How Much Is The NSFAS Allowance For 2026 Per Month

How Much Is The NSFAS Allowance For 2026 Per Month

The 2026 NSFAS Allowance Guide: From Transport to Personal Care:

For university students, NSFAS distributes allowances aligned with the latest Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) guidelines. You can expect approximately R625 per month for transport, R1 250 for living expenses, R433 for books, and R241.67 for personal care, all based on annual amounts of R7 500, R15 000, R5 200, and R2 900, respectively. Depending on your accommodation arrangement, support will either be paid directly to your residence or indirectly via your monthly allowance.

If you are heading to a TVET college, monthly figures are a bit different: expect around R2,000 (urban), R1,575 (peri‑urban), or R1,312.50 (rural) for accommodation. Plus, R612.50 for transport, R583.30 for additional transport, and R241.67 for personal care each month

Whether you are headed to a public university or a TVET college in South Africa, knowing what monthly support NSFAS provides can help you plan your budget and focus on your studies. The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) offers financial aid every month, spread over ten payments during the academic year. These funds support expenses like accommodation, food, transport, books, and personal care.

Understanding these monthly disbursements ranging from roughly R1,250 to R2,000 for university living costs, and up to R2,000 for TVET accommodation, can help you plan your spending throughout the year. This guide will break down monthly NSFAS allowances, explain how payments are made, and offers tips on managing your budget effectively.

READ ALSO: Apply For NSFAS 2025-2026

Nsfas Bursary Payment Date For 2026-2027

• NSFAS monthly payments are spread out over 10 installments, generally from February to November.
• Check the NSFAS portal for exact dates when campus registrations are finalized.

How Much Is The NSFAS Allowance For 2026 Per Month For University Students

NSFAS disburses the following amounts to cater for the educational expenses for University students:

• Accommodation: As per the actual costs charged by the university (costs for private accommodation must not exceed costs for university residence)
• Transport (up to 40 km from the institution) R7,500 per annum
• Living allowance R15, 000 per annum
• Book allowances R5200 per annum
• Incidental/personal care allowance of R2900 per annum for students in catered residences

How Much Is The NSFAS Allowance For 2026 Per Month For TVET Colleges Students

Below is how much NSFAS gives to TVET College students:

• Accommodation in an urban area is R24,000 per annum
• Accommodation in a peri-urban area R18,900 per annum
• Accommodation in a rural area is R15,750 per annum
• Transport (up to 40 km from the institution) R7,350 per annum
• Transport R7000 per annum
• Incidental/personal care allowance R2900 per annum

Who Qualifies for NSFAS For 2026-2027

Below are them that qualify for NSFAS:

• All South African citizens
• All SASSA grant recipients qualify for funding
• Applicants whose combined household income is not more than R350,000 per annum
• A person with disability: Combined household income must not be more than R600,000 per annum
• Students who started studying before 2018 and whose household income is not more than R122,000 per annum.

READ ALSO: How Is NSFAS Application 2025-2026

NSFAS Contact Information

• Website: www.nsfas.org.za
• Email: info@nsfas.org.za
• South African students: 0860 067 327
• International students: +27 21 763 3232
• Physical Address: 10 Brodie Road, Wynberg, Cape Town, South Africa, 7700
• Postal Address: Private Bag X1, Plumstead, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa, 7801

Through ten monthly installments, students will receive targeted support that covers accommodation, food, books, transport, and personal care. By offering this structured financial assistance, NSFAS ensures that scholars at both universities and TVET colleges have the means to focus on their studies and manage essential living expenses throughout the academic year. Visit the Official Website Of NSFAS for More