THE Minister of Higher Education and Training, Buti Manamela, officially launched the 2027 NSFAS application cycle on September 18. NSFAS has helped open the doors for many South African students to access funding to further their studies after high school.

Also read: EmpowerU helps get learners into university

Improving systems at NSFAS

Manamela said that NSFAS has spent the last four months working to improve and strengthen the stability, governance, effectiveness and ability to provide financial assistance to students who depend on it to access and complete their education and training.

Last year’s cycle saw a record number of applicants, highlighting the growing demand for the financial assistance. This year, NSFAS will be cracking down on the process to reduce errors and make student and bank verification as strong as possible.

The application cycle

The application cycle is open and will close on October 31 with successful candidates being communicated by December.

Eligibility

To apply, students must meet the following criteria:

• A South African citizen
• Enrolling at a public university or TVET college
• Studying an approved undergraduate qualification

For the financial criteria, you qualify if:

• Sassa grant recipients
• Combined household income under R350 000
• Household income under R600 000 for disabilities

If your household income lies between R350 001 and R600 000, you can qualify for NSFAS’ loan scheme.

How to apply?

To apply visit www.my.nsfas.org.za and follow the steps.

For more Southlands Sun news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.

Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and get news delivered straight to your inbox.