The single most important thing to know is that for many South African families, university is more affordable than it looks — and the systems designed to make it affordable are underused because families don't know they exist. Here is the full picture.

How to fund university without money in South Africa

Four main routes exist, and most funded students combine two or more:

NSFAS — the primary route for financially stretched families. Covers tuition and full living costs at public universities and TVET colleges, provided the household income is under R350,000 (or R600,000 with disabilities), or the applicant receives any SASSA grant.

University bursaries — most public universities offer their own bursaries for merit (academic performance), specific fields (particular degrees the university wants to support), and financial need. These are usually smaller in value than NSFAS but can be combined with it.

Corporate and sector bursaries — companies (Anglo American, Standard Bank, Sasol, MTN, Sanlam and many others) and sector education authorities (SETAs) fund students in specific fields, often with a work-back arrangement (the graduate works for the sponsor for a defined period after qualifying).

Government department bursaries — the Department of Basic Education (for teaching), Department of Health (for medicine and health sciences), Department of Defence (for engineering and various fields) and provincial governments all offer bursaries for specific careers.

The strategic principle: apply to everything you might qualify for. Bursaries are often underapplied for — meaning your chances are better than you might assume — and many can be combined. Read about Teneo's results. Speak to the Teneo team.

Financial aid for university students in South Africa

The NSFAS eligibility criteria for 2026:

South African citizen or permanent resident (South African citizens have full access; permanent residents have some restrictions).

Combined household income under R350,000 per year — the general threshold. This is combined gross income from all wage-earners in the household.

Students with disabilities: household income under R600,000 per year — the extended threshold for registered disability status.

SASSA grant recipients qualify automatically on income criteria. If the household receives any SASSA grant (Child Support, Disability, Old Age, Foster Care, SRD), the applicant meets the NSFAS income requirement.

Registered or accepted at a public institution — NSFAS funds at all 26 public universities and 50 public TVET colleges. Private institutions are not funded.

Undergraduate qualification — NSFAS funds a first undergraduate qualification (degree, diploma or higher certificate). Postgraduate study is generally not covered.

Academic progression — continuing students must meet the academic progression rules (typically passing at least 50% of modules, with a 60% pass rate required at some progression stages).

Applications open through myNSFAS.org.za in September of Grade 12, closing in November. First-time applicants apply then; continuing students confirm renewal annually.

For families with household income between R350,000 and R600,000 — the "missing middle" — the NSFAS student loan (as distinct from the bursary) is available, with different terms.

How to go to university if you cannot afford it

The realistic sequence for a family that can't fund tuition out of pocket:

1. Apply to universities where you meet requirements. Even without confirmed funding, apply — you can't be funded for a place you don't have.

2. Apply to NSFAS as soon as applications open (September of Grade 12). Have your ID, household income proof and academic results ready. If you receive a SASSA grant, note this — you qualify automatically on income.

3. Apply to university-specific bursaries offered by the universities you're targeting. Each university has its own bursary schemes — check specific institutions' financial aid pages.

4. Apply to corporate and sector bursaries in your target field. If you're aiming at engineering, look at Sasol, Anglo, Eskom and engineering-sector bursaries. Similar logic applies for teaching, medicine, IT and other fields.

5. Apply to government bursaries for your target career. The Funza Lushaka bursary funds teaching students; various health-department bursaries fund medicine and allied health; provincial governments fund specific fields.

6. Consider TVET colleges alongside universities. TVET fees are lower, NSFAS-funded, and lead to real qualifications for real careers. For some fields, the TVET route is genuinely a better fit than a degree.

7. Have a backup plan. If funding doesn't come through for the first choice, alternatives include TVET, distance learning (UNISA), part-time study while working, or a considered gap year with a job to build savings.

Bursaries for low-income families in South Africa

Beyond NSFAS, several other funding sources specifically serve lower-income families:

Provincial government bursaries — most provincial governments run bursary schemes targeting learners from lower-income families in the province. Requirements vary by province but typically include residency, financial need and specific study fields.

Corporate CSI bursaries — many companies run Corporate Social Investment bursary programmes explicitly targeting learners from disadvantaged backgrounds. Anglo American, Discovery, Sanlam and others have named programmes.

Community and faith-based bursaries — churches, community trusts, family foundations and community organisations often run smaller bursary programmes. These are less advertised but genuinely accessible if you ask around.

University-specific bursaries for need — some universities have specific bursary schemes for students from lower-income backgrounds, distinct from merit bursaries. Check each university's financial aid page.

The Funza Lushaka Bursary — the Department of Basic Education's teaching bursary, funding students who commit to teach in specific fields after qualifying.

The practical action: apply to everything you might qualify for, and start early. Bursary application processes take time, and many close months before the academic year begins. The learner who applies to twelve bursaries and gets three is much better placed than the one who applies to two and gets none. .

Frequently asked questions

How do you fund university without money in South Africa? Primarily through NSFAS (covering tuition and living costs at public universities and TVET colleges for households under R350,000/year, or R600,000 with disabilities). SASSA recipients auto-qualify. Beyond NSFAS, university bursaries, corporate bursaries, SETA-funded learnerships, government department bursaries and provincial schemes all exist. Combining sources is the norm.

Who qualifies for NSFAS? South African citizens (or eligible permanent residents) with combined household income under R350,000/year, or R600,000 for students with disabilities. SASSA grant recipients qualify automatically on income. Applicants must be registered or accepted at a public university or TVET college and pursuing a first undergraduate qualification.

How do I apply for NSFAS? Through myNSFAS.org.za. Applications open in September of Grade 12 and close in November. You'll need your SA ID, proof of household income (or SASSA letter), academic results, and details of the institution you're applying to. Apply as soon as applications open.

What if my family income is above R350,000? For household income between R350,000 and R600,000 (the "missing middle"), the NSFAS student loan is available with different terms from the bursary. Beyond that, university-specific bursaries, corporate bursaries, sector-specific bursaries and merit bursaries may still apply. Applying widely matters here too.

Are there bursaries beyond NSFAS? Yes — many. University-specific bursaries, corporate bursaries (Anglo American, Sasol, Standard Bank, Sanlam, MTN and many more), sector education authorities (SETAs) funding learnerships, government department bursaries (Funza Lushaka for teaching, health department bursaries for medicine), and provincial government schemes. Applying to multiple sources is the strategy that works.

Can I combine NSFAS with other bursaries? Sometimes — it depends on the specific rules of each bursary and NSFAS itself. Some bursaries are structured to complement NSFAS; others aren't compatible. Check the specific terms of any bursary you apply to. NSFAS eligibility rules include restrictions on double-funding, so read them carefully.

For financially stretched families, university is more accessible than it looks. NSFAS covers tuition and living costs for households under R350,000/year (R600,000 with disabilities), and bursaries beyond NSFAS extend the picture further. Apply widely. To learn more, see Teneo's results or speak to the Teneo team.