Student Loan Application 2025-2026: A Comprehensive Guide on How to Apply for Student Loan Online for 2025

Apply for Student Loan Online

A student loan is a type of money you borrow from the federal government or a private organization to pay for college expense and repay later with a lower interest rate This is designed to help students pay for post-secondary education and the associated fees, such as tuition, books and supplies, and living expenses. It may differ from other types of loans in the fact that the interest rate may be substantially lower and the repayment schedule may be deferred while the student is still in school.

It also differs in many countries in the strict laws regulating renegotiating and bankruptcy. In this article, we will highlights the differences of the student loan system in several major countries.

Unisa’s Student Funding Directorate (DSF) administers donor funds, in the form of study loans and bursaries, according to donors’ criteria. The main aim is to assist financially needy and academically deserving students. Unisa is proud that they have empowered a large number of students from different colleges and diverse geographical groups.

National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS): Student Loans

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is a juristic entity of the South Africa government reporting to the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation. NSFAS was established in 1991 to provide financial aid, in a form of a bursary or loan to students from low-income families who meet the criteria for admission to a post school education and training programme in at a public TVET college or university.

NSFAS Student Loan Guidelines

If you apply for a loan, the procedure is similar to that for a bursary application. You will be required to accept terms and conditions that are aligned to a bursary application. Please accept these terms and conditions with the understanding that the similar agreements will be shared with if you qualify for a loan agreement.

Applicants who have been rejected for a 2024 bursary based on a household income exceeding R350 000, will pre-qualify for a loan if their family income is less than R600,000. We will communicate with such applicants in due course.

Students who already applied for the NSFAS bursary scheme need not to submit a new application for the student loan scheme.

Requirements for NSFAS Student Loan

Students who apply for the new scheme must meet the following interim criteria:

• Annual household income between R350,000 and R600,000
• Accepted to study at either TVET College or public university for either under- or postgraduate studies.
• Can apply in years 1, 2, 3 or 4.
• Must sign a loan agreement if they qualify for a loan.

Please Note: A completed Consent Form is a mandatory requirement for a loan application, to validate information from third parties.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY FOR NSFAS STUDENT LOAN

UNISA Application for Admission 2025

Contact Unisa

Student enquiries
0800 00 1870
Contact details for student assistance and service
Ethics Hotline
0800 075 278
unisa@thehotline.co.za
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Visit the official website of the University of South Africa for more information. I hope the provided information is helpful, share your thoughts below in the comment section.

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