The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has approved funding for 626 935 first-time applicants for 2026. At the same time, 427 144 continuing university students have met the academic progression criteria to receive support for the new academic year.
The update was shared by Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela during a media briefing on the state of the Post-School Education and Training (PSET) sector on Thursday.
Manamela said NSFAS remains critical in expanding access to higher education for poor and working-class students, even as the system faces growing financial pressure.
Record demand for NSFAS funding in 2026
NSFAS received close to 900 000 applications for the 2026 academic year, marking one of the highest demand levels in the scheme’s history.
According to NSFAS data, as previously reported:
- More than 66% of applicants are women
- Over half of all applications come from SASSA beneficiaries, highlighting the scheme’s role in supporting low-income households
While highlighting NSFAS’s impact, Manamela acknowledged that improvements in basic education and broader economic constraints continue to place pressure on the funding model.
He said short-term stabilisation measures are in place, while work continues on medium-term funding reforms, including the expansion of the “missing middle” fund.
The Minister also pointed to the growing role of Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) in widening access to funding, particularly for students who do not qualify for NSFAS.
During the 2025/26 funding cycle, SETAs are supporting:
- More than 15 000 new bursary beneficiaries
- Nearly 8 000 continuing beneficiaries
- With a combined value of close to R2 billion
Manamela said diversifying funding sources helps reduce reliance on NSFAS and strengthens the overall resilience of the higher education funding system.
NSFAS allowance payments are expected to begin in early February, in line with the start of the 2026 academic year.
Students are advised to ensure their application status and banking details are up to date to avoid payment delays.
