In a major plus for tertiary students in South Africa, NSFAS has declared an increase in the student allowances for 2025. With a higher allowance, students will be able to cushion the rising costs of free market living and thereby focus more on their education and less on surviving. The allowance increase was confirmed to the public by the Minister of Higher Education while addressing the media, thus giving credence to the government’s commitment to enhance access to education.
Revised Monthly and Annual Allowance Figures
Going into 2025, university students will see their periodic allowances raised from R1,650 to R1,750, and those at TVET colleges will receive periodic allowances of R1,650. These increases are reflected in the annual totals as well; in short, the students receive more overall support from NSFAS throughout the academic year. Some elements of the transport allowance have also been increased to R750 per month for students residing within 40 kilometers of their campus, while book allowance amounts have been altered marginally.
Why the Increase Was Necessary
The reason behind the increase in the allowances has been inflationary pressure, coupled with rising costs of accommodation, foodstuffs, and transport. For quite some time, students and their respective groups have argued that the previous funding model of NSFAS was inadequate to sustain a worthy student life. By increasing these amounts, the Department of Higher Education hopes to make studying more equitable and avert dropouts caused by cash constraints.
Eligibility and Disbursement Are Unchanged
Students that have been qualified for NSFAS funding need not reapply to qualify for the 2025 increase. All disbursements will continue to be channeled through the current payment systems, including the NSFAS MasterCard, rolled out in 2023. As always, the funding is still available to South African students from households earning R350,000 or less per annum as a combined income.
Additional Support for Students with Disabilities
Alongside the general increase in allowances, NSFAS has further confirmed that students with disabilities will receive raised allowances to equip their assistive devices and academic support and cover their transport requirements. This move confirms NSFAS’s commitment to inclusive education and the setting up of equitable learning environments.
Key Takeaways
All NSFAS students are advised to keep checking their NSFAS accounts and emails for updates on their payment schedules. New applicants for 2025 are encouraged to apply as early as possible when the application window opens later in the year. Universities and colleges will also be briefed on the changes so that all systems are prepared for the new allowance structure.
Future Prospects
The increase in the NSFAS allowance will serve to renew hope for thousands of students and their families for the year 2025. Though challenges still exist in the funding system, this increase moves a great deal toward trying to cater for student welfare and uplift academic excellence within the country.