CONFIRMED: NSFAS allowance increase for 2025

The Department of Higher Education has confirmed that the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) allowances have been increased for the 2025 academic year. 

For students in TVET colleges, the allowances have been increased by 46% while for university students they have been increased by 4%. 

NSFAS ALLOWANCES SET TO INCREASE

The Minister of Higher Education and Training Nobuhle Nkabane said they increased the allowances in response to the rising cost of living in the country and some of the socio-economic challenges that students face. 

Nkabane told the SABC that the decision was made working together with USAF, NSFAS and other student formations. 

“We felt we need to take into consideration students in TVET colleges because we want the sector to be attractive to South Africans so they can explore what colleges have to offer in terms of their wide offerings in trying to produce the skills that are needed in our economy,” she said. 

As a result, allowances for NSFAS-funded students in TVET colleges will increase from R10 000 to R14 600. The monthly living allowance for university students is currently R1 650.

“To ensure equity and address the issues of social justice, the living allowance for students at TVET colleges has increased from R10 000 per annum to R14 600 which is a 46% increase in our TVET sector, with the universities sitting at 4%. So that is the message that we want to send to our student formation and the broader family of our post-school education and training in South Africa,” she said.

STUDENT PROTESTS REPORTED ACROSS THE COUNTRY

Many higher education institutions across the country kicked off the 2025 academic year in a bad note due to student protests.

Teaching and learning were disrupted in institutions such as the Nelson Mandela University (NMU), the University of Cape Town (UCT), Stellenbosch University, and the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) among others. This was due to a variety of issues ranging from accommodation, non-disbursement of allowances, and other students failing to register on time due to funding issues.

At the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, students embarked on a hunger strike in solidarity with others who have been excluded over several issues.

ARE YOU AN NSFAS-FUNDED STUDENT? HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED ANY DELAYS IN THE DISBURSEMENT OF YOUR ALLOWANCES?

Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.

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