Can NSFAS Fund You Twice? A Policy-Based Look at 2026 Funding Rules

For many South African students, NSFAS is the deciding factor in whether higher education becomes possible. But every year, one question comes up more than any other: can NSFAS fund you twice if your academic path changes?
With the updated 2025 NSFAS Eligibility Criteria now in effect, the answer is clearer — but not always simple. The rules depend on progression, completion status, and how the N+Rule applies in each student’s situation. Here is a quick breakdown of how the system works going into the 2026 academic year.
❌ NSFAS will not fund a second completed undergraduate qualification
If you have already finished a funded undergraduate degree, diploma, or certificate, NSFAS considers your funding cycle closed. Students often assume they can switch institutions or change careers and receive funding again, but the policy is explicit: no second undergraduate qualification is eligible.
This rule also covers repeating the same qualification a second time.
✔ NSFAS may fund you again if your first qualification is incomplete
This is where many students fall into a grey area. If you started a qualification but did not finish it, NSFAS may still consider you depending on:
Your academic progression
Whether you fall within the N+Rule maximum years
Whether the qualification remains approved for funding
In other words, NSFAS may continue funding, but it is not automatic.
✔ TVET → University progression is the key exception
The only clear “yes” scenario for second-time funding is when a student moves from a funded TVET qualification to their first university degree. NSFAS treats this pathway as legitimate academic progression, not as a second undergraduate qualification.
This distinction is important: a progression pathway is not the same as starting a new qualification after completing one.
📌 Detailed breakdown with eligibility table
If you want to see the full comparison across all scenarios — same qualification, second degree, TVET progression, returning students, and more — I found a detailed policy-based guide with a colour-coded table.
👉 Read the full analysis here:
Can NSFAS fund you twice
Understanding these rules early can help students plan their next steps and avoid incorrect assumptions during the 2026 NSFAS cycle.