NSFAS says it has received 868,626 applications for the 2027 funding cycle, with the application period nearing its end. Several outlets highlight NSFAS’s reminder that applications are free and must be submitted via the scheme’s official website.
Coverage also stresses that the closing date is approaching and that NSFAS is not planning an extension. The South African and IOL both frame the story around a “clock ticking” message ahead of 31 October, while The Citizen emphasizes the countdown by noting there are 10 days left before the deadline.
Across reports, the application totals are presented as essentially the same figure—around 868,000 to 870,000—based on an application dashboard dated October 19. Different outlets vary mainly in framing: some lead with the volume of applications, while others foreground the deadline and the no-extension stance.
