Is It True That NSFAS Wants 75% Pass Rate 2026?

There’s been a lot of talk about whether NSFAS will require students to pass 75% of their courses in 2026. This has many students worried about losing their funding if they don’t meet this high pass rate. The minimum pass rate for students receiving financial assistance from South Africa’s National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has risen to 55%. To continue receiving NSFAS assistance, First-Time Entering Students (FTENs) must obtain a course credit pass rate of 50%.

NSFAS hopes to encourage students to continue giving their all to their studies by instituting minimum credit scores. Returning NSFAS-funded university students must meet continuous academic eligibility standards to continue receiving NSFAS assistance. NSFAS does set minimum pass rates for students to keep their funding, but so far, the 75% pass rate hasn’t been officially enforced for everyone.

Usually, new students need to pass around 50% of their courses, while continuing students are expected to pass between 55% and 60%. These numbers have slowly increased over time to encourage students to keep progressing in their studies. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll clear up the confusion around the 75% pass rate and explain what NSFAS requires for 2026. This way, you’ll know exactly what to expect and how to stay on track with your funding.

NSFAS Pass Rate Requirements for 2026-2027

NSFAS has updated the rules about how many courses you need to pass to keep your funding. Although there was a suggestion to make students pass 75% of their subjects, this was not accepted. The pass rates are lower for now.

Current and Future Requirements For NSFAS 2026

Since 2023, first-year university students must pass at least 50% of their courses. If you’re already studying, you need to pass 55% to keep your funding. From 2024, you must pass 60% of your modules to get NSFAS funding in 2025. Over time, this pass rate for returning students will rise from 55% to 60%. These rules help ensure you are making good progress with your studies.

Approved Programs NSFAS Fund 2026

Naturally, the costs of the courses also vary considerably, but it is important to remember that Department of Higher Education and Training programmes are subsidised by 80% of the delivery cost, and for the remaining 20% that would be paid by the student, many full bursaries are available.

However, the generally funded programmes are below:

Engineering Studies – (National Certificate -Vocational) NQF levels 2-4 & Engineering studies – Report 191 N1-N6
Engineering and Related Design; Electrical Infrastructure; Civil Engineering, Construction, and Information Technology & Computer Science
Business & Utility Studies (National Certificate – Vocational) NQF levels 2-4 & Report 191 N1-N6
Management; Marketing; Finance; Office Administration; Economics & Accounting; Education & Development; Hospitality; Tourism; Safety in Society and Transport & Logistics
Pre-Learning Programme (PLP) funding through NSFAS

NSFAS Allowances for 2026

The giving of allowances to students is an example of NSFAS support. These allowances are intended to cover a student’s living and educational expenses while they are pursuing their studies.

NSFAS pays for the following;

Registration & Tuition Fees
Personal Care Allowance
Transport Allowance
Accommodation Allowance

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.

NSFAS Application Procedure for 2026

The NSFAS applications are done online on the official website of the Agency. Follow the steps below to apply online for NSFAS for the 2026/2027 academic year;