The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) provides its student beneficiaries with allowances that cover expenses they may have while studying at a university or Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college.
Students are provided with their allowance/s from NSFAS on a monthly basis, which usually begins when academic activities resume.
These expenses/allowances typically include:
- Tuition
- Accommodation
- Transport
- Study Materials
- Personal Care Allowance
- Living Allowance
Student Accommodation Capped
Recently, the NSFAS student accommodation allowance underwent a change, essentially changing the amount that students receive to cover the cost of rent at private and university accommodation.
All institution owned or leased, as well as private accommodation, will be capped at R45,000 per academic year. Private accommodation allowances will be required to be paid directly to private accommodation service providers by NSFAS or institutions.
In order to make sure that students residing in university accommodations (private and public) have suitable living conditions, all student accommodation will be accredited using the Policy on the Minimum Norms and Standards For Student Housing (MNSFSH).
As always, a living allowance will be provided to all NSFAS-funded students at universities and who are not accommodated in catered residences, in order to cover food and other expenses.