What Are the NSFAS Academic Requirements?

By Tevait Feanle •  Updated: 01/11/25 •  5 min read

The NSFAS bursary is designed to help disadvantaged, poor, and working-class students obtain quality tertiary education through public institutions in South Africa. A key part of this is meeting- and then sustaining- their academic targets to keep funding you. Today, we look at more about the NSFAS’s academic requirements.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

What Are NSFAS Academic Requirements?

NSFAS needs you to demonstrate that you are serious about your course, so you will have to prove you are willing to put in the work; This means you must”.

You must ensure you meet the NSFAS benchmarks as a continuing active student. This means you also must meet the 50% (or more for some courses) pass criteria for universities.

Remember that your institution will be in contact with NSFAS at the start of every academic year to confirm that you qualify to progress through your course, meet all their policies for your specific programme, and so on.

How Many Modules Must I Pass for NSFAS?

What happens if you fail a funded course? NSFAS will pay for the course- but it must be within reason. You can’t expect to fail everything and still access funding. 

NSFAS requires that you pass at least 50% of the modules you take. This is in addition to remaining compliant with the academic standards of your institution. Obviously, these modules will need to be retaken and passed to progress toward the degree. Plus, there is the N+ rule (which we look at below) in play. 

This means you should carefully balance your course load to ensure you can pass all modules required within the N+ period.

What is NSFAS’s N+ Rule?

The N+ rule refers to how many years NSFAS will consider you for funding. N is the number of years your course will typically take- say 3 years. The + is how many extra years NSFAS will fund you if you need extra time or to repeat a year.

At one point, when the NSFAS funding was still a loan scheme and not a bursary, it worked on the N+2 format- they would allow up to 5 years of funding on a 3-year degree. Anything longer than that, and you will need to seek alternate funding.

As a bursary scheme, it now operates on N+1- so in our standard 3-year course example, you only have one extra year, i.e 4 years. Even on longer programs, NSFAS will not fund you for more than 5 years in total. Gap years do not count. However, it applies to the number of years you have been registered at a tertiary public institution, not how many years you have been funded.

What are the requirements for staying funded by NSFAS?

Once you have qualified for NSFAS bursary, you will have to meet ongoing requirements in order to stay funded by them. You won’t automatically continue to be funded if you let your academic standards slip or something changes in your personal circumstances.

To stay funded by NSFAS, you must:

What Are NSFAS Requirements for Returning Students?

While most NSFAS students apply for the bursary from the start of their tertiary academic studies, returning students who weren’t previously funded by NSFAS can also apply for funding.

You must match all the criteria about citizenship, education programs and type, the tertiary institution at which you are studying, and household income which we outline below. You must also be within the N+ limit.

If you are a returning student who started in 2018, you will need to meet NSFAS’s pre-2018 household income guidelines and criteria instead.

NSFAS requirements

The closing date for NSFAS bursary applications in 2025 is January 31st, 2025. In addition to the academic requirements we have outlined above, you should also be:

If you match all these criteria, you can apply for NSFAS in 2025.

How Much Must You Earn to Qualify for NSFAS?

To qualify to apply for an NSFAS bursary, you must meet at least one of these criteria:

If you are a student with a disability, this threshold rises to R600,000 a year. If you are already studying using NSFAS funding and began your programme before 2018, the combined household income must not be more than R122,000. Remember this is everyone in your household’s total earnings for the year. 

Meeting the NSFAS academic requirements is a crucial part of ensuring a smooth funding process, so pay careful attention to this aspect of your application.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

Keep Reading

How To Create eZaga NSFAS Account

How To Create eZaga NSFAS Account

How To Create eZaga NSFAS Account. This article will show you how to set up your eZaga NSFAS account and use its features.

Full List Of NSFAS Offices And Application Centres

Full List Of NSFAS Offices And Application Centres

This is what today’s article seeks to solve by giving prospective students a full list of all of NSFAS offices and application centres.

Do NSFAS Fund Online Courses?

Do NSFAS Fund Online Courses?

This article will cover the courses not funded by NSFAS, If NSFAS Fund Online Courses and online colleges funded by NSFAS

How To Reset MyNSFAS Login Password

How To Reset MyNSFAS Login Password

What are some of the issues that may arise for an applicant or student to reset MyNSFAS login Password

How To Withdraw Cashless With NSFAS Card

How To Withdraw Cashless With NSFAS Card

How To Withdraw Cashless With NSFAS Card. Here’s what you should know about this new offering. 

Does NSFAS Cover Postgraduate Studies?

Does NSFAS Cover Postgraduate Studies?

Does NSFAS Cover Postgraduate Studies?. This blog article will address various topics, including whether NSFAS pays for postgraduate studies.

Do Government Employees Qualify for NSFAS?

Do Government Employees Qualify for NSFAS?

In this article, we examine the NSFAS bursary eligibility standards, including who is eligible to apply and who is not

How to Sign NSFAS Bursary Agreement Form

How to Sign NSFAS Bursary Agreement Form

However, as it is a funding scheme, successful applicants will be required to sign the NSFAS bursary agreement form.

How to Sign NSFAS SOP or LAF

How to Sign NSFAS SOP or LAF

In this article, we will be looking at what SOP/LAF means, how to sign an NSFAS SOP or LAF, and any other issues relating to the LAF/SOP. 

How To Create NSFAS Voucher Online

How To Create NSFAS Voucher Online

In this article, you will learn a lot about the NSFAS voucher online and the whole process of creating the voucher. 

How To Register Celbux As An NSFAS Student

How To Register Celbux As An NSFAS Student

South Africa student can use a Celbux account with an NSFAS wallet, provided that they has a registered account.

Which Colleges Offer NSFAS in Mpumalanga

Which Colleges Offer NSFAS in Mpumalanga

The colleges are distributed across the country's provinces. Check out the colleges that offer NSFAS in Mpumalanga. 

How To Upload Your ID When Applying For NSFAS

How To Upload Your ID When Applying For NSFAS

You need to create your myNSFAS account first to be able to upload your ID. Follow the steps below to create your account. 

Does NSFAS Student Have to Apply Every Year?

Does NSFAS Student Have to Apply Every Year?

Does NSFAS Student Have to Apply Every Year?. There is no need to reapply because their financial need was assessed from the first time they applied

How Much Does NSFAS Pay For Law Students

How Much Does NSFAS Pay For Law Students

How Much Does NSFAS Pay For Law Students. This article will cover NSFAS pay for law students and other related topics.