Buti Manamela launches 2027 NSFAS application cycle as funding window opens

Application window and key dates

Applications for NSFAS opened on Friday, September 18, 2026, and will close on October 31, 2026, giving eligible students just over six weeks to submit funding applications.

What the launch covered

The briefing in Parktown was intended to outline NSFAS’s readiness to process applications and to show how the scheme will support students seeking financial assistance for the 2027 academic year. During the event, Manamela and NSFAS leadership were expected to provide details on the application process and the scheme’s operational, technological and customer-support preparations.

A live demonstration of the application process was also set to take place to show prospective students how to navigate and complete their applications.

Advice for applicants and related deadlines

The Department of Higher Education and Training encouraged eligible students to apply early and to ensure that all required information is correctly submitted before the deadline.

The launch coincided with an approaching deadline for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college admissions: prospective students have until September 30, 2026 to apply for admission to TVET colleges for the 2027 academic year.

What to expect next

The briefing was positioned to show NSFAS’s operational readiness and to guide applicants through the submission process ahead of the closing date on October 31, 2026.