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NSFAS 2027: 9 days left to apply, no extension

NSFAS 2027 applications closing date image

Key takeaway: NSFAS applications 2027 close on Saturday, 31 October 2026. NSFAS says there will be no extension. If you need money for university or TVET college next year, apply now.

NSFAS (the National Student Financial Aid Scheme) says it has already received more than 868,000 applications for funding for 2027. With 9 days left, it is asking everyone who still needs to apply to do it before the closing date.

NSFAS applications 2027: what NSFAS said

In a media release on 20 October 2026, NSFAS said it had received 868,626 applications by 19 October 2026, as reported by IOL and The Citizen.

"There will be no extensions," NSFAS spokesperson Ishmael Mnisi said, according to IOL.

NSFAS first said there would be no extension in its 22 September 2026 statement, four days after applications opened.

Who has applied so far

According to the NSFAS figures reported by IOL and The Citizen:

  • 868,626 applications in total
  • 800,382 for universities and 68,244 for TVET colleges
  • 653,778 applicants get a SASSA grant
  • About 71% of applicants are women

Key dates

  • 18 September 2026: NSFAS 2027 applications opened
  • 30 September 2026: applications to study at public TVET colleges closed, according to the Minister's launch speech. TVET students can still apply to NSFAS until 31 October.
  • 31 October 2026 (Saturday): NSFAS 2027 applications close. No extension.
  • December 2026: Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela said applicants will hear their funding outcome in December, according to IOL

Who can apply

NSFAS takes applications from students at public universities and TVET colleges (its figures above include both). According to the government's Khetha career site, you usually qualify if:

  • you are a South African citizen, and
  • your household earns R350,000 a year or less (up to R600,000 if you have a disability), or
  • you get a SASSA grant.

Our tip: if you're not sure you qualify, apply anyway before the deadline. It's free.

How to apply (it's FREE)

  1. Go to the official website, nsfas.org.za, or use the official NSFAS app (Android and Apple).
  2. Fill in the application form.
  3. Check that your details are correct and complete.
  4. Upload all the supporting documents it asks for, and complete the consent form if asked.
  5. Our tip: screenshot or write down any reference number you get.

Remember: NSFAS funding is not a place at a college or university. You must also apply to the institution yourself. Minister Manamela made this point, IOL reported. See which places still take late applications in our late applications 2027 guide.

⚠️ Applying is FREE: watch out for scams

  • Never pay anyone to apply for you or to "guarantee" NSFAS funding.
  • NSFAS says no one can guarantee a funding outcome, and it warns about accounts and platforms it has not authorised (as reported by The Citizen).
  • Only use nsfas.org.za and the official NSFAS app.

Need more ways to pay for your studies? See our funding hub for bursaries and other options, and follow funding news for updates.

When do NSFAS applications 2027 close?

On Saturday, 31 October 2026. NSFAS says there will be no extension.

Will NSFAS extend the 2027 deadline?

No. NSFAS has said this since its 22 September 2026 statement and repeated it on 20 October 2026.

Does NSFAS cost money to apply?

No. Applying is free. Never pay anyone to apply for you.

When will I know if I got NSFAS for 2027?

Minister Manamela said outcomes will come out in December 2026, according to IOL.

Sources

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