NSFAS missing-middle loan applications rise, yet eligibility rates remain low
More than 53,000 students have applied for NSFAS missing-middle loans in 2026, yet only 3,102 have been deemed eligible. Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela discusses the challenges in converting applications into funding and the government's plans for a sustainable student funding model.
The 2026 NSFAS missing-middle loan programme is facing a significant funding gap. Out of over 53,000 applications, only 3,102 students have been deemed eligible for funding. This prompted Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela to acknowledge the concerns over the low conversion rate of eligible applicants into disbursed loans. The NSFAS loan scheme was introduced in 2024 to extend support to students whose household income falls above the NSFAS bursary threshold but who cannot afford higher education.
The scheme received R3.8 billion in 2024, sourced from the National Skills Fund and sector education and training authorities. For 2026, applications increased to 53,575, while 3,102 applicants were assessed as eligible. Manamela highlighted that several factors, including outstanding institutional memoranda of agreement and document verification, were affecting the implementation of the programme.
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