NSFAS Application Opening Date For 2025-2026

NSFAS Application Opening Date For 2025-2026; www.nsfas.org.za apply

As the new academic year approaches, Thousands of South African students are eagerly preparing to take the next step in their educational journey. For many, the National Student Financial Aid Scheme provides the important financial support needed to turn their academic dreams into reality.

If you are willing to apply for funding from NSFAS, it’s important to know when the opening date for application 2025-2026 is. The bursary application season, which opened on 21 November 2024, will close on 31 January 2025.

Simply stay on this page to ensure you don’t lose out on this important option as we give you the most recent information on NSFAS application dates and requirements. NSFAS Application Opening Date For 2025-2026

NSFAS Application Opening Date For 2025-2026

Potential students can apply for financial aid during the NSFAS funding application season, which usually opens within a certain duration. The exact dates for the 2025-2026 academic year begin on 21st November 2025 and close on 31st January 2026. Therefore eligible qualified students are encouraged to apply before the closing date of the application.

Eligibility Criteria for 2025-2026 NSFAS

If you are a citizen of South Africa, intend to enrol in school in 2025, or are enrolled in a public university or TVET college and match the following criteria, you are eligible for an NSFAS bursary:

SASSA grant recipients
South African citizens or permanent residents
Candidates whose annual gross household income combined is not greater than R350 000
individuals with disabilities whose annual gross family income is not greater than R600,000.
Both a cell phone number and email address are required.

www.nsfas.org.za apply

Who should not apply for NSFAS 2025 

Students who have previously applied for and been awarded financing, are not yet finished with their current degree and have no intention of switching from one industry to another (TVET College to University or vice versa). If they pass all of their modules and fulfil the academic standards, they will get automatic funding for the remainder of their study. NSFAS Application Opening Date For 2025-2026

NSFAS Documents for 2025 Applications

You will need the following support for your NSFAS online application 2025:

You must provide a copy of your student ID / Birth certificate
A copy of the parent/s or guardian/spouse’s ID
A Smart card: both sides of the card required
Proof of income (where applicable)
Persons living with disability (Disability Annexure A form)
A vulnerable child must provide a completed Vulnerable Child Declaration form completed by a social worker
An applicant who has indicated that he/she has no family member details and or abridged birth certificate must complete the Declaration: Non-SASSA

What does the NSFAS bursary cover?

NSFAS will cover your costs for the following:

Accommodation
Living allowance
Learning material allowance
Personal care allowance

UNISA students will receive funding for:

Tuition
Books (subject to the number of modules registered)
Personal care allowance

www.nsfas.org.za apply 2025

Eligible students with a disability will receive funding for:

Assistive Devices
Meals
Tuition
Transport
Tuition
Human Support
Accommodation

Other documents that may be required, if applicable

Retrenchment letter
Death certificate/s
Divorce Decree
Proof of legal guardianship
Marriage certificate
other documents may be required for appeal purposes,….eg retrenchment letter

NSFAS Application Opening Date For 2025-2026

How To Apply For Nsfas 2025

Follow the process below to apply online for the NSFAS bursaries for 2025-2026:

Create a profile:

Use this link to register for a myNSFAS account: https://my.nsfas.org.za/ or get the NSFAS App from the App Store or Google Play. Your username will be your ID number.