By Lebone Rodah Mosima
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has received more than one million applications for the 2027 funding cycle from students seeking financial assistance to study at public universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges.
The scheme said the number of applications reflected continued demand for financial assistance among prospective students.
This marks an increase from the 868,626 applications recorded on the scheme’s latest application dashboard, dated 19 October 2026.
At the time, female applicants accounted for 616,558 applications (70.98%), while male applicants accounted for 252,068 (29.02%).
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NSFAS said the application period closes on 31 October 2026, with no extensions.
“Prospective applicants are urged to submit their applications before the closing date to avoid last-minute challenges and ensure that their applications are received within the stipulated period,” the scheme said.
Applications can be submitted through the official NSFAS website, www.nsfas.org.za, or the NSFAS mobile application.
The scheme said applicants required to provide supporting documentation must upload the relevant documents through the official application platform.
It urged prospective applicants to review the requirements applicable to their circumstances and ensure that all necessary documents were submitted.
“Missing documentation, incomplete information or incorrect details may affect the verification and processing of an application,” NSFAS said.
As part of efforts to ensure eligible students have access to financial assistance, the NSFAS Board will participate in a final-push outreach programme ahead of the application deadline.
The programme will intensify efforts to reach prospective students, particularly those in rural communities, townships and areas where access to information and application assistance may be limited.
The board called on learners, parents, guardians, educators, community organisations and other stakeholders to help disseminate accurate information and encourage prospective students to apply before the deadline.
