Bursary
NSFAS bursary
Current national route
NSFAS 2026
Bursary vs loan — the practical difference
For qualifying students within the bursary rules. It can include approved tuition plus selected allowances.
Mainly relevant where income is above the normal bursary limit but still within the loan band, subject to the loan rules.
| Item | NSFAS bursary | NSFAS loan | What this basically means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Household income | or less Person with a disability: or less. Verified SASSA recipients automatically meet the financial test. | Undergraduate loan band. Postgraduate university loan: up to , subject to current loan rules. | Income is only one test. Institution, qualification, documents and academic rules still matter. |
| Registration + tuition | Approved institutional tuition cost for an NSFAS-funded programme. | Can be covered under the loan agreement. | The amount differs by institution and qualification; there is no single national tuition maximum. |
| Learning materials | Current NSFAS bursary page displays . | May be covered. | NSFAS warns that displayed allowance figures must be aligned to the latest DHET guideline; PathLens therefore shows the number with this caveat rather than calling it a verified 2026 cap. |
| Living allowance | Current NSFAS bursary page displays . | Not covered by the standard loan. | University students in catered accommodation can be treated differently because food/personal costs can be built into the accommodation arrangement. |
| Personal care | Current NSFAS bursary page displays for students in catered residences. | Not covered by the standard loan. | This is for personal/incidental needs where the applicable allowance category applies. |
| Transport | Current NSFAS bursary page displays for university students within the stated travel rules. | Not covered by the standard loan. | You generally qualify for transport or accommodation, not both. |
| Accommodation | University residence: approved actual cost. Private accommodation: subject to NSFAS/institution rules and caps. | May be covered where applicable. | There is no single amount for every student because accommodation type and location matter. |
| Disability support | Can include approved assistive devices, repairs/maintenance, assessment costs and university human support. | Not automatically equivalent to bursary disability support. | Support must be assessed and approved. |
| Overall maximum | No single fixed total. | No single fixed total. | Total support depends on actual approved tuition plus the allowance categories you qualify for. |
Illustrative allowance totals from the amounts currently displayed by NSFAS
R5,200.00 learning materials + R15,000.00 living + R7,500.00 transport. This is not a universal entitlement and excludes tuition.
R5,200.00 learning materials + R2,900.00 personal care + approved accommodation. Food may be built into catered accommodation.
TVET amounts currently displayed on the NSFAS bursary page
| Category | Displayed amount | Caveat |
|---|---|---|
| Urban accommodation | Displayed on the current NSFAS bursary page; not independently labelled as a verified 2026 cap. | |
| Peri-urban accommodation | Same caveat. | |
| Rural accommodation | Same caveat. | |
| Transport | The same page also displays R7,000.00 elsewhere, so PathLens flags the inconsistency. | |
| Personal care | Displayed amount; current-year alignment still needs confirmation. |
The 2026 eligibility guideline confirms the allowance categories and says NSFAS publishes the amounts annually. The NSFAS bursary-scheme page currently displays the figures above, but also warns they must be aligned with the latest approved DHET guidelines. So they are shown as the current NSFAS website display, not represented as independently verified 2026 caps.
The income NSFAS counts before tax and other deductions.
If a legal guardian applies, your income + legal guardian(s).
NSFAS combines those gross incomes.
Turning 18 does not automatically make you independent for NSFAS.
Current NSFAS guidance says this applies if you are over 34 and financially self-sufficient, or legally emancipated by a court.
How long can parental income apply? If you are unmarried, being 18, 21 or even older does not by itself remove your parent(s) from the household-income test. NSFAS currently says applicants 34 or younger use its declaration process to verify parent/guardian details. If you are over 34 and financially self-sufficient, only your own gross income is considered. A court-emancipated applicant is also assessed on their own income.
Impact: the normal bursary threshold is . The disability bursary threshold is . Clicking an underlined amount toggles annual/monthly view.
Who this route is for
- Institution
- public university, public tvet
- Citizenship / residence
- south african, permanent resident
- Study level
- certificate, undergraduate, tvet
- Income rule
- Standard bursary: · Disability:
What funding may cover
- Registration and tuition fees
- Learning materials
- Living allowance where applicable
- Personal care allowance where applicable
- Transport or approved accommodation where applicable
- Approved disability-related support where assessed and approved
Previous study and qualification rules
- Generally funds the first certificate or first undergraduate qualification within approved progression pathways.
- Does not fund a second undergraduate qualification where the applicant already obtained an undergraduate qualification.
- Does not fund a second certificate qualification where a certificate has already been obtained.
- TVET funding excludes duplicate previous learning that was state-funded.
Academic progression
- Must meet NSFAS academic progression requirements.
- N+ rules limit funded duration; disability students qualify for N+2 under current guidelines.
Your obligations
- Provide complete and accurate information and consent for financial verification.
- Remain academically eligible and within applicable progression/N+ rules.
- Use funding for approved study costs and comply with the bursary agreement.
- Notify/update required information and respond to document requests.