How Many Students Does Nsfas Fund 2026/2027

How Many Students Does Nsfas Fund 2026/2027

NSFAS Funding: A Comprehensive Analysis of Student Beneficiaries in the 2026/2027 Academic Year:

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) continues to play a vital role in supporting higher education in South Africa, ensuring that financially disadvantaged students have the opportunity to pursue their studies at public universities and TVET colleges. For the 2026/2027 academic year, NSFAS is expected to fund over 800,000 students nationwide. This includes learners enrolled in both universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges, helping thousands achieve their educational goals without financial barriers.

In 2025, NSFAS supported approximately 811,011 students, with 580,000 studying at universities and 231,000 at TVET colleges. The number is projected to increase further in 2026 and 2027 as the scheme’s budget grows steadily. According to the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), the NSFAS budget will rise from R48.7 billion in 2025 to R51 billion in 2026, reaching R53.4 billion by 2027. This increase reflects the government’s commitment to expanding access to quality education and ensuring that no deserving student is left behind.

Higher Education Deputy Minister Dr. Nobuhle Nkabane confirmed that NSFAS is also exploring new and efficient ways of allocating funds, including the possible use of surplus funds from previous years to support more students. Additionally, NSFAS aims to improve its services through decentralization, bringing operations closer to campuses for easier student access. With a growing budget and an expanding support system, NSFAS remains dedicated to funding thousands of South African students for the 2026/2027 academic year, empowering them to build a brighter future through education.

How Many Students Does NSFAS Fund 2026/2027

• The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) continues to be one of South Africa’s most important government initiatives, providing financial assistance to thousands of students who cannot afford tertiary education.
• As the 2026/2027 academic year approaches, NSFAS is expected to fund more than 800,000 students across public universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges.

NSFAS Funding Growth and Budget Increase For 2026/2027

• Over the years, NSFAS funding has steadily grown to meet the increasing demand for higher education support. For the 2025 academic year, NSFAS allocated R48.7 billion, assisting over 811,011 students, with 580,000 enrolled at universities and 231,000 at TVET colleges.
• The government has announced that the NSFAS budget will increase to R51 billion in 2026 and is projected to reach R53.4 billion by 2027.

This rise in funding reflects the government’s ongoing commitment to ensuring that every deserving student has access to higher education opportunities, regardless of their financial background. According to Higher Education Deputy Minister Dr. Nobuhle Nkabane, the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) remains focused on using available resources efficiently and finding innovative ways to support more students each year.

Expanding Student Support and Access

• To maximize its impact, NSFAS is considering the use of surplus funds from previous years to assist even more students in 2026 and 2027.
• The scheme is also finalizing plans to decentralize its services by establishing operations directly on college and university campuses. This move aims to improve efficiency, reduce administrative delays, and provide students with easier access to NSFAS support.

Read: Who Can Apply For NSFAS 2026/2027

How Many Students Does Nsfas Fund 2026/2027

The concept of a ‘missing middle’ comes from economic and political analysis of South African development. 10 In comparison to countries of similar average incomes, population sizes, developmental challenges, and resources, South Africa has a larger-than-average gap between those who are wealthy or just comfortably off on the one hand (considered as the top 15%7), and the working poor on the other hand.

In comparison to other middle-income countries, South Africa’s rich are extremely rich, the poor very poor, and there’s a very large hole in the middle; the ‘missing middle.’ Within the higher education funding context, when ‘poor and working-class’ households were classified as those with an income up to R122,000, the missing middle was often referred to by DHET as households with incomes between R122,000 and R600,00011.

• Estimates of household income nationwide produced by Xpert Decision Systems (XDS) analytics using South African Credit and Risk Reporting Association (SACRRA) data as of 18 January 20195, indicate that 75% of households have pre-tax income less than R122,000 per annum, 89% of households have pre-tax income less than R350,000 per annum, and 96% below R600,000.

Under the former description of poor and working-class households (up to R122,000), the missing middle represented some 21% of South African households. Under the new dispensation, this has fallen to less than 7%. Given the skewed participation rates in PSET for higher-income households identified above, it is likely that the percentage of missing middle students on PSET campuses will be close to 7%.

• On current total undergraduate and TVET student numbers, of approximately 1,500,000, this equates to around 100,000 current registered students in the household income bracket of R350,000 to R600,000. The 4% of students from households with incomes over R600,00 number some 60,000 students.

Projected Number Of Students To Be Funded In 2026/2027

In the past year, NSFAS reportedly supported around 700,000 students in South African higher education institutions and TVET colleges. The number of funded students will likely be increased in 2026 due to the government’s continued commitment to expanding access to education

• While it is difficult to provide an exact figure, it is estimated that NSFAS will fund a significant number of students during the 2026/2027 academic year. This estimate takes into account the historical growth in NSFAS beneficiaries, the government’s increased budget allocation, and the organisation’s commitment to reaching out to more students in need.

The actual number of funded students will depend on various factors such as the availability of funds, the number of eligible applicants, and the success rate of previous beneficiaries. However, NSFAS will continue to play a critical role in empowering South African students and ensuring that tertiary education remains accessible to those in need.

NSFAS’s Role in Building a Brighter Future

NSFAS funding covers essential study costs, including tuition fees, registration, accommodation, transport, and learning materials. For many South African students, NSFAS represents the only pathway to achieving their dreams of higher education and stable careers.

• As the 2026/2027 academic year nears, the increase in funding and continuous expansion of support demonstrate NSFAS’s commitment to transforming lives through education. With over 800,000 students expected to benefit, the scheme remains a cornerstone of South Africa’s efforts to promote inclusive and equitable access to tertiary education.

NSFAS Eligibility Criteria For 2026/2027

To be considered for NSFAS funding, students must meet specific eligibility criteria, which include:

• South African citizenship
• Financial need, as demonstrated by a combined household income below a certain threshold
• Academic merit and potential, based on the applicant’s performance in previous academic years
• Registration or acceptance at an accredited public higher education institution or TVET college

Note: In addition to these criteria, NSFAS also considers other factors such as the applicant’s chosen field of study, the institution they wish to attend, and the availability of funds for specific programs.

Nsfas Contact Details

Hope the information given above has been useful to you. If you have any suggestions, kindly leave them in the comments section provided below. You can also visit the official website of Nsfas for more clarification.

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