How Much Is NSFAS Allowance For 2026

How Much Is NSFAS Allowance For 2026

Are you wondering if you qualify for NSFAS funding and want to know how much the allowance will be in 2026? The NSFAS allowance is financial help provided by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) to South African students who need support paying for their studies. NSFAS is a government program aimed at helping students cover costs like tuition fees, accommodation, textbooks, and other education-related expenses.

How much money you receive depends mainly on your household’s annual income. If your family earns below a certain amount, you stand a better chance of getting a higher allowance to cover these expenses. To decide who qualifies and how much to give, NSFAS uses a means test, which looks at your family’s financial situation.

The type of school you attend also matters because universities and technical colleges have different costs. So, students at universities might get different allowances compared to those studying at technical or vocational colleges, reflecting their unique financial needs. Knowing this can help you better understand what support you can expect in 2026 and plan your studies accordingly.

Read more: NSFAS Declaration Form 2026

Who Qualifies For the NSFAS Allowance 2026?

The following people are eligible to apply for allowances for NSFAS;

• All South African citizens
• All SASSA grant recipients qualify for funding
• Applicants whose combined household income is not more than R350,000 per annum
• Person with disability: Combined household income must not be more than R600,000 per annum
• Students who started studying before 2018, whose household income is not more than R122,000 per annum.

 NSFAS Allowance For 2026

The amounts mentioned for accommodation, living allowance, transportation, and learning materials must be consistent with the most recent DHET rules. Below are the NSFAS allowances;

Allowance Amounts for University Students for 2026

• Accommodation: As per the actual costs charged by the university (costs for private accommodation must not exceed costs for university residence)
• Transport (up to 40 km from the institution) R7,500 per annum
• Living allowance R15, 000  per annum
• Book allowances R5200 per annum
• Incidental/personal care allowance of R2900 per annum for students in catered residences

Allowance Amounts for TVET College Students for 2026

• Accommodation in an urban area is R24,000 per annum
• Accommodation in a peri-urban area is R18,900 per annum
• Accommodation in a rural area is R15,750 per annum
• Transport (up to 40 km from the institution) R7,350  per annum
• Transport R7000 per annum
• Incidental/personal care allowance R2900 per annum.

Supporting documents required for NSFAS

NSFAS needs information to confirm the employment and income of an applicant’s parents, guardians, or spouse.

• NSFAS Declaration Form: completed by the school principal or social worker. (Non-SASSA only)
• Orphan and Vulnerable Child Declaration Form: completed by a social worker for applicants under 18. (Non-SASSA only)
• NSFAS Consent Form: signed by the applicant and/or parent, guardian, or spouse. (Not needed for SASSA recipients)
• If the applicant has a legal guardian, court-issued proof is required.
• For non-court-appointed guardians, submit the NSFAS Declaration Form.

How To Apply For NSFAS Allowance 2026

Follow the steps below to apply online for the NSFAS allowance for 2026;

• Go to www.nsfas.org.za and click on the ‘myNSFAS’ tab.
• Create a myNSFAS account
• Click on the ‘APPLY’ tab and complete the sections on the screen
• Click on ‘Submit’.

Read more: NSFAS Funding 2026-2027

NSFAS Contact Details

NSFAS Virtual Contact Centre

We are available to assist through the following channels:

• Email: info@nsfas.org.za
• Facebook: National Student Financial Aid Scheme
• Twitter: @myNSFAS
• Instagram: @myNSFAS
• WhatsApp: +27 78 519 8006
• USSD:*120*67327#

The actual amount of the NSFAS Allowance varies based on many circumstances, including the student’s financial need, the type of course or program in which they are enrolled, the academic year in which they study, and the cost of living in the location in which they study. Visit the official website of NSFAS for more information. I hope the provided information is helpful. Share your thoughts below in the comment section.

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