Meta Description: Can you apply for NSFAS before matric results come out? What the 2027 portal dates suggest, what we could not confirm, and how to prepare during exam season.
Last updated: 8 October 2026
Short Answer
The reports we found indicate that you can apply before your matric results are out. Gauteng.net says 2027 applications opened on 18 September 2026 and the portal lists 31 October 2026 as the closing date, while the 2026 written exams only begin on 13 October, according to IOL. That timing means current Grade 12 learners cannot wait for results. We could not read the NSFAS website, so whether results are requested later is unconfirmed.
Key Takeaways
- The reported application window closes before the exams finish, so results cannot be a condition for submitting.
- Gauteng.net lists an ID number, cellphone number and email address as the starting requirements.
- Funding does not secure admission, so your university or college application is still separate.
- We found no confirmed statement about when NSFAS asks for final results.
Why the Timeline Points to “Yes”
Put the dates in a row and the answer becomes clearer. IOL and Joburg Etc reported that the 2026 written exams run from 13 October to 26 November. Results are typically released in mid-January, although no confirmed 2026 date was found. Meanwhile, Gauteng.net reports an NSFAS opening date of 18 September and a portal closing date of 31 October, though an earlier report gave 18 November. In every version, the application window ends before the last paper is written. Learners in the matric class of 2026 are therefore expected to apply while the final results are still unknown.
What You Do Need to Apply
According to Gauteng.net, you create or access a myNSFAS profile using a South African ID number, a cellphone number and an email address. You complete the form with personal and household information, give consent for third-party verification, upload the documents the system requests, review everything, submit, and keep your reference number. The report does not say that a matric certificate or results slip is one of the required uploads. It says that the system generates the documents each applicant needs, which suggests your list is personal. Read it in your own profile.
Documents that depend on your circumstances
The same report mentions documents about parents, guardians, spouses or household income, a disability annexure and medical report for students with disabilities, and a declaration form for orphans and vulnerable children. Gather what applies to your family now, because certified copies and signatures can take days. Do not wait for the exams to end.
Using Marks That Already Exist
Many applications, including those to institutions, rely on marks you already have. Bizcommunity, citing a report from 18 June 2026, said learners can apply to universities using Grade 11 or mid-year Grade 12 results, with final admission depending on matric performance. Varsitywise reported that TVET colleges commonly ask for a certified copy of your latest results, which for a Grade 12 learner may be a mid-year or trial report. Whether NSFAS asks for these is not stated in the sources we found, so check your profile and your school.
What Happens After the Exams
When results are released, you will probably need to give them to your institution and may need to update NSFAS. We found no confirmed process for that step, so treat it as a question to ask. Save an electronic copy of your results, note the date you receive them, and keep your reference number close. If your funding status changes or you change your course, ask whether NSFAS must be told.
Admission Is a Separate Question
Gauteng.net states that NSFAS funding does not secure admission. You still have to apply to your chosen university or TVET college and meet its requirements. Under the National Senior Certificate rules reported by Inside Education, a Bachelor pass needs 40 percent in the home language, 50 percent in four other subjects and 30 percent in the language of learning, and six of seven subjects must be passed. Funding approval cannot replace a pass type that your course requires.
How to Use the Exam Period Wisely
- Set aside one evening to complete or review your NSFAS application, away from exam revision.
- Ask a parent or guardian to help gather household documents.
- Write your reference number somewhere safe and save it to your phone.
- Check the status in your profile once a week, not every day.
- Return to your revision timetable and protect your sleep too.
Getting Help From Your School
Many schools have a life orientation teacher or career guidance counsellor who has helped earlier classes with funding applications. Ask whether the school will print or certify documents, whether there is a computer room you can use after hours, and whether someone can check your form before you press submit. Do not hand your password to a teacher or friend. Sit beside them, let them advise you, and enter your own details yourself so that your account stays secure.
Keeping Calm During Exam Season
It is normal to feel torn between revision and paperwork. A good approach is to treat the application as one fixed task with a clear end, instead of a worry that sits in the background. Choose a day, finish the form, and then let it go. If you are stuck on a question, write it down and ask your school or NSFAS later, rather than losing an hour of study. Your marks remain the most important thing you control in the next few weeks, and a calm mind helps you write better papers.
What If You Miss the Window?
We cannot promise an extension and found no report that the closing date will move. If you are unable to apply in this window, ask NSFAS directly about other possibilities, such as later application periods for continuing or late-registering students, and ask your institution about its own funding offices. Treat anyone who offers a “late application” for a fee with suspicion, since applying is free according to Gauteng.net.
What We Still Do Not Know
- Whether NSFAS asks for final matric results, and if so when.
- The correct closing date, because 31 October and 18 November have both been reported.
- Whether the portal will accept corrections after the closing date.
- The confirmed date on which the 2026 matric results will be released.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need my matric certificate to apply to NSFAS?
The sources we found do not list it as a requirement, and the timeline makes it impossible for this year’s learners.
When do the 2026 matric exams begin?
On 13 October 2026, according to IOL and Joburg Etc.
Is it free to apply?
Yes, according to Gauteng.net.
Can I apply to a university before I have results?
Bizcommunity reported that learners can apply using Grade 11 or mid-year Grade 12 results.
Will NSFAS pay for me if I am not admitted?
Funding does not secure admission, according to Gauteng.net.
Sources
- Gauteng.net: NSFAS 2027 applications open
- IOL: When Grade 12 learners will write their matric exams (11 September 2026)
- Joburg Etc: Key 2026 matric dates
- Bizcommunity: Closing dates for 2027 university applications (18 June 2026)
- Varsitywise: TVET colleges announce 2027 application opening dates (1 September 2026, secondary)
- Inside Education: DBE and Umalusi on matric pass requirements
- NSFAS official website (not retrievable for this report)
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