NSFAS in South Africa - dates and deadlines
Every nsfas date Find SA Status tracks, current and archived, with the official source, the date we last verified it and the next scheduled review.
There are 4 nsfas records here: 3 still upcoming and 1 archived. Archived records stay online because "when did that happen" is a real question, but they are clearly marked so nobody plans around a date that has passed.
Last reviewed 2026-10-13 · next scheduled review 2026-10-14
Upcoming and current
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Sat 31 Oct 2026
Corrected In 16 daysNSFAS 2027 applications close - date shown on the NSFAS application guide
The NSFAS application guide for 2027 displays 31 October 2026 as the closing date. Because the ministerial launch announcement gave a later date of 18 November 2026, Find SA Status recommends applicants treat 31 October as the effective deadline and submit well before it. Applying early also leaves time to correct a rejected document upload, which is the most common reason an application fails.
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Wed 18 Nov 2026
Corrected In 34 daysNSFAS 2027 applications close - date announced at the ministerial launch
The Minister of Higher Education and Training announced 18 November 2026 as the closing date for 2027 NSFAS applications at the launch on 18 September 2026. This is later than the date currently displayed on the NSFAS application guide. Applications close at 23:59 South African time.
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1 Dec – 31 Dec 2026
Tentative In 77 daysNSFAS 2027 funding outcomes expected
NSFAS has indicated that successful applicants for 2027 can expect funding outcomes during December 2026, before registration opens for the 2027 academic year. Applicants should log in to myNSFAS to check their own outcome rather than waiting for an SMS, because NSFAS does not reliably reach every applicant by phone.
Archive
These dates have passed. They are kept for reference - for example to check when a filing season closed in a previous year.
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Fri 18 Sep 2026
Confirmed 27 days agoNSFAS 2027 applications open
Applications for NSFAS funding for the 2027 academic year opened on Friday 18 September 2026, launched by the Minister of Higher Education and Training. Applications are made online through the myNSFAS portal and are free. Applicants must apply for admission to a public university or TVET college separately - an NSFAS application is not an admission application.
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