NSFAS is not SASSA. But the two work closely together. If anyone in your home gets a SASSA grant, you will usually pass the NSFAS means test straight away. That is because the SASSA income limit sits below the NSFAS one. This section covers the NSFAS basics. How to apply on nsfas.org.za. How to check your application and your funding status. How the monthly allowances work, including accommodation, transport, learning material and personal care. And how to appeal when you are turned down. It also shows where NSFAS and SASSA overlap, and where they do not. You will see how NSFAS treats a Child Support Grant home next to a Foster Care home. You will also see what happens when a parent moves from SRD R370 to a permanent grant in the middle of the year. Still deciding between the two? Start with the sassa-vs-nsfas comparison in the compare hub.
What’s inside NSFAS guides
NSFAS pays tuition and living costs for students from lower income homes. Your household must earn under the yearly means limit. This hub walks you through it. You will find the application window on nsfas.org.za. You will find what each allowance covers, including accommodation, transport, personal care, learning material and meals. You will find what to do when an application is turned down. And you will find why families who already get a SASSA grant qualify on the spot.
These guides are written for four groups. Matriculants applying for a first year at a public university or TVET college. Returning students checking that their funding carries on. Parents on the R580 Child Support Grant or the R2,400 Old Age Pension who want to know how automatic qualification works. And students who were turned down and need to appeal in time. One note for postgraduates. NSFAS funds honours in a few fields only. Masters and PhD money comes from the NRF, not from NSFAS.
2026 updates that matter
NSFAS is still taking applications for the 2026 academic year. You apply online at nsfas.org.za. Does anyone in your home get a SASSA grant? Then your household passes the NSFAS means test automatically. That covers the R370 SRD, the R580 Child Support Grant, the R2,400 Old Age Pension, the R2,400 Disability Grant and the R1,290 Foster Care Grant. Bring two things with your supporting documents. The grant holder’s ID, and their latest SASSA payment confirmation letter.
Allowances are paid into the NSFAS wallet or an approved bank account. Accommodation is different. The university pays the landlord straight, for both campus res and accredited private housing. Is your allowance late? Check the NSFAS status portal first. If that shows nothing wrong, take it to your institution’s financial aid office. One last thing. The SRD R370 grant does not block you from NSFAS. The two serve different purposes and you may hold both while you study.
Frequently asked questions
Do SASSA grant recipients qualify for NSFAS automatically?
Yes. Any home with a SASSA grant holder passes the NSFAS means test. Send the grant holder’s ID and their latest SASSA confirmation with your application.
Can I get SRD R370 while studying on NSFAS?
Yes, as long as you stay under the SRD R624 monthly income limit. Your NSFAS allowance does not count as income for the SRD. It is set aside for study costs.
How do I appeal a NSFAS rejection?
Log in to nsfas.org.za and open the appeals section. Upload your supporting papers. That could be proof of the SASSA grant, a death certificate or a retrenchment letter. Appeal inside the published window or it will not be heard.
What allowances does NSFAS pay?
Tuition and registration fees. Accommodation, in res or accredited private housing. Transport, if you do not live in res. A personal care allowance. A learning material allowance. And meals, where your institution offers them.
When are NSFAS allowances paid?
Once a month during the academic year, usually by mid-month. Expect delays early in the year. Your registration data still has to reach NSFAS.
Does NSFAS fund TVET college students?
Yes. NSFAS funds NCV and Report 191 (Nated) programmes at public TVET colleges. The tuition and allowances work much like the university scheme.
Can NSFAS be combined with a bursary?
Only if the other bursary allows it. Many of them shut out NSFAS students. Declare every source of funding. If you hide one, the money can be taken back.