South African students who have not yet applied for NSFAS funding for the 2027 academic year have just days left to get their applications in.
Applications for 2027 funding opened on 18 September 2026 and are set to close on 31 October 2026.
As of 19 October, NSFAS had already recorded 868 626 applications on its application dashboard.
Of these, 800 382 applications were from prospective university students, while 68 244 were from applicants planning to attend Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges.
Almost 870 000 students have applied
The latest figures show strong demand for financial assistance ahead of the 2027 academic year. Here’s a look at the numbers:
Female students account for the majority of applications so far, with 616 558 applications, or 70.98% of the total.
Male applicants account for 252 068 applications, or 29.02%.
The dashboard also shows that 653 778 applicants are SASSA beneficiaries, while 214 848 are non-SASSA applicants.
Grade 12 learners urged to apply now
Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela has specifically urged Grade 12 learners who intend to study after matric to apply as soon as possible.
The minister warned prospective students not to wait until the closing date.
“I want to take this opportunity to call on those, especially those who are doing Grade 12, to apply now, and not wait for the 31st of October when the applications close,” Manamela said.
He also warned students against paying anyone to submit an NSFAS application on their behalf.
“Don’t pay anyone to apply for NSFAS,” he said.
NSFAS warned prospective students to be careful of scams.
Applicants should be particularly wary of fraudulent social media accounts, unauthorised individuals and people claiming they can guarantee NSFAS funding.
NSFAS applications should be submitted through the official channels, and students should not pay someone who claims to have special access to the funding scheme.
A person asking for money to submit an NSFAS application or promising guaranteed funding should be treated as a potential scam.
How to apply for NSFAS 2027
Students can submit their applications through the official NSFAS website or the official NSFAS mobile application.
Applicants should make sure that all information provided is accurate and complete. They should also ensure that any supporting documents required for their application are submitted.
Leaving an application incomplete or submitting incorrect information could cause delays in the assessment process.
Students who still need to apply should use the remaining time to make sure their applications are properly completed.
Before submitting, applicants should:
