The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) does not pay every funded student the same amount of money per month. A number of factors, such as whether a student attends a university or TVET college, and what kind of accommodation they have (if any), will affect how much money a student receives.
The allowances are usually paid out over a ten-month period, from February until November.
NSFAS Monthly Allowances
Using the figures supplied, here is a rough guide to the various allowances that a full-time student might expect to receive:
Allowance University students TVET college students
Living / meal allowance About R1,650–R1,716 per month About R1,560–R1,650 per month
Transport allowance About R750–R819 per month About R735–R800 per month
Personal care / incidence allowance About R316–R340 per month Included in living allowance
However, the exact allowances will depend on a students’ circumstances – a student should not expect to receive all of the allowances listed above.
NSFAS Living or Meal Allowance
Students who live at home or stay somewhere where meals are not provided may be eligible to receive a living or meal allowance.
The figures supplied give a rough estimate of R1,650 to R1,716 per month for university students, and R1,560 to R1,650 per month for TVET college students.
The exact amount payable will depend on the students’ funding circumstances.
NSFAS Transport Allowance
Some students, who commute to their place of study from home, may be eligible for a transport allowance.
The figures supplied give a rough estimate of R750 to R819 per month for university students, and R735 to R800 per month for TVET college students.
The transport allowance is paid to qualifying commuter students. This might include students who live at home or in non-accredited accommodation within the required distance.
Importantly, the information supplied indicates that a transport allowance cannot be claimed with an accommodation allowance.
Personal Care or Incidental Allowance
University students who qualify for one of the accommodation categories may be eligible for a personal care or incidental allowance.
The figures supplied put this at about R316 to R340 per month.
This allowance is not paid separately to TVET college students, but is included in their living allowance.
NSFAS Accommodation Allowance
Accommodation is a separate allowance to the standard monthly living allowance.
NSFAS provides funding for institutional or private accredited accommodation, up to the applicable limits.
The figures supplied indicate that standard non-catered urban or metropolitan accommodation may be funded up to approximately R4,200 to R5,200 per month, or R45,000 to R52,000 per year.
It is worth noting that this accommodation allowance should not be confused with money deposited directly into a student’s bank account to spend as they see fit. A student’s accommodation allowance may be paid directly to the institution or accommodation provider.
NSFAS Book or Learning Material Allowance
A learning material allowance is not paid on a monthly basis.
The figures supplied indicate that university students will receive a once-off R5,460 to R5,678 per year for learning materials.
TVET college students will receive approximately R3,500 to R5,200 per year, depending on their funding arrangement.
This learning material allowance should not be confused with a monthly living allowance.
NSFAS Support for Students With Disabilities
NSFAS provides additional allowances and support for students with disabilities.
The figures supplied indicate a living allowance for qualifying disabled students of between approximately R1,891 and R2,080 per month.
Additional support may also be provided, including:
- Higher annual learning-material allowances
- Assistive devices
- Human support
The type and amount of additional support is dependent on a student’s needs and NSFAS funding arrangements.
Does Every NSFAS Student Receive the Same Amount?
No.
There are a number of allowances that a student may receive, and these depend on their circumstances, including where they study (university or TVET college), whether they live at home or in qualifying accommodation, and whether they receive additional allowances for disabilities.
Therefore, it is simply not correct to state that NSFAS pays every student the same amount of money per month.
NSFAS Allowances at a Glance
Support Approx amount from supplied information
University living/meal allowance R1,650–R1,716/month
TVET living/meal allowance R1,560–R1,650/month
University transport R750–R819/month
TVET transport R735–R800/month
University personal care/incidental R316–R340/month
Accommodation About R4,200–R5,200/month, subject to applicable limits
University learning materials About R5,460–R5,678/year
TVET learning materials About R3,500–R5,200/year
Disability living allowance About R1,891–R2,080/month
These figures are approximate only and should not be taken as a guaranteed payment for every NSFAS-funded student.
Important Difference Between NSFAS Allowances
One common error is to believe that the combined value of all the various allowances listed above will be paid directly into a student’s bank account each month.
This is simply not the case.
Different allowances apply to different circumstances. For example, a student who receives an accommodation allowance may not be eligible to receive a transport allowance, and learning-material and accommodation allowances are not standard monthly pocket-money allowances.
Conclusion
NSFAS does not provide the same monthly allowance to every student.
Based on the figures supplied, a university student’s living or meal allowance can be roughly R1,650 to R1,716 per month, with a transport allowance of approximately R750 to R819 per month. Students at TVET colleges will have different allowances.
Students may also receive allowances for accommodation and learning materials, while qualifying students with disabilities may receive higher allowances and additional support.
The amount of money that a student receives is dependent on their circumstances and the applicable allowances.
Editorial and Fact-Checking Information
Fact-checking: The allowance ranges and payment information in this article are based on the information supplied for publication.
Important: NSFAS allowance amounts can change between academic years and may differ according to a student’s circumstances. Students should verify the applicable rates for their funding year.
Corrections: Any confirmed changes to NSFAS allowance rates should be reflected in an updated version of this article.
