Mail & Guardian
Mail & Guardian
student fundinglatest news & developments
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme received a record 893 487 applications for the 2026 academic year

NSFAS receives nearly 900 000 applications, with women making up 66%

The student financial aid scheme said its appeals process would be open until 14 January

The minister said detractors have celebrated the reputational damage to the student funding scheme, his department and the government

Cabinet to receive proposal on university student funding by June

Amid a continued national shutdown of universities, Blade Nzimande told parliament that government was collecting data of students’ historical debt

‘It is so hard being a black and broke’: How access to NSFAS funding involves privilege, luck

Thousands of students are anxiously awaiting for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme to respond to their funding applications as registration at institutions draws to a close

If she wins: Hillary Clinton’s proposal is to spend $500-billion to allow students to graduate without incurring any debt.

​Clinton promises big changes for students if she wins

The US has one of the most expensive higher education systems in the world.

Officials say 31 people have died in protest-related violence so far, while Human Rights Watch says at least 51 have been killed including medics and children. (Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah/Reuters)

Free university for all is unrealistic

South Africa’s economy won’t be able to shoulder the burden of what students are demanding

‘A final decision on fee-free education is needed so that universities can decide whether or not their fees will increase in 2018

State-backed loan scheme ticks all boxes

​For the government to wholly fund public higher education is seemingly impossible.

File photo

Are student loans the only answer?

Fee-free higher education could cost as much as an additional R71-billion a year

No fees: Breathe fire into ubuntu

South Africa can afford fee-free universities without squeezing them to make do with even less.

Former New York Daily News editorial staff members Carla Roman (L) and Reggie Lewis depart the newspaper’s Manhattan office after reports that the paper was reducing its editorial staff by some 50% (Reuters/Brendan McDermid)

Youth will force change on their terms if leaders dither

Young people need a clear vision of the type of country they want to live in and should truly address the inequalities of the past.

‘Test land tenure in court’

Ministers’ pockets can fund a degree

Mduduzi Manana believes his fellow Cabinet members can and should help pay for student fees.

Student is punished twice for being poor

A graduate says he can’t get a decent job because the university withheld his certificate over debt.

Industry has a major role to play in skills development

The responsibility for funding higher education and training cannot be a government responsibility alone.

Graduates capped with a debt letter

Students claim they didn’t get certificates after the funding agency failed to pay their fees.

Anatomy of a varsity textbook

It’s not just a lump of paper and ink, but a curated and researched stake in your future.

NSFAS acting chairperson Lourens van Staden said the scheme had notified institutions of this decision and asked  that they submit registration data to make the payments.

‘Mechanic’ fixes varsity breakdown

Acting vice-chancellor bends the rules to readmit 5 000 needy students who faced exclusion.

No money

When learning’s door gets bolted for students

Government, state agencies and universities must urgently solve the dire shortage of funding for students.

No money

State leaves students high and dry

A shortfall in financial aid means the doors of academia will be closed to scores of candidates.

Out of pocket: Science student Awakhiwe Kona can’t afford all his textbooks even though he has a bursary.

Students hurt by pricey textbooks

Ways to create cheaper learning materials are being probed, but there are stumbling blocks.

Spelling it out: University of Johannesburg students protest in January over delays in getting NSFAS loans.

Tech glitches exclude needy students

Serious problems in system leave hundreds of thousands of eligible applicants empty-handed.

The NSFAS budget Blade Nzimande announced falls way bellow what is needed to gear the scheme to fund all qualifying university students.

Poor students face massive financial stress

Having registration fees paid is not enough if you cannot afford to even eat properly.