NSFAS on payment of 2025 student allowances

Pursuant to thorough discussions, and consultation with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and the Post School Education and Training sector, the approved allowance caps for 2025 have been finalized and are ready for implementation.

2025 APPROVED UNIVERSITY ALLOWANCES

The table below outlines the approved allowance caps for the 2025 academic year

	New Books	Accommodation	Living Allowanc e	Travel Allowanc e	Personal Care Allowance	Human Support	Assistiv e Device
UNI Catered - Disability Metro	6,240	69,633	-	-	3,167	52,000	54,080
UNI Catered - Disability Non- Metro	6,240	60,273	-	-	3,167	52,000	54,080
UNI Catered - Metro	5,678	65,993	-	-	3,167	-	-
UNI Catered - Non-Metro	5,678	56,633	-	-	3,167	-	-
UNI Non-Catered - Disability Metro	6,240	52,000	20,800	-	-	52,000	54,080
UNI Non-Catered - Disability Non Metro	6,240	42,640	20,800	-	-	52,000	54,080
UNI Non-Catered Metro	5,678	52,000	17,160	-	-	-	-
UNI Non-Catered Non Metro	5,678	42,640	17,160	-	-	-	-
UNI Disability Transport	6,240	-	20,800	8,190	-	52,000	54,080
UNI Transport	5,678	-	17,160	8,190	-	-	-
UNI Distance learning/ UNISA	660 per module (R5,678 Maximum)				3,167

Should institutions see a need to deviate from the allowance caps, they must first obtain written approval from NSFAS before submitting any allowances above the provided caps.

2ND UPFRONT PAYMENT

NSFAS released the second upfront payment to universities during the week of 3rd March 2025, allowing institutions to disburse March allowances to students by Friday, 07th March 2025.

PAYMENT DATE TO TVET COLLEGES

NSFAS released payment from 07th March 2025 to cover two months’ worth of allowances and this payment is based on valid registrations received. At the commencement of the business day on the 4th March 2025, we had 18 TVET Colleges which had uploaded registrations. As a result, NSFAS made the initial payments to these 18 TVET colleges’ students.

NSFAS will closely monitor the uploading of registration data by colleges and ensure that another second payment run is prepared for the payment on Friday, 14th March 2025. The registration upload cut off for the second payment was Monday, 10th March 2025. This payment will ensure that all students whose valid registration data which was uploaded since the initial cut-off date receive allowances within the month of March 2025.

Allowance Types	Accommodation	Living Allowance	Travel Allowance	Personal Care Allowance	Human Support	Assistive Device
TVET Catered- Disability Metro	69633	0	0	3167	0	54080
TVET Catered- Disability Non-Metro	60273	0	0	3167	0	54080
TVET Catered- Metro	65993	0	0	3167	0	0
TVET Catered - Non- Metro	56633	0	0	3167	0	0
TVET Disability Transport	0	20800*	8027	0	0	54080
TVET Non-Catered - Disability Metro	52000	20800*	0	0	0	54080
TVET Non-Catered - Disability Non-Metro	42640	20800*	0	0	0	54080
TVET Non-Catered Metro	52000	17160*	0	0	0	0
TVET Non-Catered Non- Metro	42640	17160*	0	0	0	0
TVET Transport	0	17160*	8027	0	0	0

URGENT CALL FOR SUBMISSION OF APPEAL DOCUMENTS

NSFAS calls upon all students who lodged an appeal for the 2025 academic year to urgently submit required documents. A student must submit an appeal within 30 days of receiving their application results. Submission of these documents will enable NSFAS to finalise funding decision timeously.

REGISTRATION UPLOAD TIMELINES

Following confirmation of the 2025 allowance caps, the NSFAS portal is ready to receive valid registration data. Institutions are strongly encouraged to submit their registration data to avoid delayed payment of allowances.

Institutions are required to adhere to the following timelines when submitting cancellations, blocks, and any instructions to NSFAS:

INSTALMENT NUMBER	EXCLUSIONS CUT OFF DATE	PAYMENT DATE	ACADEMIC CYCLE
1	Upfront	10-Jan-25	Accommodation, Books& Tuition
2	Upfront	05-Mar-25	Accommodation, Books& Tuition
3	14-Mar-25	31-Mar-25	Annual and Semester
4	16-Apr-25	30-Apr-25	Annual and Semester
5	15-May-25	30-May-25	Annual and Semester
6	13-Jun-25	30-Jun-25	Annual and Semester
7	15-Jul-25	31-Jul-25	Annual and Semester
8	15-Aug-25	29-Aug-25	Annual and Semester
9	15-Sep-25	30-Sep-25	Annual and Semester
10	15-Oct-25	31-Oct-25	Annual and Semester
11	14-Nov-25	28-Nov-25	Annual and Semester

For media enquiries contact: 
media@nsfas.org.za

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