NSFAS Confirms 2026 Funding Decisions and 2025 Mop-Up Payments

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has officially announced that all 2026 funding decisions have been completed, while also providing an update on 2025 mop-up payments to institutions and accommodation providers.

This announcement was made through a media statement released on Friday, 2 January 2026.

NSFAS Finalizes 2026 Funding Applications

NSFAS has confirmed that it processed all 2026 funding applications before the start of the 2026 academic year, meeting its commitment to finalize decisions by 31 December 2025.

Students who applied for NSFAS funding for 2026 can now log in to the NSFAS portal to check their funding status.

2026 NSFAS Application Outcomes (First-Time Entering Students)

Below is a breakdown of funding outcomes for first-time entering students:

• Applications qualifying for funding: 609,403
• Applications rejected: 49,538
• Incomplete applications (awaiting documents): 218,043
• Withdrawn or cancelled applications: 16,863
• Total applications processed: 893,847

Important Information for First-Time Students

Even if a student qualifies financially, NSFAS has stated that funding may still depend on confirmation of acceptance from a university or TVET college.

In most cases, this confirmation will only be available after the release of final matric results.

What “Incomplete” or “In Process” Status Means

Applications marked as “in process” or “incomplete” usually mean that required documents are still outstanding.

NSFAS has already sent notifications to affected applicants, sometimes more than once, clearly stating what documents must still be submitted.

Common missing documents include:

• Parental or guardian consent forms
• Household income verification
• Complete parent or guardian details submitted through the NSFAS system

Once these documents are submitted, the applications will be returned for further evaluation.

Update on 2025 NSFAS Mop-Up Payments

NSFAS also confirmed that it has cleared many outstanding 2025 payments to:

• Universities and TVET colleges
• Accredited accommodation providers

Where short payments still exist, NSFAS has committed to working with accommodation providers to resolve these issues. Providers are encouraged to submit outstanding claims through official NSFAS channels.

Message to the 2025 Matric Class

NSFAS extended a message of encouragement to the 2025 matriculation class, acknowledging the hard work, resilience, and dedication shown by learners awaiting their final results.

The scheme reaffirmed its commitment to supporting students as they move into higher education and training in 2026.

Final Reminder to Students

• Check your NSFAS portal regularly for updates
• Upload all outstanding documents as soon as possible
• Ensure your institution acceptance is confirmed once matric results are released

NSFAS says it is ready to support qualifying students as they begin the next phase of their academic journey.