Higher education in South Africa comes with a significant cost. To make it more accessible, the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) provides crucial financial assistance to eligible students through bursaries and loans.
These funds are not just for tuition fees; they also include essential allowances to cover students' living expenses.
NSFAS Allowances for University Students in 2025
NSFAS has recently outlined the eligibility criteria and funding conditions for the 2025 academic year. Key allowances that university students can expect to receive include:
- Along with bursaries which will cover tuition fees, students will also receive allowances for:
- Learning Materials: For textbooks, stationery, and other study essentials.
- Living/Personal Care: To assist with daily living expenses like food and toiletries. (Applicable to students residing off-campus.)
- Accommodation: To contribute towards accommodation costs. (Capped based on location.)
- Transport: To cover transportation costs for students commuting to campus. (Applicable to off-campus students.)
Distance Learning Students
The allowance structure for distance learning students differs slightly due to their unique needs.
- Students with less than 60 course credits: Eligible for a learning materials allowance.
- Students with a full course load: Eligible for both learning materials and personal care allowances.
NSFAS Loan
In addition to bursaries, NSFAS offers loans which include tuition and allowances for:
- Accommodation
- Learning Materials
How Will Allowances Be Paid in 2025?
NSFAS initially planned to transition to direct payments into students' personal bank accounts. However, due to ongoing legal proceedings, this transition has been delayed.
Consequently, universities will continue to be responsible for disbursing allowances directly to students in 2025.
NSFAS has said the following concerning how students will receive allowance payments:
Allowances of students will be paid based on an approved NSFAS payment channel.
The exact amounts for each NSFAS allowance will be announced by the Minister of Higher Education, Nobuhle Nkabane, during the upcoming state of readiness briefing.
