Walter Sisulu University NSFAS REGISTRATION FOR THE 2026

The purpose of this document is to set out procedures to be followed when students wish to register for the 2026 academic year.

 

NEW STUDENTS:

 

As of 23 January 2026, NSFAS has processed a total of 7 189 applications. The status of these applications are as follows:

 

Provisionally approved                                         1 413

Unfunded & qualify for funding                            2 387

Awaiting evaluation (2^nd round applicants)         3 121

Rejected Poor academic results                                152

Rejected Financially ineligible                                     17

Awaiting Ranking and Funding                                   23

Application withdrawn                                                 33

Application Rejected                                                   43

 

All new students who have applied and have been provisionally approved by NSFAS may register without payment of the MIP. A list of these students has been supplied by NSFAS and has been made available to Financial Aid Offices.

 

New Students who applied, qualified but are unfunded will be allowed to register without paying the Minimum Initial Payment (MIP).

 

All new students who applied for NSFAS between 9 and 20 January 2026 and are awaiting evaluation and are from quintile 1, 2 and 3 schools will be allowed to register without paying the MIP. These students will only be eligible for allowances once NSFAS has assessed their applications.

 

New students who can provide adequate proof of full bursary funding for 2026 may register without paying the MIP.

 

New students with only partial bursary funding must pay the MIP as stated below.

 

All other new students who do not fall in the above categories must pay the MIP.

 

RETURNING STUDENTS:

 

All NSFAS qualifying students who were registered in 2016 and meet the academic progression requirements may be registered for the 2026 academic year. They will be supported through funding from NSFAS. These students do not have to pay the MIP. NSFAS will make an upfront payment to the university in respect of these students.

 

Students with outstanding debts who are not fully funded for 2026 must, pay the MIP and sign an Acknowledgment of Debt wherein they make a commitment to reduce their debts. All students owing more than R50 000 must pay at least 20% of the outstanding debts. Fees office must review the students fee account and their academic records.

 

NSFAS has in November and December 2016 made available further funding which covers all students who previously fell into the unfunded/insufficient category. These students have been invited to sign their loan forms. Once these students have signed the forms and they meet the NSFAS academic progression criteria they will be allowed to register without payment of the MIP. These students must sign their 2016 loan application forms before they can be allowed to register.

 

NSFAS has also agreed that we may submit claims for students with Historic Debt who were not included on the initial list. Once these students have signed the loan form and they meet the academic progression criteria they will be allowed to register without payment of the MIP.

 

NSFAS students with Historic Debt who do not qualify for the debt relief (eg those who failed, or their fees exceeded the maximum loan, had to pay an own contribution, etc.) must sign an Acknowledgement of Debt to make arrangements to settle those outstanding fees.

 

Students who can provide adequate proof of full bursary funding for 2026 may register without paying the MIP. If they have Historic Debt they must complete an Acknowledgement of debt wherein they make payment arrangements.

 

Students with only partial bursary funding must pay the MIP as stated above.

 

All other students who do not fall in the above categories must pay the MIP.

 

Minimum initial payment (MIP)

 

Council at its meeting in November 2016 has set the MIP for 2026 as follows:

 

Student not in residence:        R3 900

Students in residence:            R5 540

 

These amounts are unchanged from 2016.

 

APPEALS:

 

Academically deserving students who feel that their personal circumstances have not been properly assessed may appeal to the Executive Director Student Affairs and will be assessed by an Appeals Committee.

 

 

Prepared by:

 

 

 

AJ de Wet

Acting Chief Financial Officer

24 January 2026