Is TVET college free?

VET (technical and vocational education and training) colleges receive free education in the form of grants and that “no student be partially funded” at these schools.

TVET Colleges focus on vocational training programmes and education and training with the aim of preparing students to become skilled workers in the workforce. 

Students often wonder whether the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) offers funding for TVET Colleges. 

The answer is that NSFAS does in fact offer funding for students at TVET Colleges as well as those attending public universities. 

 NSFAS covers funding for registration, tuition and provides monthly allowances. 

The NSFAS requirements are as follows:

  • You’re a South African citizen
  • If you’re a SASSA grant recipient, you qualify for funding
  • You have a combined household income of not more than R350 000 per year
  • Person with disability: Combined household income must not be more than R600 000 per year

For the 2025/2026 academic year NSFAS will be migrating students from all TVET colleges, who receive their allowances through the NSFAS Wallet and institutional disbursement services, to a direct payment system which will see students receive allowances directly into their bank accounts.

If you are planning to enroll at a public TVET college in 2025/2026, it is important that you open a bank account in preparation for the roll out of allowances through bank accounts.

Application results will be communicated to all applicants once NSFAS received confirmation from the Institution that an academic offer has been made to you. This will be communicated to you before the start of the academic year via SMS, email and through your myNSFAS account.

Once you have been approved for NSFAS funding, the funding covers you until you finish your qualification. This does however depend on whether you continue to meet the academic criteria. 


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