Minister Buti Manamela: Launch of NSFAS 2027 application cycle
Programme Director,
Interim Chairperson of the NSFAS Board, Adv Richardt Ramashia,
Director-General of the Department of Higher Education and Training,
Acting CEO of the NSFAS Board, Mr Wasim Carrim,
Deputy-Directors General present here,
Student leaders,
Members of the media,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Thank you for joining us today as we officially launch the NSFAS 2027 Application Cycle. We are here because thousands of young South Africans are preparing to make one of the most important decisions of their lives: what they will study, where they will study, and how they will finance their education and training.
For many young people, access to funding is the difference between pursuing their dreams and abandoning them. Today’s launch is therefore about much more than opening an application window. It is about opening doors of opportunity and ensuring that financial circumstances do not prevent deserving young South Africans from building their futures. But before we speak about the 2027 application cycle, we must acknowledge where NSFAS has come from over the past few months.
Strengthening NSFAS
The past four months have been a period of significant institutional transition for NSFAS. We moved through a period of administration and have now returned to a Board-led governance arrangement. These developments have been closely watched by students, parents, institutions and the broader public. Our message today is clear: these interventions have always been about strengthening NSFAS, its stability, governance, effectiveness and ability to fulfil its most important responsibility: providing financial assistance to students who depend on it to access and complete their education and training.
The stability of NSFAS is not an end in itself. Behind every application is a young person whose future depends on this institution functioning effectively. Behind every funding decision is a student who wants to become a professional, an artisan, an entrepreneur, a teacher, a scientist or a contributor to our economy and society. That is why the integrity, stability and effectiveness of NSFAS matter. Our responsibility is to ensure that NSFAS can perform its mandate sustainably, fairly and efficiently.
A stronger application system
The demand for student financial aid continues to grow. During the 2026 application cycle, NSFAS received a record number of applications from young South Africans seeking opportunities to further their studies. This growing demand underscores the importance of NSFAS and places an even greater responsibility on us to improve systems and service delivery. Over the past year, NSFAS has therefore implemented a range of improvements to strengthen operational efficiency and enhance the student experience.
For the 2027 funding cycle, these include stronger data integrity through the direct extraction of student information from institutional systems. This will reduce errors and improve the accuracy of funding decisions. NSFAS is also introducing automated document verification, electronic document signing and a modernised student-support environment to improve service delivery and response times. The verification of student registration and banking details is also being strengthened through collaboration with the Department of Home Affairs. In addition, work has commenced on developing the Loan Management System to support the administration of student loans for the missing middle. We have also paid particular attention to the administration of appeals. NSFAS has been working to address historical weaknesses, improve communication with students, and ensure that appeals are handled according to clear rules and timelines. These improvements are intended to make the application process simpler, faster, more secure and more responsive to students.
The 2027 application cycle
I am pleased to announce that the 2027 NSFAS application cycle officially opens today and will close on 18 November 2026. Funding outcomes will be communicated to successful applicants in December, providing greater certainty ahead of registration for the 2027 academic year. To all prospective applicants: do not wait until the closing date. Apply as early as possible. Applying early gives you time to verify your information, submit outstanding documentation and seek assistance if you encounter challenges.
We are also taking the application process to communities. Outreach teams will be deployed across provinces, districts, rural communities, townships and marginalised communities to ensure that information and application support reach eligible learners and prospective students. We will work with schools, provincial education departments, community stakeholders and institutions to assist those who may otherwise face barriers to accessing information about student funding. We are particularly pleased to have schools from the City of Johannesburg participating in today’s launch, including learners with disabilities. Their presence reminds us that access must be inclusive. Every learner, regardless of background or circumstance, must have an opportunity to access financial support for education and training.
