The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has opened applications for the 2027 academic year, with students given until November 18, 2026, to submit their applications.
More than 1 million students were approved for NSFAS funding in 2026, and the scheme is now introducing changes aimed at making the application and funding process more efficient.
Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela officially launched the NSFAS 2027 application cycle at the Mining Qualifications Authority offices in Parktown, Johannesburg, on Friday.
He said successful applicants will receive their funding outcomes in December, ahead of registration for the 2027 academic year.
NSFAS 2027 application closing date
The NSFAS 2027 application period opened on September 18, 2026.
It will close on November 18, 2026.
Manamela urged prospective applicants to submit their applications early rather than waiting for the final days.
“To all prospective applicants: do not wait until the closing date. Apply as early as possible.”
Applying early gives students time to check their information, provide outstanding documents and seek help if they encounter problems, the minister said.
NSFAS will also deploy outreach teams across provinces, districts, rural communities, townships and marginalised communities.
The teams will help prospective students access information and application support.
How to apply for NSFAS 2027 funding
Students should complete their NSFAS application as early as possible and make sure the information submitted is accurate.
The scheme is changing how it processes applications for the new cycle.
NSFAS will introduce automated document verification and electronic document signing. Student information will also be extracted directly from institutional systems.
The aim is to reduce manual errors and improve the accuracy of funding decisions.
NSFAS is also strengthening the verification of registration and banking details in collaboration with the Department of Home Affairs.
“These improvements are intended to make the application process simpler, faster, more secure and more responsive to students,” Manamela said.
NSFAS appeals process gets new focus
The application changes come alongside work to improve the NSFAS appeals process.
Manamela acknowledged that appeals have had “historical weaknesses”.
NSFAS is working to improve communication with students and ensure appeals are handled according to clearer rules and timelines.
The minister said the broader reforms are intended to strengthen the scheme after a period of institutional upheaval.
NSFAS has returned to a board-led governance structure after four months under administration.
“Our message today is clear: these interventions have always been about strengthening NSFAS, its stability, governance, effectiveness and ability to fulfil its most important responsibility,” Manamela said.
How much is the NSFAS monthly allowance?
The amount a funded student receives depends on where they study and their living arrangements.
The latest available allowance figures include separate amounts for living expenses, transport, personal care and accommodation. These figures should be treated as the latest available rates, not a new 2027 allowance announcement.
NSFAS allowances are generally calculated around the academic year rather than paid for all 12 months. Students should therefore not assume that a monthly allowance continues throughout the year.
University students: monthly allowance amounts
For university students, the latest available figures include:
| Allowance | Approximate monthly amount | Who receives it |
|---|---|---|
| Living allowance | R1,716 | Students who are not in catered accommodation |
| Transport allowance | R819 | Eligible students living at home and commuting |
| Personal care allowance | Varies by funding rules | Students in catered accommodation |
| Accommodation | Up to applicable NSFAS cap | Eligible students requiring accommodation |
The living allowance is intended to help students who are not accommodated in catered residences.
Students who qualify for transport support receive that allowance instead where their circumstances meet the relevant requirements.
The accommodation amount is handled differently from a normal cash living allowance. It is subject to NSFAS limits and accommodation rules, and may be paid to an approved accommodation provider or institution.
TVET students: monthly allowance amounts
NSFAS-funded students at public TVET colleges can also qualify for allowances depending on their circumstances.
The latest available rates include support for living expenses, transport and personal care.
The amount depends on the student’s accommodation and study circumstances, so there is no single monthly NSFAS payment that every TVET student receives.
Students should check the applicable NSFAS funding conditions for their institution and circumstances before budgeting around an allowance.
Allowance is not the same as total NSFAS funding
The monthly cash allowance is only one part of NSFAS support.
NSFAS funding can also cover tuition, registration and qualifying accommodation, subject to the applicable funding rules and limits.
A student living in approved accommodation therefore cannot simply add the accommodation allowance to a living allowance and assume that the combined amount will be paid into their bank account.
Similarly, students generally qualify for either accommodation or transport support, depending on their living arrangements and the applicable NSFAS rules.
Book and learning-material support is also treated separately from monthly living payments and can be provided as a once-off amount.
Students should therefore look at their full funding package, rather than treating the monthly allowance as the total value of NSFAS funding.
NSFAS accommodation problems remain a concern
The changes come after a difficult period for many funded students.
In 2025, NSFAS payment delays left students facing accommodation problems during exams, with evictions reported across the country.
The scheme also faced a R44 million accommodation debt, which added to uncertainty for students and accommodation providers.
Students who receive funding should understand the accommodation requirements before signing a lease.
ALSO READ: How to check and choose NSFAS-accredited accommodation
NSFAS has also been clearing historical payment backlogs.
It recently transferred R222.7 million to six universities to settle outstanding allowances for 2,927 student-teachers under the Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme.
Read more about the NSFAS student-teacher payment.
Missing-middle students to get a loan option
The 2027 funding cycle also includes a new focus on students who fall outside the traditional NSFAS bursary threshold.
These “missing middle” students may have household incomes above the bursary threshold while still struggling to afford university or college costs.
Manamela said work has started on a Loan Management System to support this group.
“We cannot ignore these students,” he said.
He said students should not be excluded simply because their household income falls just above a bursary threshold while their families remain unable to meet the actual cost of education.
Unlike a bursary, missing-middle funding is a repayable loan and will be subject to its applicable terms and conditions.
TVET applications close before NSFAS
Students planning to study at a public TVET college need to take note of a separate deadline.
Applications for the 2027 academic year at public TVET colleges close on September 30, 2026.
That is well before the NSFAS closing date.
Manamela encouraged school leavers and prospective students who have completed Grade 9 and above to consider TVET opportunities.
He urged students to research programmes, choose qualifications that match their interests and apply before the deadline.
Most importantly, admission and NSFAS funding are separate applications.
Applying for funding does not secure a place at a university or TVET college.
“Application to NSFAS does not guarantee access to your chosen area of study.”
Students must also apply to their chosen institution. Funding eligibility alone does not guarantee admission to a particular qualification.
More information about study opportunities is available through the Khetha portal.
When will NSFAS 2027 funding outcomes be released?
NSFAS says successful applicants will receive their funding outcomes in December 2026.
The timing is intended to give students greater certainty before registration for the 2027 academic year.
Students should therefore avoid waiting until November to apply.
An early application gives applicants more time to correct information, provide documents and seek assistance if something goes wrong.
