How much is the NSFAS accommodation allowance?
NSFAS accommodation allowances are capped rand amounts that vary by whether your accommodation is in a metro or non-metro area, and whether it is catered or non-catered. Below are the last officially confirmed figures — published by NSFAS for the 2025 academic year — with a direct link so you can check whether updated 2026 figures have since been released.
University students: 2025 accommodation allowance amounts
These are the accommodation allowance caps NSFAS confirmed for university students for the 2025 academic year, as published in its official statement on student allowances. NSFAS has not, at the time of writing, published separate 2026 figures elsewhere on nsfas.org.za — treat the amounts below as the last officially confirmed figures and use the link in each caption to check for updates before budgeting.
Catered accommodation: R65,993 per year (metro) / R56,633 per year (non-metro).
Non-catered accommodation: R52,000 per year (metro) / R42,640 per year (non-metro).
Source: NSFAS Statement on the Payment of the 2025 Student Allowances (official PDF, nsfas.org.za). Last officially confirmed for 2025 — check nsfas.org.za directly for any 2026 update before relying on these numbers.
TVET college students: 2025 accommodation allowance amounts
NSFAS publishes accommodation allowance rates for TVET college students on the same scale as university students in its 2025 statement: catered R65,993 (metro) / R56,633 (non-metro), and non-catered R52,000 (metro) / R42,640 (non-metro), per year.
If you receive a disability-related transport allowance, NSFAS lists a separate disability transport rate of R20,800 for both university and TVET students — this is distinct from the accommodation allowance itself. Confirm your own disability-related entitlements with your institution's financial aid office, since these can vary by individual assessment.
What "metro" vs "non-metro" means for your accommodation search
NSFAS classifies accommodation location as either "metro" (the major metropolitan areas — for example Johannesburg, Tshwane/Pretoria, Cape Town, eThekwini/Durban, Ekurhuleni, and Nelson Mandela Bay) or "non-metro" (smaller cities and towns). Metro accommodation allowance caps are higher than non-metro caps because average rental costs in the big metros tend to be higher.
This classification depends on where the accommodation is physically located, not where your university's main campus is — a satellite campus or a non-metro university town has a lower allowance ceiling than accommodation in one of the classified metros, even if both serve the same institution. When comparing DigsConnect listings, check which allowance tier applies to the specific city or town your accommodation is in, not just your university's name.
Other NSFAS allowances, for context
Accommodation is only one part of the NSFAS funding package. For 2025, NSFAS also confirmed a living allowance of R17,160 per year for non-catered students (covering meals, toiletries and other personal costs when accommodation is not catered) and a book allowance of up to R5,678 per year (R6,240 for students with disabilities), plus a transport allowance of R17,160 per year for eligible students. These are paid separately from the accommodation allowance and are not meant to be used to top up rent.
Why this number matters when comparing DigsConnect listings
Your NSFAS accommodation allowance is a hard ceiling, not a suggestion — NSFAS pays accredited accommodation providers directly up to your allowance cap, so any monthly rent that would exceed your annual cap when totalled over the lease term is a cost you (or a guardian) would need to cover yourself. Before shortlisting digs, work out your applicable annual cap from the tables above, divide by the number of months in your lease, and compare that to the monthly rent shown on each DigsConnect listing.
Also confirm the listing is NSFAS-accredited — NSFAS will only pay your allowance directly to accredited providers, so an otherwise affordable room can still leave you paying out of pocket if it is not accredited.
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Browse trusted NSFAS-accredited listingsFrequently asked questions
Is the NSFAS accommodation allowance paid monthly or as one annual amount?
NSFAS publishes accommodation allowance figures as annual caps. In practice, NSFAS typically pays accredited accommodation providers in instalments across the academic year rather than as a single lump sum — check the payment schedule for the current year on nsfas.org.za or with your institution's financial aid office, since timing can change year to year.
Will the 2026 NSFAS accommodation allowance be different from 2025?
NSFAS allowance amounts are reviewed periodically and can change between academic years. At the time of writing, the figures above are the last amounts NSFAS officially confirmed, for 2025. Check the official NSFAS allowances statement or nsfas.org.za directly for any figures published for the current academic year before you budget.
What counts as "catered" accommodation for NSFAS purposes?
Catered accommodation includes meals as part of the accommodation fee — typically university residences or select private digs with a dining hall or meal plan. Non-catered accommodation does not include meals, which is why NSFAS pays non-catered students a separate living allowance to cover food and other personal costs.
Does the accommodation allowance cover a deposit or only rent?
NSFAS allowance figures are published as an overall accommodation cost cap; providers accredited by NSFAS agree to fee structures NSFAS will cover within that cap. Whether a specific deposit is included depends on the individual accredited provider's fee agreement with NSFAS — confirm directly with the accommodation provider and your financial aid office before signing.
Who do I contact if my accommodation allowance payment is delayed or short?
Contact your institution's financial aid office first, since they administer NSFAS disbursements on campus. For scheme-wide payment queries you can also reach NSFAS directly through the contact channels listed on nsfas.org.za.