NSFAS Provisionally Funds Over 600,000 Students for 2025. The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has announced that over 600,000 eligible students have been provisionally funded for the 2025 academic year, with more than 200,000 students fully funded at various South African universities and TVET colleges.
This update was presented to the Select Committee on Education, Sciences, and Creative Industries in Parliament, shedding light on the latest developments in NSFAS applications and funding allocations.
Breakdown of NSFAS Provisional Funding
Acting NSFAS CEO, Waseem Carrim, highlighted that only a small number of applications remain under review, while a significant proportion of applicants have been placed under the provisionally funded category. Additionally, students who have appealed rejected applications are also part of the provisional funding pool.
- 660,000 students are currently provisionally funded.
- 22 applications remain under review.
- 97,000 applications have been rejected.
- 70,000 applications are on appeal.
- 243,000 eligible students have been fully funded based on registration data from institutions.
Carrim emphasized that the deadline for universities to submit registration data is 31 March 2025. He added that NSFAS aims to transition all provisionally funded students to fully funded status once the necessary registration confirmations have been received.
NSFAS Funding for SASSA Beneficiaries
A significant number of South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) beneficiaries have also been granted financial aid through NSFAS funding. According to Carrim:
- 733,000 SASSA applicants applied for NSFAS funding.
- 703,000 of these applications have been provisionally funded.
- 14,200 applications were cancelled.
- 12,700 applications were rejected due to academic ineligibility.
- One application is still awaiting academic results.
NSFAS Allocates R48 Billion for 2025 Student Funding
To ensure the smooth disbursement of funds, NSFAS has allocated an estimated R48.4 billion for student learning in the 2025 academic year. The breakdown of the NSFAS budget allocation includes:
- R5.9 billion disbursed to universities, representing 15% of the total funding allocation.
- R751 million allocated to TVET colleges.
- A total of R8 billion disbursed so far for 2025.
New Model for Disbursing Student Funds
Dr Marcia Socikwa, Acting Director-General of the Department of Higher Education and Training, announced that NSFAS is considering a new disbursement model that aims to ensure direct payments to students rather than the current system, which relies on universities as intermediaries.
She emphasized that the NSFAS Board is working on a cost-effective approach to financial aid disbursement to ensure that students, rather than middlemen, remain the primary beneficiaries of the scheme.
Conclusion
As NSFAS funding for 2025 progresses, the organization continues to prioritize students’ financial needs while improving efficiency in disbursements. With a significant number of students already funded, the focus remains on processing appeals, finalizing registration data, and ensuring funds reach students directly.
