Paying for it

Costs & aid: application fees, NSFAS and bursaries

The biggest reason learners miss out on funding isn’t their marks – it’s a deadline that went past while they were busy. Here’s what we’ve verified.

What it costs just to apply

Separate from tuition – this is the once-off fee most universities charge to process your application. A handful charge nothing.

Only the universities we’ve confirmed a fee for are listed. No fee here yet usually just means we haven’t checked it – not that it’s free. The university’s own page (linked on its page here) always has the current amount.

Open right now

NSFAS closes on 18 November 2026. It is a separate application from applying to a university – doing one doesn’t do the other.

Checked on an official page

NSFAS funding for 2027

National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS)

Closes: 18 November 2026

For: Any course at a public university or TVET college

Who can apply: South African students planning to study at a public university or TVET college. NSFAS is a separate application from applying to a university. We have not verified the household-income thresholds, so we do not state one - check nsfas.org.za.

Applications opened 18 September 2026 and close 18 November 2026; funding outcomes are communicated in December. One other website gave 31 October - the Minister’s launch speech and the SAnews report both say 18 November.

Apply

Source: gov.za (opens the official page)

We saw a different closing date (31 October) on at least one other website. The Minister’s own launch speech and the SAnews report both say 18 November, so we use that - but always confirm on nsfas.org.za. We have not verified the household-income thresholds, so we do not state one.

Not from an official source

Where to check this yourself

More bursaries?

We list a bursary only when we’ve read its closing date and terms on the provider’s own page. Researching them is ongoing, so the list is short on purpose.

Many bursaries are offered by companies, professional bodies and the universities themselves, and most are aimed at particular fields of study. We haven’t verified any beyond NSFAS yet, so we don’t list them.

Not from an official source

Where to check this yourself

🛡️ Stay safe

Advice, not from an official source Nobody legitimate charges you to apply for a bursary or to “secure” a place. If someone asks for money up front, it’s a scam.

TUT warns that it "will never charge any prospective student money for making enquiries" and asks you to report scams to its ethics hotline, 0800 006 924.

From our research Source: TUT general information for first-year enrolment (opens the official page)

WhatsApp me before deadlines

Be honest – do you check that inbox? We’re setting up WhatsApp reminders for deadlines.

South African numbers. We only use it for deadline reminders.