Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Blade Nzimande has provided students who receive NSFAS Funding (National Student Financial Aid Scheme) as bursary students with a list of their latest financial allowances.
Nzimande made the announcement regarding the 2025/2026 student allowances for the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) bursary students during a media briefing on NSFAS funding. He was speaking to journalists following the Wits University shooting which claimed the life of civilian, 35 year old Mthokozisi Ntumba, who had just completed his masters degree. The allowances apply to students who were registered before 2018 and are on the departmental grant scheme.
In respect of allowances for students on the DHET bursary scheme the following financial allowances will be paid:
- All students receive the learning material allowance, which remains at R5200 for the 2025/2026 academic year. This allowance can be used by students to purchase electronic devices to support their studies, in line with the applicable university policies and schemes, where these are in place. Some institutions will make use of the NSFAS process for the provision of laptops to students.
- The living allowance which is provided to full-time students in contact study remains at R15 000 for the 2025/2026 academic year, and the incidental allowance remains at R2900. For students receiving the R15000, the incidental allowance is included. This is provided to students who live in catering accommodation where their meal costs are covered through the bursary.
- UNISA and distance-learning students who are taking an equivalent full-time course load, and who qualify for NSFAS, will also be eligible for the R2900 incidental allowance.
- The travel allowance, which is provided to students who live at home or in accommodation that is not accredited, and therefore do not receive an accommodation allowance, remains at a maximum of R7500 for the 2025/2026 academic year.
- Nzimanded added that in respect of the allowances provided the policy provisions outlined in the 2020 Guidelines would remain in place for 2025/2026.
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