NSFAS Allowances 2026 – Complete Updated List

ByZola

NSFAS Allowances

This guide lists all NSFAS allowances for 2026, including university and TVET amounts, living allowance, accommodation, meal allowances, transport, and book allowances.

To understand how monthly payments align with your approval, reviewing your financial assistance details helps clarify allowances and funding coverage.

1. NSFAS Allowances 2026 – University Students

Below is the 2026 funding structure for public universities.

Living Allowance

  • R15,000 per year

This is paid monthly after registration is confirmed.

Learning Materials (Books) Allowance

  • R5,460 per year
    (or equivalent digital allowance)

Meal Allowance

  • R7,500 – R10,000 per year
    (depends on institution policy)

Accommodation Allowance

NSFAS pays real cost of accredited student accommodation:

  • On-campus: Full cost (university-managed)
  • Off-campus: Capped amount depending on city/region
  • Private accredited: Paid according to NSFAS caps

Students cannot receive both accommodation + transport.

Transport Allowance

Only for students not staying in NSFAS-funded accommodation:

  • R7,500 per year
  • Must live <40 km from campus

2. NSFAS Allowances 2026 – TVET College Students

TVET allowances differ based on program type and delivery mode.

Accommodation Allowance

Urban area:

  • Up to R24,000 per year

Peri-urban:

  • Up to R18,900 per year

Rural area:

  • Up to R15,750 per year

Transport Allowance

  • R7,350 per year
  • Student must live within 40 km of campus

Personal Care Allowance

  • R3,045 per year

Meal Allowance

  • Included within accommodation coverage or paid separately depending on college policy.

3. How NSFAS Pays Allowances in 2026

After approval and registration, NSFAS sends allowances through:

  • NSFAS Bank Account (Mastercard partners)
  • Direct NSFAS payment to private/varsity residences
  • Monthly disbursements for living + meals

Students receiving monthly allowances should Verify payment online to avoid missing or delayed funds.

4. Who Qualifies for Allowances

You must:

  • Be approved for NSFAS
  • Be registered at a public university/TVET
  • Not exceed the household income threshold (R350,000)
  • Meet academic requirements
  • Live in approved accommodation (for accommodation funds)

5. Important Rules for 2026

Students cannot double-claim

No receiving transport + accommodation at the same time.

Private accommodation must be accredited

Otherwise NSFAS will not pay.

Allowance amounts may differ by institution

Some universities have internal rates.

Missing registration = no payment

Institution must upload your data.

6. When Allowances Start

Payments begin only after:

  • Registration is uploaded
  • Funding confirmed
  •  Your NSFAS account is active
Zola
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Zola is a higher education analyst and student funding specialist with 7 years of experience helping South African students navigate NSFAS, bursaries, and other funding opportunities.