NSFAS Appealing Process 2026

Paying for higher education in South Africa can be stressful, but the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) helps many students by offering bursaries. These bursaries cover tuition and registration fees, and also provide allowances for living costs, study materials, and either accommodation or transport. Students with disabilities can also receive extra support, such as funding for medical assessments, assistive devices, caregivers, or sign language interpreters.

However, not all NSFAS applications get approved. If your application is rejected, you have the right to appeal. An appeal is simply a request for NSFAS to review their decision and consider your application again. According to the NSFAS Appeals Policy, you must submit your appeal within 30 days after receiving your rejection notice.

When appealing, you may need to provide extra documents or explain why you believe the decision should be changed. Common reasons for rejection include missing documents or your household income being above the required limit. Knowing the exact reason for the rejection will help you prepare a stronger appeal. You can check the status of your appeal through your myNSFAS account. The appeal process gives students another opportunity to access the financial support they need to continue their studies without unnecessary financial pressure.

Learn more: How To Apply For NSFAS Appeal 2026-2027

Who Can Appeal for NSFAS?

A student may file an appeal with the NSFAS if their financial aid application is denied or if their ongoing student financial aid is withdrawn.

The availability of funds will determine the appeal decisions.
Only students who have submitted a financial aid application to NSFAS will be eligible for an appeal

Who is not permitted to appeal for NSFAS?

Students are not permitted to appeal if they:

Are registered for a qualification that NSFAS does not fund;
They have reached N+2 (or N+3 in the case of students with disabilities).
The student is a gap year student whom NSFAS previously denied financial aid to because s/he did not meet the academic eligibility criteria.
If the institution has not submitted its registration record to NSFAS or has submitted an incorrect registration record, such inquiries should be directed to the institution.

Step-by-Step Guide to the NSFAS Appeal Process

If your NSFAS application was unsuccessful, you have the option to submit an appeal online through the myNSFAS portal. Here’s how you can do it:

Log in to your myNSFAS Account: Visit the official NSFAS website at www.nsfas.org.za and sign in using your account details.
Check Your Application Status: Go to the ‘Track Funding Progress’ or ‘Application Status’ section to see your current status.
Find Out Why Your Application Was Unsuccessful: If you see “unsuccessful” or “rejected,” click the ‘Submit Appeal’ tab. The system will display the reason for rejection, such as exceeding the income limit, not meeting academic requirements, or submitting incorrect documents.
Select Your Appeal Reason: Choose the reason for your appeal from the list provided on the portal.
Upload Supporting Documents: Attach certified documents that support your appeal, for example, proof of income, academic results, or corrected paperwork.
Submit Your Appeal: Click ‘Submit Appeal’ to send your request to NSFAS.
Track Your Appeal: You can check the progress of your appeal in your myNSFAS account. NSFAS will update you once they have made a decision. NSFAS Appealing Process 2026

How To Submit An Appeal

Log in to your MyNSFAS account
Click on the ‘Track Funding Progress’ portal
Click on the application progress tab
You can submit an appeal if you receive an unsuccessful message for your application status by
Clicking the ‘Submit Appeal Tab’.
The ‘Application Appeal page’ will then inform you of the reason why your application was unsuccessful
Next, choose the appeal reason
Make sure to upload certified supporting documents that can prove your appeal’s validity
Click on ‘Submit Appeal’
Your myNSFAS account will now allow you to track your appeal’s progress

Learn more: NSFAS Appeal Process For 2026-2027

Reasons for NSFAS Appeals and Rejection

Reasons for rejection based on financial eligibility. Unsuccessful based on SARS data:

Income greater than R350K
Income greater than R350K (first-time entering student)
Income greater than R600K (disabled student)

Unsuccessful based on Credit bureau data:

Income greater than R350K – Declared Income
Income greater than R350K – Credit Bureau

Unsuccessful based on declared income:

Income greater than R350K – Declared Income
Income greater than R600k (disabled student) – Declared income

CONTINUING STUDENTS: Appeal/s reasons

Continuing Students who failed to meet academic eligibility

Circumstances may vary

The student was ill for 2 months or more consecutively.
The student gave birth during the academic term
The death of an immediate family member during the academic year
The student was subject to a violent crime
Appealing N+

Issues with funding applications can be resolved through the NSFAS Appeals Process for 2026. To increase the likelihood that their appeal will be granted, applicants must get familiar with this procedure.

NSFAS Contact Details