The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has confirmed that funding has been approved for more than one million students for the 2026 academic year. This announcement will financially assist students from low-income families who require funding to attend public universities and TVET colleges across South Africa.
Strong Approval Numbers for New and Returning Students
NSFAS reported that a significant portion of approved funding has been allocated to first-time applicants while hundreds of thousands of continuing students met the academic progression requirements needed to remain funded. The NSFA approved these applications after a highly competitive application process which received an exceptionally high number of applications for the 2026 intake.
What NSFAS Funding Covers
The approved students will receive complete financial support which includes tuition fees, accommodation, learning materials, meals, and transport allowances based on their personal requirements and their educational institution needs. The funding enables eligible students to register for classes and attend without needing to make any advance payment. Continuing students must maintain satisfactory academic performance to keep their funding active each year.
Importance of Keeping Personal Details Updated
NSFAS has reminded funded students to ensure that their personal information, contact details, and banking information are accurate and up to date on the myNSFAS system. The academic year registration and orientation period will cause delayed allowance payments because of incorrect or outdated details.
How to Check Your NSFAS Application Status
The myNSFAS online portal allows applicants to check their funding status when they enter their South African ID number and password. After students log in they can check their application status which shows one of these results: approved, provisionally funded, rejected, or incomplete. The application process remains incomplete because the applicant needs to submit additional documents.
What to Do If Your Funding Was Not Approved
Students whose applications were unsuccessful still have the opportunity to submit an appeal within the official NSFAS appeal window. The appeals process requires valid documentation which must address the reason for rejection through proof of household income changes or submission of missing information. The submission of an appeal requires timely completion because any appeal submitted after this deadline will not receive consideration.
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