The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has announced the allowance amounts for university students in Decmber 2024.
NSFAS provides comprehensive bursaries and student loans to deserving learners enrolled in approved courses at universities and TVET colleges. These bursaries cover tuition and registration fees, as well as several allowances for food, accommodation, and learning materials.
NSFAS allowances are divided into 10 payments every year. This means that in December 2024, students will not receive any allowance.
December is different to every month due to NSFAS not paying allowances during this month. NSFAS only pays allowances for 10 months every year, during the academic year.
The academic year commences in February and ends in November for most institutions which means that NSFAS pays allowances from February until November.
For the remainder of the 2024 academic year, NSFAS has confirmed that universities will handle the payment of student allowances.
Direct Payments by Universities
This means that students attending any of South Africa’s 26 public universities will receive their allowance payments directly from their institution.
Breakdown of NSFAS Allowances For 2024
University students receive an annual living allowance of R16,500, which includes R3,045 for personal care and R13,455 for meals. Additionally, students are entitled to a learning material allowance of up to R5,460 per year.
Students living with immediate family or relatives do not qualify for an accommodation allowance but can receive a travel allowance. The exact amount is determined by their institution, with a maximum of R7,875 for 2024.
Students with disabilities receive higher living allowances, as well as an additional learning material allowance. These allowances are paid in ten equal instalments each year.
This article was updated on 25 November 2024.
