The Department of Higher Education (DHET) has now announced the opening date of 2025 applications for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) funding. The Minister of Higher Education, Nobuhle Nkabane, also provided updates on enhancements made with NSFAS systems.
The NSFAS Administrator Mr Freeman Nomvalo and his team of Advisors and NSFAS Executive Management were also present at the briefing.
The official opening of NSFAS 2025 applications was delayed with the Minister explaining that engagements had to first take place to make sure that systems are working properly, which entailed doing a dry run with stakeholders.
The feedback received has already informed critical systems changes to simplify the online application process and also making it accessible to all.
Every year, over a million students and prospective students apply for NSFAS and with each year, the number of NSFAS applications received grows. “It is critical that NSFAS is adequately prepared in terms of resources and systems to meet this drawing demand when we open for the 2025 online application processes,” said the Minister.
NSFAS 2025 Opening Date
Nkabane has announced that NSFAS online applications for 2025 will open on 20 September.
I am therefore inviting all students who are seating for their matriculation this year to take this opportunity and apply for either the NSFAS bursary or loan. This invitation is also extended to learners from grade 9, 10, and 11, who would like to enter the Technical and Vocational Education and Training sector.
NSFAS has seen endless complaints and challenges being brought forward with the Minister saying, "NSFAS is the main factor of instabilities in our Institutions of Higher Learning." Nkabane said that this is linked to the delays in releasing matric results which leads to delays in funding decisions.
NSFAS Board
On 1 August, the Minister announced that a new NSFAS Board will be established following the dissolution of the previous NSFAS Board in April due to the outcomes of the Werksmans Attorneys report.
The department is now in the process of selecting the new NSFAS Board with the minimum requirement being a Masters degree.
We are hoping that moving forward, the systems are going to be up and ready, including governance systems.
The Minister also revealed that NSFAS is planning to decentralise and open offices in Eastern Cape, Gauteng and Kwazulu-Natal and the Cape Town office will soon be closed. They are also considering establishing satellite offices in other provinces.
