If you failed matric in 2025 or in any previous year, you cannot receive NSFAS funding to enter a public university straight away, because a matric pass is one of the fixed academic requirements for first-time university funding. However, failing matric does not permanently shut the door on NSFAS. Depending on the type of “fail” you have, there are legitimate routes back into the system, including matric rewrites, TVET college funding, and adult education programmes that NSFAS also supports. This article breaks down exactly where you stand and what your realistic next steps are for the 2026/2027 academic cycle.
What NSFAS Actually Requires From First-Time Applicants
NSFAS funds two broad categories of first-time students: those entering public universities and those entering TVET colleges. The academic entry requirement is different for each, and this difference matters a lot if you did not pass matric.
For a public university, NSFAS requires that you have passed Grade 12 with results that meet the specific admission requirements of the qualification and institution you want to study. NSFAS itself does not set the pass mark for degree or diploma entry; the university does. NSFAS simply checks that you have a valid acceptance letter from an accredited public university before it releases funding.
For a TVET college, the entry point is lower. NSFAS funds TVET applicants who have passed at least Grade 9, provided they have a valid acceptance into an NC(V) programme or a Report 191 (NATED) programme. This means a matric fail does not automatically block you from TVET funding, since the minimum requirement sits three grades below matric.
This distinction is the reason the honest answer to “can I get NSFAS if I failed matric” depends heavily on what you plan to study and where.
Understanding What “Failed Matric” Means in Your Case
Not every matric outcome is the same, and the label “failed” gets used loosely. Before assuming you have no options, work out exactly which category applies to you:
You failed outright (no NSC certificate issued). This means you did not meet the minimum requirements for a National Senior Certificate at all. You cannot register for any university qualification, and NSFAS cannot fund university study for you until this changes.
You passed with a Higher Certificate or Diploma endorsement, but not Bachelor’s. This is not a fail. You still received your NSC. You simply do not qualify for degree programmes that require a Bachelor’s pass. NSFAS can still fund you for diploma or higher certificate programmes that match your endorsement, at both universities and TVET colleges.
You failed one or two subjects only. The Department of Basic Education allows matric candidates to rewrite a maximum of two subjects through the Supplementary Examination or the following year’s May/June or November National Senior Certificate exams, without repeating the full year. If you pass the outstanding subjects, you receive your NSC and become eligible for NSFAS on the same terms as any other matriculant.
You did not write matric at all, or withdrew. You are not classified as having failed; you simply have not completed the qualification yet. Your pathway back is the same as anyone repeating the year or writing through Second Chance.
Knowing which of these applies to you determines which of the options below is realistic.
Your Options If You Failed Matric
| Pathway | What It Involves | NSFAS Funding Available? |
|---|---|---|
| Rewrite failed subjects (Supplementary or Second Chance exams) | Rewrite up to two subjects without repeating the full year | Not while rewriting; becomes available once you pass and gain admission |
| Repeat matric at school or through Second Chance Matric Programme | Full Grade 12 year again, either at school or via the Department of Basic Education’s free Second Chance classes | No NSFAS funding for repeating matric itself; NSFAS only funds post-school study |
| Enrol in a TVET college NC(V) or Report 191 programme | Requires only a Grade 9 pass, not matric | Yes, if household income and citizenship requirements are met |
| Adult Education and Training (AET) / General Education and Training Certificate (GETC) | An alternative qualification pathway for out-of-school youth and adults | GETC alone does not meet university entry; some further study routes may still lead to TVET or occupational programmes |
| Occupational or skills programmes at TVET colleges or SETAs | Short courses and trade-based qualifications with lower entry requirements | Some occupational programmes at TVET colleges qualify for NSFAS bursaries |
Rewriting Matric Through the Department of Basic Education
If you failed only one or two subjects, rewriting is by far your fastest route back to eligibility. The Department of Basic Education runs the Second Chance Matric Programme every year, offering free study material, past papers, and in some provinces face-to-face or online support classes, specifically aimed at candidates who need to improve or pass outstanding subjects. You register for the Supplementary Examination (usually written in the first quarter of the year) or wait for the next full November sitting, depending on which subjects you need and how the timelines work out for your case.
