NSFAS Clears Backlogs, Approves Over 660 000 Students for 2026 Funding

Carrim revealed that the processing of over 180 000 outstanding documents led to the approval of an additional 50 000 students across the post-school education system.

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has made significant progress in clearing application backlogs and expanding access to higher education funding, with more than 660 000 students approved for funding in the 2026 academic year.

Addressing the media on Thursday, NSFAS Acting CEO Wassem Carrim said sustained operational improvements and extended processing efforts have resulted in tens of thousands of additional students securing funding before the close of the registration cycle.

50 000 Additional Approvals After Document Clearance

Carrim revealed that the processing of over 180 000 outstanding documents led to the approval of an additional 50 000 students across the post-school education system.

The approvals span first-time entering students, returning university students, and continuing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college students.

“As a developmental fund that recognises South Africa’s complex social realities, NSFAS allows applicants with outstanding documentation the opportunity to resubmit,” Carrim said, noting that this approach has delivered tangible results.

Teams at NSFAS worked “around the clock” to clear backlogs, directly contributing to the surge in approvals before registrations closed.

Ongoing Challenge: Incorrect and Incomplete Documents

Despite progress, Carrim acknowledged persistent challenges with incorrect or incomplete submissions, which slow down the finalisation of applications.

“Some students continue to upload incorrect, incomplete, or unclear documents, which creates a feedback loop between outstanding documents and NSFAS’s ability to consider applications,” he said.

NSFAS has urged applicants to ensure that clear, correct and complete documents are submitted when requested.

Consent Forms a Key Bottleneck

One of the most common causes of delays relates to the parent or guardian consent form, which authorises NSFAS to verify household income through third-party data sources.

Carrim explained that applications are often delayed because consent forms are:

• Unsigned or undated

• Incomplete or incorrectly completed

• Signed by students instead of parents or guardians

• Submitted with consent from only one parent, where Home Affairs records reflect two parents

Where an applicant lists a person other than a biological or legally recognised parent, NSFAS requires a declaration form explaining the relationship, along with a properly completed consent form.

“NSFAS has to verify income. If the individual included is not the parent recorded at Home Affairs, the relationship must be explained,” Carrim said.

Funding Outcomes for the 2026 Cycle

Providing a comprehensive overview of the 2026 funding cycle, Carrim confirmed the following outcomes:

• 660 039 applications approved for funding

• 85 662 applications under verification, with documents already submitted

• 116 266 applications rejected for not meeting eligibility criteria

• 21 483 applications still outstanding due to missing documents

In addition, 13 052 loan applicants were converted to bursary funding after meeting the qualifying criteria.

University and TVET Student Progression

For continuing university students, NSFAS processed academic progression results with the following outcomes:

• 436 924 students met progression criteria

• 109 761 students did not meet the criteria

• 4 945 students have outstanding results, largely due to supplementary exams

“Institutions are encouraged to upload outstanding results to provide students with clarity on their funding status,” Carrim said.

For continuing TVET students, results submitted from 15 January 2026 were processed within seven days:

• 127 503 students met academic progression requirements

• 79 461 students did not

• 4 025 cases remain under review

Loan Applications Snapshot

NSFAS also received 26 538 loan applications for the 2026 cycle:

• 4 609 loans converted to bursaries

• 1 561 loans approved

• 20 368 applications declined due to academic or financial ineligibility

Strengthening Access to Education

Carrim said the latest figures reflect NSFAS’s continued focus on improving turnaround times, accountability and access for eligible students.

“We encourage students to carefully follow document requirements so we can finalise applications efficiently and ensure deserving students are supported,” he said.