NSFAS 2027 Applications
Take the next step towards your education. Apply for NSFAS funding for the 2027 academic year — free to apply, online, on any device.
APPLICATIONS OPEN
18 September2026
APPLICATIONS CLOSE
31 October2026
Funding Dreams. Empowering Futures.
Start here
This site walks you through the full NSFAS application journey — from creating your myNSFAS account to reading your funding status. Do the three things below and you have applied.
Step one
Register with your South African ID number, cellphone number and email address. Already have an account? Sign in and go straight to your application.
Step two
Fill in your personal and household information, give consent, and upload your supporting documents. You can save and come back before you submit.
Step three
Keep your reference number safe. Sign in to myNSFAS at any time to see where your application is and whether anything is needed from you.
How to apply
Follow your NSFAS application journey step by step. Open a step to see what you will be asked for — the screen on the right changes with you.
Eligibility
Four quick questions. Nothing you enter is stored or sent anywhere, and this is not an application.
Question 1 of 4
Choose one option to continue.
Supporting documents
Have clear copies ready before you start. Photos taken on your phone are fine as long as every corner is visible and the text can be read.
Gives NSFAS permission to verify your details, and those of your parent, guardian or spouse, against third-party sources. Signed by you and by them.
Confirms your parent or guardian details. Only applicants aged 34 and under need to complete this one.
Completed and signed by you and a medical practitioner. Submit it together with your medical report as one file.
For applicants under 18 who are orphaned, or who are vulnerable children. Completed by a social worker or an authorised official.
Check each one before you upload. Fixing it now is faster than appealing later.
Complete the forms in capital letters, in black ink, in clear handwriting. Every correction must be initialled by everyone who signed.
Consent form Support documents
Virtual tour
Walk through the myNSFAS screens without signing in. Tap a numbered hotspot on the screen to find out what that part of the form does.
Application journey
Your application moves through eight stages. Choose a stage to see what it means, what NSFAS is doing, and whether you need to do anything.
Funding is paid according to the approved NSFAS funding policy for the academic year. What you receive depends on your institution, your qualification and where you stay.
Paid directly to your university or TVET college.
For students in approved accommodation, or a travel allowance if you stay at home.
An allowance towards books and study materials.
Paid to qualifying students at universities and TVET colleges.
Track your application
Enter your application reference to see how tracking works on this page. For your real status, sign in to myNSFAS.
Format: 2027 followed by six digits, for example 2027-482913. This demonstration accepts any reference in that format.
Enter a reference in the format 2027-482913.
NSFAS is confirming your details with Home Affairs, SARS and SASSA. You do not need to do anything.
Something we asked for is missing or unreadable. Sign in and upload it — your application stays open while you do.
You meet the funding criteria. Funding is confirmed once you register at a public university or TVET college.
Your application did not meet the criteria. The reason is shown on myNSFAS and you may submit an appeal within the appeal window.
Accessibility
Accessibility is built into this service, not added afterwards. It is designed and tested against WCAG 2.2 level AA, and the display controls at the top of the page change the whole site.
Students with disabilities can apply with the same form. If you need help completing it, contact NSFAS or your institution's disability unit — support is free.
Captions: “Applications for the 2027 academic year open on 18 September 2026.”
How to apply for NSFAS funding, interpreted in South African Sign Language by qualified human interpreters. Captions and a full transcript are provided.
00:00 Welcome. This video explains how to apply to NSFAS for the 2027 academic year.
00:12 Applications open on 18 September 2026 and close on 31 October 2026. Applying is free.
00:31 First, create a myNSFAS account using your South African ID number, your cellphone number and your email address.
00:52 Then complete your personal details and your household income information, and give the consent NSFAS needs to verify what you have told us.
01:18 Upload your supporting documents. Make sure every corner of the page is visible and the text can be read.
01:40 Check your application, submit it, and save your reference number. You can track your status on myNSFAS at any time.
Help centre
Search the help centre, or pick a topic to filter the questions below.
Security
Nobody from NSFAS will ever ask for your password or your one-time PIN. If someone does, it is a scam.
Your myNSFAS password is yours alone. Not for a friend, an agent or anyone claiming to work for NSFAS.
A one-time PIN sent to your phone lets someone into your account. Nobody needs it except you.
Applying for NSFAS funding is free. Anyone charging a fee to submit or “speed up” your application is defrauding you.
Use nsfas.org.za and my.nsfas.org.za only. Check the spelling in the address bar before you sign in.
If someone asks you for money or for your login details, report it. Reports can be made anonymously and are investigated.
On your phone
Everything on this page works on a small screen and on a slow connection. No app download is needed to apply.
Important dates
The 2027 application window is open for a fixed period. Late applications cannot be accepted, so apply early rather than in the final week.
18 September 2026
Applications open
Create your myNSFAS account and start your 2027 application.
September – October
Complete and submit
Upload your documents, check your details and submit. Save your reference number.
31 October 2026
Applications close
The system closes at the end of the day. Nothing can be submitted after this date.
COUNTDOWN TO APPLICATIONS OPENING
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Start your NSFAS 2027 application and take the next step towards your education.
Applications open 18 SepFree to apply on myNSFAS