Closing Date for NSFAS 2025 Application—The Online Application for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) 2025 will commence in November 2024. Academic Intake will be available until January 31, 2025. We are writing to remind all interested students that the NSFAS Funding 2025 application deadline is quickly approaching. To apply for the NSFAS Bursary 2025, you must use the online application portal at www.nsfas.org.za. Do yourself a favour and submit your 2024 application on time; NSFAS will not tolerate embarrassing late applications.

Are you a student in South Africa who wants to go to college but is worried about how you’ll pay for it? Stop searching now! Your educational goals might become a reality with the help of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). Unfortunately, limited funds are available, so getting NSFAS financing can be a highly competitive process. To ensure a smooth process, we have gathered important ideas and tactics to increase your chances of receiving NSFAS financing for the 2025 academic year.

About NSFAS

The National Student Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is a student financial assistance plan run by the South African government that helps undergraduate students pay for their higher education after graduating high school. The Department of Training and Higher Education provides the funding. Additionally, the programme oversees scholarships provided by other Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs), including the Funza Lushaka Teacher Bursary, the DHET Disability Bursary, and others.

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFS) was founded in 1996 and replaced the Tertiary Education Fund of South Africa (TEFSA) in 1999. From its inception until 2000, the non-profit organisation known as the TEFSA programme oversaw the operations of NSFAS. After its transformation into NSFAS in 1999, TEFSA became a statutory entity. More than R30 billion (in 2018) in financing came from the Department of Higher Education and Training, with additional help from foreign and local donors. This allowed the plan to run. For “full-time” students, the bursaries pay for everything from tuition to housing to food and transportation costs, while for “part-time” students, it’s just for tuition.

NSFAS 2025 Application Eligibility 

You qualify for NSFAS bursary for the 2025 academic year if:

• You have an email address and cell phone number
• You are a South African citizen / permanent resident
• You are an SASSA recipient, you automatically qualify for financial eligibility
• Your combined gross household income does not exceed R350 000 per annum
• Your combined gross household income (persons living with disabilities) does not exceed R600 000 per annum
• First Time Entering Students must achieve a course credit pass rate of 50% for their previous academic term
• Continuing university students must achieve a course credit pass rate of 55% for their previous academic term

NSFAS 2025 Application Requirements

Everyone wanting to apply for NSFAS 2025 online must submit the following supporting documents:

• A certified copy of your birth certificate.
• A certified copy of your Identity Document.
• Your own cellphone number and email address
• If parents are divorced, a certified copy of the divorce decree.
• A Vulnerable Child Declaration and Consent Form, if applicable.
• No proof of income is required if you are a SASSA grant recipient.
• Certified copies of ID for each household member ( parents or legal guardian).
• Applicants with a disability must submit a completed and signed Disability Annexure A Form.

Please Note: Ensure that all required documents are attached and submitted as per the guidelines.

Application portal

A student must submit an appeal form within 30 days of receiving their application results. Familiarize yourself with the appeal process and ensure you have a valid reason for appealing. To submit an appeal, follow the procedure below:

1. Go to myNSFAS portal at https://my.nsfas.org.za
2. Login to myNSFAS Student profile
3. Provide the requested information.
4. Submit your appeal form online for review

Step-by-step application process

The NSFAS Online Application for the 2025 academic year is very simple, easy, and accurate. The NSFAS online application system is designed so that when applying online, you will be prompted to make changes to incorrect or missing information.

Follow the comprehensive steps below to submit your NSFAS Application 2024 via my.nsfas.org.za

1. Go to your browser on your computer or smartphone
2. Enter NSFAS website www.nsfas.org.za in the search bar
3. Click on the “myNSFAS” tab at the top right menu of the NSFAS homepage
4. Create myNSFAS account. If you have one, log in to myNSFAS portal
5. After that, Click on the ‘APPLY’ tab to begin the application process
6. Fill out the online application form with your details as requested
7. Upload all the required supporting documents where applicable
8. Complete the sections on the screen and submit your application for review

If you don’t have a digital device or access to the internet, don’t worry. Just go to your nearest National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) or Thusong Centre to submit your NSFAS online application for the 2024 academic year, following the same steps above. Applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria for NSFAS funding for the 2024 academic year will get feedback as soon as their applications are processed.

Closing date or deadline for NSFAS 2025 Application

Currently, applications for NSFAS Funding generally begin from September to January due to COVID-19 regulations. Below are the estimated dates for the 2025 academic session.

• Application opening: November 2024
• Application closing: 31 January 2025 (Wednesday) at 12:00 am

NSFAS Application Status or Outcomes 2024-2025

NSFAS will review your application, including your certified supporting documents, academic performance, etc. After a thorough review, NSFAS will inform you whether your application was successful or unsuccessful. To know if your application was successful or unsuccessful, you need to check your NSFAS Application status. How can you check or track the NSFAS Application Status for 2025?

To check or track NSFAS Application Status 2025, follow the steps outlined below:

1. Go to NSFAS status check website: https://my.nsfas.org.za
2. Login with your ID number and password
3. Then, you click on the “Sign In” button
4. Click on “Track Funding Progress” to check NSFAS application status for 2025

You might see the following after checking your application status:

• Application Submitted: Your application has been received by NSFAS.
• Application Approved: NSFAS has approved your funding request.
• Application Rejected: Unfortunately, your application was not successful.
• Pending: NSFAS is still processing your application.