The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) acting board chairperson, Dr Mugwena Maluleke, shared key information applicants must know to avoid missed opportunities and funding complications.

“The National Student Financial Aid Scheme has processed all 2026 funding applications prior to the start of the academic year, as committed to by December 31,” he said.

According to Maluleke, 609 653 applications were approved, with 203 731 in progress, 16 862 cancelled and 49 568 rejected after rigorous review.

2026 upfront allowance payment:

On February 1, the NSFAS said it will issue an upfront payment covering the full book allowance, a month of meals, accommodation, personal care and travel allowances. Universities will be responsible for ensuring that these funds are correctly disbursed to eligible students.

What students must know about the NSFAS allowances and accommodation for 2026:

Maluleke said the NSFAS is upgrading its accommodation portal to allow students to apply for accommodation, track their application status, accept offers and report maintenance issues on a single platform.

The portal will also be linked to institutional student management systems to automatically verify student registration and NSFAS eligibility.

He added that it will introduce a data-driven reporting and reconciliation system to ensure clearer and faster reconciliation between the NSFAS and accommodation providers.

This is expected to lead to quicker payments and encourage more providers to continue participating. Monthly occupancy and payment reports will be generated directly from the central system.

The NSFAS stated that it is considering introducing an in-house accommodation payment system, which would shift payments from third-party providers directly to the NSFAS. This move is aimed at improving financial management, strengthening accountability and ensuring more efficient payments to accommodation providers and students.

How the NSFAS payments will work for TVET colleges:

The MyNSFAS Manager Portal is open for 2026 registration data uploads. Beneficiaries at TVET colleges will continue to receive their allowances directly into their bank accounts.

The NSFAS added that colleges must ensure students accurately capture and verify their banking details on the portal, as payments will not be made to third-party or institutional accounts.

Maluleke said the 2026 registration template has been updated to allow colleges to indicate students’ accommodation types and participation in occupational programmes. This will help streamline verification processes and the distribution of funds.

Any changes to student registration data must be made only during the designated adjustment periods, which the NSFAS will announce, and are subject to budget availability.

The NSFAS will advance tuition payments to TVET colleges on January 31 to support effective cash flow at the start of the academic year.

The upfront payment will be calculated at 20% of each college’s 2025 tuition allocation. The NSFAS added that all subsequent tuition payments will be made only after valid and verified registration data has been submitted.

2026 appeals process:
The NSFAS has streamlined the appeals process for 2026. The appeals window opens as soon as application outcomes are communicated, and the final deadline for submitting appeals is January 14.

The scheme added that outcomes will be communicated by February 16, and students must submit all supporting documentation within 30 days of receiving their outcome notification.

Maluleke shared the following message with the 2024 matriculants, “On behalf of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, I congratulate you on reaching this milestone in your educational journey. As you prepare to embark on the next phase of higher education and training, we stand ready to support you in the pursuit of your aspirations.”