Categories: NSFAS Online Application 2024-2025

NSFAS Allowance 2025-2026

Blade Nzimande, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, has given a list of recent financial allowances to students who earn NSFAS funding (National Student Financial Aid Scheme) as bursary students.

During a media briefing on NSFAS funding, Nzimande revealed the 2025 student allowances for Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) bursary students. He was speaking to journalists after a shooting at Wits University that took the life of Mthokozisi Ntumba, a 35-year-old civilian who had recently completed his master’s degree. Students who were enrolled before 2025 and are on the departmental grant system are eligible for the allowances.

Types Of NSFAS Allowances

Tuition Fees
Accommodation Allowance
Living Allowance
Transport Allowance
Book Allowance

Eligibility For NSFAS Allowance

To qualify for NSFAS Allowance, Applicants must meet specific criteria;

South African Citizenship
Financial Need
Academic Requirements
Disbursement of Allowances

PAYMENT OF ALLOWANCES: NSFAS Allowance 2025-2026

The following financial allowances will be paid to students who are part of the DHET bursary scheme:

The learning material allowance is provided to all students and stays at R5200 for the academic year 2025. Students may use this money to buy electronic equipment to help them with their research, as long as they follow the relevant university policies and schemes. For the distribution of laptops to students, some institutions will use the NSFAS mechanism.

For the academic year 2025, the living allowance for full-time students enrolled in communication research will remain at R15 000, and the incidental allowance will remain at R2900. The incidental allowance is contained in the R15000 for teachers. This is provided to students who live in catering housing and have their meal expenses paid by the bursary.

The R2900 incidental payment will apply to UNISA and distance-learning students who are participating in an equal full-time course and who are applying for NSFAS.

For the 2025 academic year, the travel allowance, which is provided to students who live at home or in non-accredited housing and therefore do not earn a lodging allowance, stands at a limit of R7500.

In terms of allowances, Nzimanded added that the policy arrangements stated in the 2023 Guidelines will be maintained for 2025.

How To Apply for NSFAS Allowances