NSFAS open for application

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has officially opened applications for the 2026 academic year, with the process set to close on 15 November 2025. 

Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela urged matriculants and prospective students to apply early and make use of this opportunity.

Speaking at a media briefing recently, on the state of readiness for the 2026 academic year, Minister Manamela said the department is projecting about 235 000 first-year university spaces. 

While this is a significant intake, he stressed that it cannot absorb all qualifying learners and encouraged applicants to also explore other post-school options, including Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges, Community Education and Training (CET) colleges, and Sector Education and Training Authority SETA-supported programmes, which provide valuable pathways into skills development, work, and further study.

Minister Manamela noted that while access to higher education has improved over the years, dropout rates, especially in the first year, remain high.

He said the department is currently in discussions with institutions to make student success rates more transparent, similar to how Grade 12 results are reported, so that “society can track not only how many enter the system, but also how many succeed.”

Currently, the Minister said the country’s universities accommodate around 1.1 million students, TVET colleges about 527 000, and CET colleges about 130 000 learners.

Through NSFAS, 900 000 students receive bursaries and loans annually, while SETAs provide thousands of learnerships, apprenticeships, and skills programmes every year, to the unemployed, those already in work, and those classified as not in employment, education or training.

Funding mechanisms

On student funding, Minister Manamela announced that the department has developed a mechanism to address the substantial shortfall experienced in the 2025 academic year.

By reprioritising R13.3 billion within existing resources, the department will support 34 000 students with blocked registrations and 15 000 students with second semester registrations.

This follows commitments made in August to stabilise the NSFAS and set in motion a sustainable funding model.

Manamela warned that the scheme remains financially strained due to an increasing number of students qualifying for post-school education and training funding; escalating cost of living, which has expanded the eligibility criteria; and declining state resources in real terms.

“We will later in the year announce steps towards the sustainable funding reforms for NSFAS,” he said.– SAnews.gov.za

For more information about NSFAS application visit www.nsfas.org.za