NSFAS Allowances 2027: Amounts for University & TVET (+ Calculator)
NSFAS pays funded students a set of allowances on top of tuition — for food and daily living costs, accommodation, books and learning materials, transport and personal care. The exact amounts depend on whether you study at a university or a TVET college, and on your living arrangement. On this page you’ll find the latest NSFAS-confirmed allowance amounts for both, matching the calculator above exactly.
Not funded yet? Check your NSFAS status first to make sure you’re approved — allowances only start once your funding is confirmed and your registration is received.
Use the calculator to estimate your allowance, then read the full breakdown below.
NSFAS Allowance Estimator
Pick your institution and where you'll live to see roughly how much NSFAS could pay you for the year.
NSFAS pays the actual cost, up to R52,000. Leave empty to use the cap.
| Allowance | Per year |
|---|---|
| Accommodation (paid to provider) | R52,000 |
| Living allowance (food) | R17,160 |
| Learning materials (books) | R5,678 |
Estimate only, based on published DHET/NSFAS guideline amounts (last checked October 2026). Accommodation is usually paid directly to the residence or landlord, not to you. Final amounts are set by NSFAS each year. Confirm on the official myNSFAS portal. This tool is not affiliated with NSFAS.
Amounts on this page are the latest values confirmed by NSFAS (2025, after the 4% allowance increase) and are the same amounts used in the calculator. This is an unofficial guide — we are not affiliated with NSFAS, and your institution may apply NSFAS caps through its own processes.
Last updated: 20 October 2026
How NSFAS Allowances Work
NSFAS allowances are paid over 10 months of the academic year (usually February to November), not 12. Some allowances are paid monthly, some are once-off for the year, and accommodation is usually paid to your institution or accredited accommodation provider rather than to you. You do not automatically receive every allowance — each one depends on your situation:
- You get either an accommodation allowance or a transport allowance, not both.
- Your living allowance covers food (meals) and personal care — there is no separate “meal allowance” on top of it. NSFAS does not pay a meal allowance as its own category.
- Students in catered residences don’t get the full living allowance, because meals are provided by the residence — they receive a smaller personal care allowance instead.
- Learning materials is a once-off payment at the start of the year.
NSFAS Allowances for University Students
Living Allowance
R17,160 per year — paid as R1,716 per month over 10 months. This applies to students in non-catered accommodation and students who receive a transport allowance. The living allowance is made up of a meals (food) portion of R13,993 and a personal care portion of R3,167 — together they make the R17,160. Students living with a disability receive R20,800 per year (R2,080 per month).
Accommodation Allowance
Paid up to these annual caps, depending on your residence type and area:
- Catered residence, metro: R65,993 per year
- Catered residence, non-metro: R56,633 per year
- Non-catered residence, metro: R52,000 per year
- Non-catered residence, non-metro: R42,640 per year
- Accredited private accommodation: capped at R52,000 per year
If your rent is higher than the cap, NSFAS only pays up to the cap — the difference is your own responsibility.
Learning Materials (Books) Allowance
R5,678 per year, paid once-off at the start of the year for textbooks, stationery and learning materials. Students living with a disability receive R6,240.
Transport Allowance
R8,190 per year (R819 per month) if you live at home and travel to campus, generally within 40 km of your institution. You cannot receive the transport allowance and an accommodation allowance at the same time.
Personal Care Allowance
R3,167 per year (about R316 per month) for students in catered residences, for toiletries and personal items. For other students, personal care is already included inside the living allowance above.
NSFAS Allowances for TVET College Students
Living Allowance
R1,716 per month over 10 months (R17,160 per year) for students in the categories that qualify — including students in non-catered accommodation and students receiving a transport allowance. Students living with a disability receive R2,080 per month (R20,800 per year). As with university students, the living allowance covers food and personal care together.
Accommodation Allowance
TVET accommodation is capped by area, up to:
- Urban area: R24,000 per year
- Peri-urban area: R18,900 per year
- Rural area: R15,750 per year
Accommodation is paid to the college or accredited provider, not to the student.
Learning Materials Allowance
R5,678 per year, paid once-off for books and learning materials. Students living with a disability receive R6,240.
Transport Allowance
R802 per month over 10 months (R8,020 per year) if you live at home and travel to college and do not receive an accommodation allowance.
Personal Care Allowance
R316 per month (R3,167 per year) for students in catered residences. For other TVET students, personal care forms part of the living allowance.
Allowances for Students Living With a Disability
Students living with a disability receive higher amounts in several categories, confirmed on assessment of the Disability Annexure:
- Living allowance: R20,800 per year (R2,080 per month)
- Learning materials: R6,240 per year
- Human support: R52,000 per year
- Assistive devices: R54,080, plus R10,000 per year for maintenance and repairs
Who Qualifies for NSFAS Allowances?
Allowances are part of NSFAS funding, so the normal NSFAS rules apply: you must be a South African citizen (or permanent resident), study at a public university or TVET college, and come from a household earning R350,000 or less per year (R600,000 if you live with a disability). You must be registered — allowances only flow once your institution sends NSFAS your registration data — and you must keep meeting NSFAS’s academic progression rules to keep receiving them.
When Do NSFAS Allowances Start?
Allowances start once three things are in place: your funding is approved, your institution has sent NSFAS your registration data, and you have signed your NSFAS bursary agreement. Payments are then made over 10 months of the academic year — typically from February to November. First payments for the year often land a few weeks into the first term because institutions must submit registration data first; if your allowance is late, check with your campus financial aid office before assuming something is wrong. See the NSFAS payment dates page for the payment cycle, and our NSFAS status meanings page if your status is still on Awaiting Registration or Funding.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the NSFAS living allowance per month?
R1,716 per month over 10 months (R17,160 per year) for university and TVET students in the qualifying categories. Students living with a disability receive R2,080 per month.
Is there a separate NSFAS meal allowance?
No. Food is covered inside the living allowance — of the R17,160, the meals portion is R13,993 and personal care is R3,167. Any guide that adds a separate meal allowance on top of the living allowance is double-counting.
How much is the NSFAS book allowance?
R5,678 per year, paid once-off. Students living with a disability receive R6,240.
Do I get both accommodation and transport allowances?
No — it is one or the other. If NSFAS pays your accommodation, you don’t get transport; if you live at home and commute, you get transport instead of accommodation.
Why is my allowance less than the amounts on this page?
These are the maximum NSFAS-confirmed amounts and caps. Your actual payment depends on your residence type, your institution’s own NSFAS processes, and whether your rent is below the cap. Your campus financial aid office can explain your exact breakdown.
When will I receive my first allowance?
After your funding is approved, your registration data reaches NSFAS and your agreement is signed — usually a few weeks into the first term. Keep an eye on your NSFAS status and the payment dates page.
- NSFAS Payment Dates 2027: Key Dates for Receiving Your Funds - October 19, 2026
- NSFAS Stages 2027 and Their Meanings - October 18, 2026
- NSFAS Consent Form 2027 PDF Download - October 8, 2026
