The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has announced how allowance payments will work for university students for April 2025. This is crucial information for students relying on NSFAS funding for their studies.
NSFAS provides vital financial aid to students in South Africa, offering both bursaries and student loans. These cover tuition and registration fees for approved courses at universities and TVET colleges.
Crucially, NSFAS funding also includes allowances for essential expenses like food, accommodation, and learning materials.
How are NSFAS Allowances Paid?
NSFAS allowances are typically disbursed in 10 monthly installments throughout the academic year, which generally runs from February to November. This means students can expect allowance payments from February through November.
April 2025 NSFAS Allowance Payments
In late 2024, NSFAS announced a shift away from the NSFAS Bank Account system. The initial plan was to pay university student allowances directly into students' personal bank accounts.
However, due to an ongoing court case, this direct payment method is currently on hold.
Allowances of students will be paid based on an approved NSFAS payment channel.
For April 2025, universities will continue to distribute NSFAS allowances directly to students. This means that the established university payment systems will be used for the April disbursement.
Students should contact their university's financial aid office for specific details on how they will receive their April allowance.
