Checked 12 October 2026
NSFAS application 2027
Applications are open now and close at 23:59 on 31 October 2026. Apply free on myNSFAS or the official NSFAS app, and apply to your university or TVET college separately.
The deadline is 31 October 2026, not 18 November
The minister’s launch speech mentioned 18 November, but NSFAS’s website and board say applications close at 23:59 on 31 October 2026 and will not be extended. NSFAS says unreadable or missing documents and unsigned consent forms are the main causes of delays, so leave time to fix them.
How to apply on myNSFAS
- 1
Open myNSFAS
Go to my.nsfas.org.za or open the official NSFAS app (links on www.nsfas.org.za). You can apply on a phone and finish later; your progress is saved.
- 2
Create or sign in to your profile
New applicants register with their own ID number, cellphone number and email address; a one-time PIN activates the profile. Already registered? Sign in with your ID number and password. Do not create a second account.
- 3
Select Apply and complete your details
Enter your personal details exactly as on your ID, your institution of choice and your household income. There are options for a deceased or unknown parent.
- 4
Give consent
Print the 2027 consent form, complete it in capital letters and black ink, and get every required person to sign it by hand.
- 5
Upload your documents
myNSFAS lists the documents your application needs. Upload clear PDF or JPEG files of up to 20 MB each, with every corner visible.
- 6
Review and submit
Check every section, accept the declaration and press Submit. A saved draft is not assessed.
- 7
Save your reference number
NSFAS shows a reference number on screen and sends an SMS. Keep it for tracking and for any query.
Documents and forms for 2027
Everyone
- Your South African ID (both sides of a smart ID card), or an unabridged birth certificate if you are under 18
- The signed 2027 consent form. NSFAS says applications without an accurate, signed consent form are closed and marked rejected.
Only if it applies to you
- Proof of income for working parents, a guardian or spouse: payslips for the last three months, a UIF statement, or an affidavit for informal income
- Nothing for income if your household gets a Child Support, Foster Child or Care Dependency grant, as NSFAS verifies it with SASSA
- Death certificate for a deceased parent or guardian; divorce decree; marriage certificate and spouse’s ID; or court proof of legal guardianship
- ID copies of parents or a guardian if the portal asks for them
Official 2027 forms
- 2027 Consent Form (PDF) ↗
Everyone. Signed by you and by each parent, guardian or spouse whose details are on your application.
- 2027 Declaration Form (PDF) ↗
Applicants aged 34 or younger, to confirm parent or guardian details, especially where they do not match Home Affairs records.
- 2027 Disability Annexure (PDF) ↗
Applicants with a disability. Completed by a medical practitioner and uploaded with the medical report as one file.
- 2027 Orphan or Vulnerable Child Declaration (PDF) ↗
Applicants under 18 who are orphans or vulnerable children. Completed with a social worker or authorised official.
Form rules printed by NSFAS: capital letters, black ink, handwritten signatures only (no electronic signatures) and no correction fluid. Use the 2027 versions; last year’s forms are a common reason documents are sent back.
Who qualifies for NSFAS 2027
NSFAS has not published separate 2027 funding guidelines yet. Its current FAQ and 2026 guidelines use these rules:
Bursary
- South African citizen or permanent resident
- Studying, or planning to study, an approved qualification at a public university or TVET college
- Combined gross household income of R350,000 or less a year
- R600,000 or less for an applicant with a disability
- Verified SASSA Child Support, Foster Care or Care Dependency grant recipients meet the financial test automatically; the SRD grant does not count
Missing-middle loan
- Undergraduate: household income between R350,000 and R600,000 a year
- Postgraduate university study: household income of R600,000 or less
- Must be repaid under the loan agreement
- Covers tuition and registration, learning materials and accommodation where applicable, but not living, personal-care or transport allowances
Who must apply in this cycle
- First-time applicants, including Grade 12 learners who are still writing exams
- Senior students who were not NSFAS-funded in their last academic term
- Students moving between a TVET college and a university
- Continuing NSFAS-funded students generally do not reapply
Common exclusions
- Study at a private college or university
- A qualification NSFAS does not fund
- Applicants who are neither citizens nor permanent residents
- Other funding: NSFAS adjusts its funding, and you must tell NSFAS and your institution within 10 days
After you apply
- Missing documents: if NSFAS asks for more information, you have 30 working days to upload it.
- By 30 November 2026: NSFAS plans to finish its funding decisions, then audit them from 1 to 9 December.
- December 2026: outcomes are communicated to successful applicants.
- 10–24 December 2026: appeal window, with appeal outcomes planned by 9 January 2027.
- Registration: funding is confirmed only once you register at a public university or TVET college.
Protect your application
- • NSFAS applications are free.
- • Never share your password or one-time PIN.
- • Start at nsfas.org.za or my.nsfas.org.za, not a link from a message.
- • Report fraud to [email protected].
NSFAS application FAQs
- When can I apply for NSFAS for 2027?
- Now. The 2027 application cycle opened on 18 September 2026 and closes at 23:59 South African time on 31 October 2026. NSFAS says there will be no extension, so apply well before the final week.
- Do I need to apply again if I already get NSFAS?
- Usually not. Under NSFAS’s 2026 guidelines, continuing students who were funded in the previous academic term do not reapply each year. You must apply if you are new to NSFAS, a senior student who was not NSFAS-funded in your last academic term, or moving between a TVET college and a university.
- Where do I apply for NSFAS?
- Apply on myNSFAS at my.nsfas.org.za or in the official NSFAS app linked from www.nsfas.org.za. Applying is free. Do not pay an agent, share your password or one-time PIN, or enter your details on an unofficial form.
- What is the NSFAS household-income limit for 2027?
- For a bursary, combined gross household income must be R350,000 or less a year, or R600,000 or less for an applicant with a disability. Verified SASSA grant recipients automatically meet the financial requirement. Undergraduate applicants from households earning between R350,000 and R600,000 fall into the missing-middle loan range.
- Does the SRD grant count as a SASSA grant for NSFAS?
- No. NSFAS’s 2026 guidelines count the Child Support, Foster Care and Care Dependency grants received in the previous three years, and exclude the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant.
- Can a permanent resident apply for NSFAS?
- Yes. NSFAS’s FAQ says South African citizens and permanent residents who plan to study, or are already studying, at a public university or TVET college can apply, provided they meet the other requirements.
- What happens after I submit my NSFAS application?
- You get a reference number on screen and by SMS. If NSFAS asks for more documents, you have 30 working days to upload them. NSFAS plans to finish funding decisions by 30 November 2026 and communicate outcomes in December, with appeals from 10 to 24 December 2026.