NSFAS Requirements for Returning Students 2025-2026

NSFAS Requirements for Returning Students 2025-2026, NSFAS Academic Requirements 2025

Are looking for financial assistance with your tertiary studies as a returning student? If you are then, NSFAS is the right financial aid scheme to help you finance your studies. Here are the requirements you need to know as a returning student.

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is a government grant that helps students who are poor to attend South African public universities or TVET Colleges.

Students who previously did not get support from the bursary scheme are also eligible for NSFAS funding in 2025.

What are the NSFAS Requirements for Returning Students?

To qualify for the NSFAS bursary for the 2025 academic sessions, each candidate must meet certain funding requirements. Therefore, the 2025 academic requirements for NSFAS returning students are as follows:

The applicant must be a citizen of South Africa
Must be a SASSA grant recipient
Must have a combined household income of R350 000 or less per annum
Disability need to have a combined household income of R600 000 or less per annum

You will be given a chance if you are a returning student from 2018 who meets the pre-2018 academic and financial requirements. Students who began their studies before 2018 must have a household income of less than R122,000 per year.

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NSFAS supports registration, tuition, and different subsidies for students. These stipends include travel, living expenses, and educational materials.

The allowances for Universities and TVET Colleges differ. Below are the differences:

Universities Allowances

Accommodation: As per the actual costs charged by the university (costs for private accommodation must not exceed costs for university residence)
Transport (up to 40 km from the institution): R7 500 per annum
Living allowance: R15, 000 per annum
Book allowance: R5200 per annum
Incidental/personal care allowance: R2900 per annum for students in catered residences

TVET Colleges allowances

Accommodation in an urban area: R24,000 per annum
Accommodation in a peri-urban area: R18,900 per annum
Accommodation in a rural area: R15,750 per annum
Transport (up to 40 km from the institution): R7,350 per annum
Transport: R7000 per annum
Incidental/personal care allowance: R2900 per annum

Students in their second year of study or who have previously studied without NSFAS financing are eligible to apply as long as they have not received any other sources of funding. Students who have previously achieved a qualification are not eligible to apply.

Do Returning Students Apply for NSFAS Again in 2025

Yes, if you applied for NSFAS in 2025 or prior years and your application was not approved but you still need funding for 2025, you have to apply again if you meet the funding requirements for the 2025 academic year.

How Does NSFAS Check Returning Student Status

If you are a returning student and wish to check your NSFAS application status for 2025, visit myNSFAS student portal at https://my.nsfas.org.za, log in with your username and password and click on “Track Funding Progress”.

Do Second-year Students Have to Apply for NSFAS 2025