Checked 20 August 2026

NSFAS application 2027

Applications for the main 2027 cycle are not open yet. The opening and closing dates have not been announced. Prepare now and submit only after NSFAS opens the official cycle.

Latest opening-date update Visit official NSFAS site ↗

Do not use an estimated deadline

NSFAS closed its previous main cycle on 15 November 2025. That is a useful reminder that dates can change from year to year—not a deadline for 2027. Wait for the official announcement before planning around a September opening or 31 January closing date.

Prepare your 2027 application now

  1. 1. Check your account

    Create or recover myNSFAS access

    Use an email address and cellphone number you control. Correct identity details with Home Affairs if verification fails.

  2. 2. Gather identity documents

    Get clear copies ready

    The current checklist includes the applicant’s ID or birth certificate and parent, guardian or spouse IDs. Copy both sides of a smart ID card.

  3. 3. Prepare financial evidence

    Collect proof of income if required

    The portal will tell you what applies. SASSA recipients and applicants in other circumstances may follow different evidence requirements.

  4. 4. Download the right forms

    Use the new cycle’s official forms

    Disability, consent, vulnerable-child and family-detail declarations apply only in relevant cases. Do not reuse an old form after 2027 forms are released.

This checklist reflects NSFAS’s current published requirements and may change for 2027. Check the official requirements ↗

Current eligibility baseline

NSFAS has not yet published final 2027 rules. Its current application guidance uses these core checks:

Bursary route

  • South African citizen or permanent resident
  • Combined gross household income of R350,000 or less per year
  • R600,000 or less for an applicant living with a disability
  • Study at a public university or TVET college in an approved programme

Common exclusions

  • Private-institution study
  • A qualification not approved by DHET or accredited by SAQA
  • Receiving 100% study funding from another source
  • Some duplicate or second qualifications

How to apply when the 2027 cycle opens

  1. 1

    Go to the official NSFAS website

    Open www.nsfas.org.za and select the myNSFAS button.

  2. 2

    Create or sign in to your profile

    Use your own identity and contact details. Complete any verification steps.

  3. 3

    Choose Apply

    Make sure the form is labelled for the 2027 academic cycle before entering information.

  4. 4

    Complete every required section

    Answer accurately and upload the documents requested for your circumstances.

  5. 5

    Submit and save confirmation

    Submit before the official closing time, then keep the reference or confirmation screen.

Protect your application

  • • NSFAS applications are free.
  • • Never share your password or one-time PIN.
  • • Start at nsfas.org.za, not a link from a message.
  • • Check the cycle year before submitting.

NSFAS application FAQs

When can I apply for NSFAS for 2027?
The main 2027 application cycle is not open and NSFAS has not announced the opening or closing date. As of 20 August 2026, its latest official notice says the national-cycle dates will be published soon.
Can I submit an NSFAS 2027 application now?
No. You can prepare your myNSFAS account and supporting documents now, but you cannot submit a main-cycle 2027 application until NSFAS opens that cycle. The separate August 2026 TVET Trimester 3 intake is not the 2027 national cycle.
Where do I apply for NSFAS?
Use www.nsfas.org.za and select the myNSFAS button. NSFAS applications are free. Do not pay an agent, share your password or enter personal details on an unofficial application form.
What is the NSFAS household-income limit?
Under the current published criteria, the bursary limit is combined gross household income of R350,000 or less per year, or R600,000 or less for a person living with a disability. NSFAS may publish updated rules for the 2027 cycle.
Can a permanent resident apply for NSFAS?
The current NSFAS 2026 eligibility page includes South African citizens and permanent residents. Applicants must also meet the financial and study requirements that apply to their funding route.