What Are The NSFAS Requirements 2025-2026?

South African students who choose to pursue higher education continue to depend mainly on the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). For those looking for financial assistance, knowing the most recent NSFAS requirements is essential as the 2025-2026 semester draws near.

Understanding the past and current requirements can offer important insights into what to anticipate, even though specifics on the coming year may be disclosed closer to the application deadline. This post will guide you through the NSFAS requirements if you’re hoping to get financial aid for your studies. That way, you’ll be ready to start your learning with confidence.

NSFAS Application 2025 Closing Date

NSFAS sets specific application deadlines for each academic year. Missing the deadline can lead to your application being rejected. It’s essential to keep track of these deadlines and submit your application well before the cutoff date. Application for the 2025-2026 academic session will close on 31 January 2025, apply on time to avoid any embarrassment or disappointment because NSFAS will not accept late applications for 2025.

Who is Eligible For Nsfas 2025-2026

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.

The NSFAS Requirements 2025-2026?

Academic Eligibility Criteria

The percentage of course credits that a student earns during the academic year will be used to calculate the academic progression requirements. Institutions and NSFAS will gradually align the standards for academic advancement.

First Time Entering Students (FTEN) are required to have a 50% course credit pass rate from their previous academic term as of 2024.
By 2024, students who want to continue their education must have completed their previous academic term with a course credit pass rate of 55%.

Financial Eligibility Criteria

Prospective students seeking financing for the first time, as well as continuing and returning students, are evaluated based on their financial eligibility.

In cases where the applicant or student is single, household income is the total of the gross income (from all sources) of the applicant or student, the biological mother, and the biological father.
In cases where the applicant or student is under legal guardianship, the household income is the whole of the applicant’s or legal guardian’s gross income (from all sources).
If the student or applicant is married, the total gross income of the student’s spouse and the student or applicant constitutes the household income (from all sources).
To prove they are not receiving financial aid from SASSA, applicants or students who are single and not reliant on their parents must provide a social work report or a court order.

Social Grants Recipients (SASSA)

Any student who is a South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) recipient, as validated by NSFAS, automatically meets the financial eligibility criteria and will be eligible for a bursary award if they are registered at an institution and are academically eligible

Non–Social Grants Recipients (NON-SASSA)

Beginning with the academic year 2024, all students (except those with impairments), regardless of when they initially enrolled at a particular school, will be deemed financially eligible if their household income is R350,000 or less.
If an applicant’s household income is R600,000 or less, they will be considered financially eligible even if they live with a disability.
In addition to the declared household income, NSFAS will examine any third-party data source to assess an applicant’s financial eligibility.

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

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.
Apply now: To amend your personal information and upload the supporting documents for your application, click the “Apply” option.
Complete: Submit your application

For details, go to https://www.nsfas.org.za

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