Once you pass and your NSC is issued, you apply for NSFAS in the normal application window, along with everyone else. You do not receive any special disadvantage for having rewritten a subject; NSFAS treats your final NSC the same as a first-attempt pass.
Going the TVET College Route Instead
If your matric outcome makes a university application unrealistic in the short term, or if you failed matric outright, a TVET college is the most direct way to keep receiving education while still accessing NSFAS funding. Because the minimum requirement for TVET is a Grade 9 pass, most people who did not complete matric successfully still qualify academically for an NC(V) programme starting at Level 2, or for a Report 191 (NATED) N-course, depending on what the college offers and what subjects you already have.
TVET colleges offer a wide range of vocational qualifications, including engineering studies, business studies, hospitality, information technology, and educare, among others. Many of these programmes lead directly into artisan trades, which are in high demand in South Africa and do not require a university degree. If you complete an NC(V) Level 4 or an equivalent NATED N6 with the required work experience, you can also use this as a stepping stone into university study later, since many universities accept these qualifications for admission into related degree or diploma programmes.
To apply, you register directly with your chosen TVET college and submit your NSFAS application through the same online myNSFAS portal used by university applicants, selecting the college and programme you have been accepted to.
What NSFAS Does Not Fund When It Comes to Matric
It is important to be clear about one point that causes a lot of confusion: NSFAS does not fund matric itself, whether you are attending school for the first time, repeating the year, or doing the Second Chance Programme. NSFAS is a post-school funding scheme, meaning its mandate begins only once you have completed matric (or Grade 9, for TVET) and been accepted into a qualifying university or TVET programme. If you need help while still in school, that support falls under provincial Department of Basic Education structures, school fee exemptions, or organisations that specifically assist school-going learners, not NSFAS.
Practical Steps to Take Right Now
If you have failed matric and want to reach NSFAS eligibility as quickly as possible, work through these steps in order:
- Get your official results statement from the Department of Basic Education and identify exactly which subjects you failed and by how much.
- Decide between rewriting outstanding subjects (if you failed one or two) or repeating the year through Second Chance or at school (if you failed more broadly).
- While waiting to rewrite or repeat, research TVET colleges near you and the NC(V) or NATED programmes that match your interests and your Grade 9 results, since you can start this pathway without a matric certificate.
- Once you have any valid acceptance letter, whether to a TVET college or, later, a university, submit your NSFAS application through the myNSFAS portal within the annual application window, which typically opens in September and closes in January.
- Keep all your documents ready in advance: certified ID copy, proof of household income, and your acceptance letter, so that you are not delayed once you do qualify academically.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still apply for NSFAS while waiting to rewrite my matric subjects? You can submit an NSFAS application while your academic outcome is still pending, but funding will only be released once you have a completed NSC and a valid acceptance to a qualifying institution.
Does NSFAS fund matric rewrites or Second Chance classes? No. NSFAS funding only starts after matric (or Grade 9 for TVET) has been completed. Matric rewrites and Second Chance classes fall under the Department of Basic Education, not NSFAS.
If I passed matric but did not get a Bachelor’s pass, can I still get NSFAS? Yes. A Higher Certificate or Diploma pass is a valid NSC outcome. You can use it to apply for NSFAS-funded diploma or higher certificate programmes at universities or TVET colleges that accept that endorsement.
Is it easier to qualify for NSFAS through a TVET college than a university? Academically, yes, because TVET only requires a Grade 9 pass compared to a full NSC for university. The financial eligibility criteria (household income, citizenship) remain the same for both.
Final Word
Failing matric changes your immediate options, but it does not remove you from the NSFAS system permanently. The realistic path forward depends on whether you need to rewrite one or two subjects, repeat the year entirely, or shift toward a TVET college qualification that only requires a Grade 9 pass. Whichever route applies to you, NSFAS becomes available again the moment you hold a valid acceptance letter to a qualifying public institution and you still meet the household income and citizenship requirements.