If you have made plans to study in the tertiary and still looking forward to applying for NSFAS, this article will give you some clues on the courses funded by NSFAS. One may want to offer many courses, whether in the university or the TVET colleges.
And as part of the homework, you must do a background check if NSFAS funds these courses. You must know that not all courses offered across are supported by NSFAS. This is part of the requirements of NSFAS, whether a fresher or a continuing student.
In this article, we will look at the list of courses funded by NSFAS and what you should know about these courses in 2026.
List of Courses Funded by NSFAS 2026
As part of its objectives, the national student financial aid scheme considers the course an applicant may be offered, whether in the university or the TVET colleges. NSFAS does not fund courses offered in private colleges or private higher education. There are quite a number of courses that NSFAS funds in 2026, and the following are the courses:
- Drawing Office Practice
- Early Childhood Development
- Earth and Space Sciences
- Electrical Infrastructure Construction
- Engineering and Related Design
- Environmental Relations
- Environmental Sciences
- Fabrication and Extraction
- Film, Television, and Video
- Finance, Economics, and Accounting
- Forestry and Wood Technology
- Language
- Life Sciences
- Literature
- Manufacturing and Assembly
- Marketing
- Mathematical Sciences
- Mechatronics
- Media Studies
- Music
- Nature Conservation
- Occupationally Directed ETD Practice
- Office Administration
- People/Human-Centred Development
- Performing Arts
- Personal Care
- Physical Planning, Design and Management
- Physical Sciences
- Preventive Health
- Process Instrumentation
- Primary Agriculture
- Process Plant Operations
- Procurement
- Project Management
- Promotive Health and Developmental Services
- Psychology
- Public Administration
- Public Policy, Politics and Democratic Citizenship
- Public Relations
- Rehabilitative Health/Services
- Religious and Ethical Foundations of Society
- Rural and Agrarian Studies
- Safety in Society
- Schooling
- Secondary Agriculture
- Sovereignty of the State
- Sport
- Traditions, History and Legacies
- Transport, Operations and Logistics
- Undefined
- Urban and Regional Studies
- Visual Arts
- Wholesale and Retail
- General Social Science
- Generic
- Generic Management
- Higher Education and Training
- Horticulture
- Hospitality, Tourism, Travel, Gaming and Leisure
- Human Resources
- Industrial & Organizational Governance and HR Development
- Information Studies
- Information Technology and Computer Sciences
- Justice in Society
- Adult Learning
- Building Construction
- Building Construction
- Cleaning, Domestic, Hiring, Property and Rescue Services
- Communication Studies
- Consumer Services
- Cultural Studies
- Curative Health
- Design Studies
Which courses are not funded by NSFAS in 2026?
There is always a connection between NSFAS funding and courses offered in the university or the TVET colleges. Understanding the connection can always help you know your next step, especially if you are look ing for funds from NSFAS to finance your education.
There are over 70 courses that NSFAS funds in 2026 across the TVET colleges and Universities. But as part of their policies, there are some that they do not fund at all. NSFAS looks at applicants who have been enrolled and looking to study undergraduate courses in the university or the TVET colleges.
It can be heartbreaking to find out the courses NSFAS does not fund, and it’s not also just about the courses but the level of education in terms of a degree, diploma, or short course.
NSFAS does not fund short courses, whether in the university, TVET colleges, or private universities. Once it has been categorised as a short course, it is out of the funding policy of NSFAS. Short courses are offered within a short period in institutions and may have been summarised for individuals looking to upgrade their studies.
Aside from these, there are other courses that NSFAS does not offer: Postgraduate qualifications, part-time courses, Private university or higher education courses, and a second bachelor’s degree course.
These types of courses fall outside the goals and mission of NSFAS.
Does NSFAS fund teaching courses?
Individuals looking to pursue teaching courses may want to know if NSFAS fund these types of courses. The good news is that NSFAS funds teaching courses in a public institution and for undergraduate qualifications only.
If you want to study any education course but a higher level after your first degree, then you should know that NSFAS will not fund your education. The focus of NSFAS is to fund applicants who have qualified to study teaching courses in the TVET colleges or the public university upon their first-degree qualification.
Does NSFAS fund diploma courses?
Diploma courses are offered for a period of two to three years. It is one of the degrees offered in Universities and TVET colleges. If you are interested in studying a diploma course but are also concerned about the NSFAS application and its funding, then you must know you are eligible to receive support from NSFAS.
The national student funding aid scheme provides funds for students looking to study diploma courses both in the university and TVET colleges.
