Unisa began the 2025 academic year with many of its students receiving funding from NSFAS, which offers both bursaries and student loans to eligible individuals. NSFAS covers registration and tuition fees, and also provides allowances for food, accommodation, transport, and learning materials.
How Unisa NSFAS Allowances Will Be Paid in October 2025
According to Unisa, NSFAS allowances for October 2025 will be disbursed through EFT directly into students’ bank accounts.
“NSFAS allowances are paid by the institution via EFT in the student’s bank account.” – Unisa
This payment method aligns with that used at most other public universities. Students are urged to ensure that their banking details are correctly submitted through the university’s ITS system.
If students believe their allowances are missing or incorrect, they should immediately contact the Unisa Student Funding Department via email at DSF-NSFAS@unisa.ac.za.
Why Some Students Still See Outstanding Balances
While NSFAS covers approved tuition fees, delays in processing may result in outstanding balances temporarily appearing on student accounts. This does not affect a student’s access to Unisa services, including receiving study materials, submitting assignments, or writing exams.
It’s also important to note that NSFAS does not settle historical debt for newly funded students. In addition, charges such as supplementary exam fees, remarking fees, or textbook costs billed to the student account are not covered under NSFAS funding.
October 2025 Allowance Payment Date Confirmed
Only students registered for their first undergraduate qualification in an NSFAS-approved programme are eligible for allowances. Funding is subject to meeting the eligibility criteria and compliance with NSFAS guidelines.
