How Much are NSFAS Allowances for UNISA students?

NSFAS funds South African students at public universities. Since UNISA is a distance learning institution, how much do UNISA students get from NSFAS for their allowances?

The way NSFAS funds students is different to the way it funds other universities. Unisa students who are funded through NSFAS only receive a Learning Materials Allowance and Living Allowance. 

Learning Material Allowance is calculated based on the number of modules registered. Unisa students will then receive R600 per module for the first four modules and a R5200 once off amount for five modules to ten modules.

This then means that should the amount of R5200 Learning Materials Allowance be paid for the first five modules, no additional Learning Materials Allowance will be paid for additional modules.\

The Learning Material allowance is to be used for textbooks and other learning materials needed to complete their studies. 

Living Allowances are paid to students who are registered for ten or more modules.

Unisa students who are registered for ten modules or more are also allocated an incidental allowance of R290 per month from February to November each year. This R290 is used for any small expenses that arise for these students. 

NSFAS will also pay your tuition fees and your registration fee.

NSFAS provides funding for students’ registration at Unisa. The following applies if you are registering:

  • First-time NSFAS applicants: Please ensure that you are temporarily registered during Unisa’s registration period while waiting for NSFAS funding confirmation. If your NSFAS application is declined or delayed by close of the registration period, you will be expected to find alternative funding before your registration will be activated.
  • Returning NSFAS students who were funded in the year before but have not yet completed their qualification: Please ensure that you are temporarily registered during Unisa’s registration period while waiting for NSFAS funding confirmation for the 2025/2026 academic year.
  • Returning NSFAS students who received funding the year before, have been declined for funding for the next year and have appealed the decision: Please pay the minimum registration fee while you wait for the NSFAS appeal decision if you chose to do so.

So if your NSFAS application has been provisionally approved then you do not need to pay the minimum registration fee. Your registration will be automatically activated based on NSFAS funding confirmation received by Unisa. 

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