There are only 235,000 spaces available for first year university students next year. This was one of the issues addressed by the Minister of Higher Education and Training as he announced that applications are now open for NSFAS bursaries in 2026.
Manamela announced that he will be establishing a 'war room' to deal with the challenges that are expected to arise
Outstanding issues like timely payment of NSFAS allowances, finalisation of exam certificates, and any other disputes that can lead to protests.
Because of the shortage in spaces available the Minister urged young people to apply on time, and to explore multiple options as spaces are limited.
The official opening of NSFAS for 2026 will happen on Tuesday 16th September at the University of Pretoria. However the My-NSFAS portal is already open for applications.
To apply online visit the official NSFAS website.
