Vision
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) aims at providing financial aid to students from poor and working class families in order to promote access to, and success in, higher and further education and training, in pursuit of South Africa's national and human resource development goals.
Mission
NSFAS exists to provide financial aid to qualifying students at public TVET colleges and universities.
NSFAS identifies eligible students, provides loans and bursaries and collects student loan repayments to replenish the funds available for future generations of students.
NSFAS supports access to, and success in, higher education and training for students from poor and working class families who would otherwise not be able to afford to study.
NSFAS INFORMATION:
1. New Funding FAQ's
2. 
NSFAS-Pocket Guide.pdf
Important changes in rules and allowances
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has made changes to the rules and allowances applicable to different categories of students approved by NSFAS funding. The changes were approved by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology (DHET) on 6 December 2019 and communicated to all universities on 16 January 2020.
The main changes to the allowances for 2020 include the change in the alloocated amounts; this also affects the type of allowances to students living off-campus in family homes or non-accredited accommodation. For example if your are living at home you will receive a travel allowance of R7 500 per year and a living allowance of R15 000 for the year.
The table below provides an indication of which allowances are applicable to different categories of accommodation for students:
| Accommodation Type | | | | |
| | Allowance type | | | |
| | Learning Materials | Living Allowance | Accommodation | Transport |
| University managed catering | R5 200 p.a
| Max R2 900 p.a
R24 130 p.a
Tygerberg: R26 543 p.a
| University set residence fees
| |
| University managed self-catering | R5 200 p.a
| R24 130 p.a
Tygerberg: R26 543 p.a
| Max R54 000 per annum
| |
Living off campus in family or non- accredited accommodation (own arrangements)
* NOTE THAT 2021 THE ONLY STUDENTS STAYING AT ACCREDITED ACCOMMODATION WILL QUALIFY FOR NSFAS ALLOWANCE
| R5 200 p.a
| R15 000 p.a
| Max R54 000 per annum | R7 500 p.a
|
| Private off campus accredited accommodation | R5 200 p.a
| R15 000 p.a
| Max R54 000 per annum
| |
Living allowance for students in university residences or accredited private accommodation
This applies to university students in university owned or managed residences or accredited private residences.
A living allowance will be provided directly to all DHET bursary recipients at universities not accommodated in catering residences, to cover food and incidental expenses. In 2020, this allowance will be R15 000.
All NSFAS bursary/grant recipients at universities qualify for this allowance, subject to the funding cap for returning students registered for the first time prior to 2018.
Students in catered residences receive an allowance for incidental expenses in addition to their catered accommodation. This amount is R2900 in 2020.
University students living in private leased accommodation
These students can qualify for an accommodation allowance if they are accommodated in university accredited accommodation. As with 2019, the maximum allowance for external accommodation is capped at the cost of internal university accommodation costs for an equivalent accommodation type. Proof of a lease agreement must be provided for a student to qualify.
Wherever possible, we are accrediting private providers of student accommodation and monitor the quality of accommodation provision to students living off campus.
IMPORTANT
Note that from 2021 NSFAS will only pay out allowances to students in accredited accommodation. The university has already embarked on a process with landlords to, in the interim, register their accommodation and start a process of accreditation.
For more information on accreditation of accommodation please visit www.maties.com
> accommodation > private accommodation.
NSFAS WEBSITE: www.nsfas.org.za
Disclaimer: This information is taken from the NSFAS website and so it is essential that the official NSFAS website be used as the primary source. The information on the NSFAS website and/or NSFAS processes may change without notice and must be confirmed by contacting NSFAS directly
FAQs on expanded NSFAS and bursary scheme_ Final 9 January 2018 (002).pdf
For mobile users click HERE
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
Stellenbosch University welcomes students with disabilities or special learning needs. You can call the Disability Unit on +27 (0) 21 8084707, or visit www.sun.ac.za/cscd for more information. You can also contact your faculty for assistance.
The Disability Unit forms part of the Centre for Student Counselling and Development (CSCD) and the physical address is 37 Victoria Street, Den Bosch.
Click on this LINK to the Dissabilty Unit Website. Herewith the different categories of dissability: Dissability Unit.pdf
The Centre for Bursaries and Loans work closely with the Disability Unit and NSFAS (National Student Financial Aid Scheme) to assist with funding for students with disabilities or special learning needs.
For your convenience, please click on the link to the NSFAS website, www.nsfas.org to apply for financial aid.
When you apply for financial aid, you need to complete this formNSFAS Disability Annexure A.pdf and upload it onto your profile with all the supporting documents.
You are welcome to contact our Client Service Centre at 021 8089111 for assistance.
