NSFAS opens 2027 applications as Manamela flags missing middle loan scheme

Applications for National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) funding for the 2027 academic year are open, Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela announced at a media briefing in Parktown, Johannesburg, on Friday.

The 2027 cycle closes on 18 November 2026. Funding outcomes for successful applicants are expected to be communicated in December, ahead of registration for the 2027 academic year.

Manamela urged prospective students to apply early rather than wait for the closing date, saying early applications give students time to verify their information, submit outstanding documents and seek help where they hit problems.

What changes for 2027

The Minister said NSFAS has implemented several changes for the 2027 cycle to improve the application process and the student experience. These include stronger data integrity through the direct extraction of student information from institutional systems, automated document verification, electronic document signing and a modernised student-support environment.

Verification of student registration and banking details is being strengthened through collaboration with the Department of Home Affairs. Work has also started on a Loan Management System to support student loans for the so-called missing middle.

On appeals, Manamela said NSFAS has been working to address historical weaknesses, improve communication with students and ensure appeals are handled according to clear rules and timelines.

“These improvements are intended to make the application process simpler, faster, more secure and more responsive to students,” he said.

The missing middle

The Minister used the briefing to set out government’s efforts for students who fall outside the NSFAS bursary threshold but still struggle to afford the full cost of higher education.

“They may earn too much to qualify for a bursary but not enough to comfortably cover tuition, accommodation, study materials, and other costs associated with tertiary education,” he said. “We cannot ignore these students.”

Manamela said government is strengthening the missing-middle loan scheme as an additional funding pathway for eligible students who do not qualify for NSFAS bursaries.

“The loan scheme expands the funding system beyond the traditional bursary model, providing an opportunity for students who might otherwise face financial exclusion,” he said. “The loans are repayable in accordance with the applicable terms and conditions, making this an important part of building a funding system that is both inclusive and sustainable.”

“Today’s launch is therefore about much more than opening an application window. It is about opening doors of opportunity.” - Minister Buti Manamela

TVET applications close sooner

The Minister also urged young people to consider public TVET colleges, which he described as central to building the skills base the economy requires.

Applications for the 2027 academic year at public TVET colleges close on 30 September 2026, earlier than the NSFAS deadline. Manamela encouraged Grade 9 learners and beyond, school leavers and people seeking new skills to research available programmes, identify qualifications aligned with their interests and career aspirations, and apply before that date.

He stressed that admission and funding are separate steps. Prospective students must apply to their institution of choice and separately apply for NSFAS funding if they need financial assistance.

Outreach and demand

NSFAS will deploy outreach teams across provinces, districts, rural and marginalised communities to provide information and application support.

“We will work with schools, provincial education departments, community stakeholders and institutions to assist those who may otherwise face barriers to accessing information about student funding,” the Minister said.

Manamela said demand for student financial aid continues to grow, with NSFAS receiving a record number of applications during the 2026 cycle, which he said reinforces the importance of improving the scheme’s systems and service delivery.

He said NSFAS remained a critical government instrument in advancing education, skills development and youth empowerment, which are identified in the National Development Plan 2030 as drivers of economic growth, social transformation and nation-building.

He called on young people to take responsibility for using the application period and to apply for both admission and funding rather than waiting until the final day.

Source: SAnews (South African Government News Agency), NSFAS 2027 application cycle opens, https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/nsfas-2027-application-cycle-opens