income range.
For postgraduate university studies, your gross combined household income must be R600 000 or less per year.
Your gross combined household income must be R600 000 or less per year.
No. Meeting the income requirement is only one part of the eligibility process. You must also meet the other applicable requirements and successfully complete the application and verification process.
If your household does not receive SASSA, your income is calculated based on your family or personal circumstances:
Gross income is the total money you or your parent or guardian earns before deductions, such as tax.
If you are unmarried, your income is added to the gross income of your parent(s). If you have a legal guardian, your income is added to your guardian(s)’ gross income.
If you are over 34 and financially self-sufficient, only your gross income is considered, and you do not need to submit a declaration form. If you have been legally emancipated by a court, only your gross income is considered.
It means the total income of the people whose income must be considered in your household, before deductions such as tax.
We fund approved undergraduate qualifications offered at a public university or TVET college, provided you meet the applicable funding requirements.
Yes. If you are a verified SASSA recipient, you can apply for funding for an approved undergraduate qualification at a public university or TVET college, subject to the applicable requirements.
Yes. Non-SASSA applicants can apply for funding for approved undergraduate qualifications at a public university or TVET college, provided they meet the relevant eligibility and income requirements.
Yes. Persons with disabilities (PWD) can apply for funding for approved undergraduate qualifications at a public university or TVET college, subject to the applicable requirements.
No. Funding is only available for approved undergraduate qualifications at eligible public universities or TVET colleges. Always check whether your qualification and institution are approved before applying.
The NSFAS Bursary Agreement (NBA) can cover:
The Loan Agreement Form (LAF) can cover:
Students with disabilities may qualify for additional approved support, such as assistive devices, repairs and maintenance, human support at universities, and assessment costs. This support is not automatic and must be assessed and approved.
At TVET colleges, human support is excluded — colleges are expected to collaborate with NSFAS on these processes. University students receiving assistive device support must submit an update on the device’s condition and functionality during their undergraduate study.
The NBA (NSFAS Bursary Agreement) applies to bursary funding, while the LAF (Loan Agreement Form) applies to loan funding. The type of funding you receive determines what costs and allowances may be covered.
No. Funding only covers approved costs and allowances under the relevant bursary or loan agreement. Some support, particularly assistive devices and related disability support, requires assessment and approval.
| Agreement | SASSA & non-SASSA applicants | Persons with disabilities |
|---|---|---|
| Bursary NSFAS Bursary Agreement (NBA) |
Registration and tuition fees; learning material allowance; living allowance, personal care and transport; accommodation where applicable. | The above plus assistive devices, repair and maintenance of assistive devices, human support (university only) and assessment costs — on approval, not automatic. |
| Loan Loan Agreement Form (LAF) |
Registration and tuition fees; learning material; accommodation where applicable. Not covered: living allowance, personal care and transport. |
Same as the standard loan cover. Assistive device support is not automatic and requires an update on the device’s condition during undergraduate study. |
NSFAS uses third-party data sources to verify your financial information and determine whether you qualify for funding. The completed and signed consent form gives NSFAS permission to perform these checks.
Your application cannot be assessed for financial eligibility. If you do not submit an accurate, completed and signed consent form, your application will be closed and marked as “REJECTED”.
Make sure the consent form is:
The Declaration Form provides information about your parent or guardian relationship and family circumstances when you cannot provide the usual parent information.
Applicants up to 34 years old may need to complete the form when they cannot provide the required information about their parent(s) or guardian.
The information may be provided or confirmed by a relevant person or authorised agency, such as:
Yes. Where appropriate, a school principal or social worker may provide or confirm the required information, particularly where the usual parent or guardian information cannot be provided.
The form helps provide NSFAS with the information needed to understand your family circumstances and parent or guardian relationship. Make sure the information is accurate, complete and confirmed by the appropriate person to avoid delays in processing your application.
The Disability Assessment Questionnaire provides information about the nature of an applicant’s disability. This information helps NSFAS understand the support the student may require.
The information must be provided or confirmed by a certified and registered healthcare professional or a disability support office, where applicable.
It helps provide the information needed to understand your disability-related support needs. Make sure the information is accurate and properly completed or confirmed by the relevant professional or office.
The Orphan or Vulnerable Child Form is for applicants under 18 years old who cannot provide the usual information about their parent or guardian. It provides information about the applicant’s family circumstances and parent or guardian relationship.
The required information may be provided or confirmed by the Department of Social Development.
The form helps provide information about your family circumstances and parent or guardian relationship when the usual parent information cannot be provided. Make sure the information is accurate and properly confirmed to support the application process.
You can apply online or through the NSFAS mobile app. Choose the option that is easiest for you.
First, create your myNSFAS profile. Make sure you provide your correct personal information.
Log in to your myNSFAS profile, click APPLY, complete the application form and provide all the required information and documents.
Before submitting, check that all your information is correct and that you have provided the required documents. Then click Submit.
Register online or in the NSFAS mobile app with your correct personal information.
Complete the application form in full.
Include your signed consent form and, where they apply to you, the Declaration Form, Disability Assessment Questionnaire or Orphan and Vulnerable Child Form.
Confirm every detail is correct and every required document is attached before you click Submit.
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