NSFAS and the future of South Africa
The launch of the NSFAS application cycle is about far more than student funding. It is about the future of South Africa. The National Development Plan 2030 identifies education, skills development and youth empowerment as fundamental drivers of economic growth, social transformation and nation-building. If we are to reduce poverty and unemployment, expand economic participation and build a capable developmental state, we must continue investing in the education and development of our young people. NSFAS remains one of government's most critical instruments in advancing these objectives. By providing student funding, we are not simply supporting individuals in accessing education and training. We are investing in the future workforce, leadership, and prosperity of our country. Every student who receives NSFAS funding represents the potential to become a teacher, engineer, artisan, entrepreneur, scientist, healthcare professional, public servant or community leader.
Every qualification attained strengthens our economy, supports our labour market and contributes to building a more prosperous, capable and inclusive South Africa. The investment we make in student funding today is an investment in our country's productive capacity tomorrow.
I must also, however, send an important message to young people who wish to access TVET colleges and universities. Application to NSFAS does not guarantee access to your chosen area of study. You must also apply to institutions, as funding eligibility alone will not ensure a place to study in your chosen qualification. More information on accessing study opportunities is available on the Khetha portal at www.careerhelp.org.za. I encourage you to make use of this service.
Supporting the missing middle
Our commitment to access must also extend beyond the NSFAS bursary. We recognise that there are students whose household incomes places them above the NSFAS bursary threshold, but whose families nevertheless may struggle to afford the full cost of higher education. These are the students commonly referred to as the “missing middle. They may earn too much to qualify for a bursary but not enough to comfortably cover tuition, accommodation, study materials, and other costs associated with tertiary education. We cannot ignore these students. A young person should not be excluded from the opportunity to study simply because their household income falls just above a bursary threshold, yet they are still unable to meet the actual cost of education. This is why government is strengthening the missing-middle loan scheme as an additional funding pathway for eligible students who do not qualify for NSFAS bursaries but require financial assistance. The loan scheme expands the funding system beyond the traditional bursary model, providing an opportunity for students who might otherwise face financial exclusion.
The loans are repayable in accordance with the applicable terms and conditions, making this an important part of building a funding system that is both inclusive and sustainable. Our objective is clear: no deserving young person should have to abandon the pursuit of education simply because their household income falls between two funding categories.
Expanding opportunities through TVET colleges
As we launch the NSFAS application cycle, I also want to encourage young people to consider the opportunities available at our public Technical and Vocational Education and Training colleges. TVET colleges are central to building the skills base required by our economy. They provide pathways into technical, occupational and vocational fields that can equip young people with practical skills, improve employability, support entrepreneurship and expand economic participation.
Applications for the 2027 academic year at public TVET colleges are open until 30 September 2026. I therefore call on prospective students, particularly those who have completed Grade 9 and beyond, school leavers and those seeking to acquire new skills, to use this opportunity wisely. Research the programmes offered by the TVET college of your choice. Identify a qualification that aligns with your interests and career aspirations, and submit your application before the deadline. And importantly, once you have applied for admission, if you require financial assistance, you must also apply for NSFAS funding. Admission and funding are two important steps in planning your educational journey.
A call to the youth of South Africa
The September and October application period is a window of opportunity. Every learner is responsible for using it. Do not wait for someone else to apply on your behalf. Do not wait until the final day. And do not allow uncertainty or a lack of information to become the reason you do not pursue your aspirations. Ask questions. Seek assistance. Research your options. Your future matters. And your future is also in your hands. Government will continue working to ensure that our funding systems are accessible, responsive and sustainable. We will continue to strengthen NSFAS and expand opportunities for young people. But the first step is yours. Apply for NSFAS. Apply to a TVET college or university of your choice. Take advantage of the opportunities available to you.
As we gather under the theme “NSFAS 2027: Ready to Fund the Future,” we do so with confidence that NSFAS is strengthening its systems and support mechanisms to serve the next generation of students. We have a responsibility to ensure that NSFAS is stable, effective and capable of fulfilling its mandate. We have a responsibility to expand access to education and training. And we have a responsibility to ensure that education and skills development remain instruments of social justice, economic transformation and national development. The future of South Africa depends in part on what we do today to develop the potential of our young people. It is therefore my pleasure to officially declare the NSFAS 2027 Application Cycle OPEN.
I thank you.
#GovZAUpdates
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