When Will UNISA Students Get Their Allowance?
Understanding when students will receive their allowance is important for many studying at the University of South Africa (UNISA). The allowances provided can significantly support students’ living expenses, learning materials, and other essential needs. This article will give you the details surrounding the allowance distribution for UNISA students, including timelines, eligibility, and important considerations.
Understanding UNISA Allowances
At UNISA, most students who qualify for NSFAS funding receive allowances for different needs, depending on their circumstances:
Learning Material Allowance: up to R5,460 per year, usually paid once-off at the beginning of the academic cycle.
Living Allowance: around R1,650 per month, paid to students who qualify for accommodation or living expenses.
Travel Allowance: up to R7,875 per year, if you commute instead of staying in student accommodation.
Not every student receives all these allowances; it depends on whether you are a distance learner, where you live, and your course load.
Which Months Does NSFAS Give Allowance?
Payment Schedule: When to Expect Your Allowance
Unlike some universities with fixed monthly dates, UNISA allowance payments often depend on NSFAS disbursements and internal verification. Typically:
Learning Material Allowance is paid in March or April, once your registration is finalized.
Living and Travel Allowances are paid monthly from March until November (9 months in total).
Payments are usually processed by the 15th of each month, but delays sometimes push this to the third or fourth week.
For example, in 2024, many students received their first living allowance in the last week of March, with regular monthly payments following through to November.
Just like students wait for their allowance updates, UIF beneficiaries rely on the UIF approval SMS to know when their funds will be disbursed.

Knowing when funds are released helps students plan their expenses. Checking the NSFAS payment schedule ensures you stay updated on all disbursements.
Key Considerations and Delays
Students should be aware of the following factors that might affect the timely distribution of allowances:
- Documentation Issues: Incomplete or incorrect documentation can delay the approval process.
- Registration Status: Only fully registered students are eligible for allowances.
- NSFAS Approval: Delays in NSFAS approval can affect the timing of allowance disbursement.
- Bank Details: Ensure that bank details are correctly submitted and verified to avoid payment issues. Must understand the guide of vhembe my access before login.
How to Check Allowance Status
Students can check the status of their allowance disbursement through the following steps:
- MyUNISA Portal: Log into the MyUNISA portal and navigate to the financial aid section.
- NSFAS Portal: Check the status of the application and disbursements through the NSFAS online portal.
- Contacting UNISA: Reach out to the UNISA financial aid office for specific queries regarding allowances.
If you haven’t completed your enrollment yet, the UNISA online application provides step-by-step instructions for submitting forms and meeting deadlines efficiently.
Frequently Asked Questions
[wp-faq-schema accordion=1]
Understanding when UNISA (University of South Africa) students will receive their allowances involves keeping track of registration timelines, ensuring all necessary documentation is submitted, and staying informed through official UNISA and NSFAS communications. By adhering to these steps and staying proactive, students can better manage their financial planning for the academic year.
- What Does Provisionally Funded Mean At NSFAS? - November 6, 2025
- Pilot Salary In South Africa - November 6, 2025
- Bantu Education Act Essay 300 Words - November 6, 2025






