Does NSFAS pay for studying abroad?

No. NSFAS funds study at South African public universities and TVET colleges only. For overseas study you need scholarships, savings, family support or loans — plus occasional DHET-administered international scholarship calls.

Can I get a South African student loan for an overseas university?

Sometimes, but most bank student loans are designed for local institutions. For overseas study, banks more often offer a personal or secured loan with a parent or guardian as surety. Ask the bank specifically about overseas study before applying.

Which scholarships can South Africans apply for to study overseas?

The main government-funded ones are Chevening (UK master's), Fulbright (USA postgraduate), Commonwealth Scholarships (UK) and Australia Awards, plus each university's own international scholarships and private bursaries.

Can part-time work pay for my studies abroad?

No. Student visas cap working hours and visa offices do not accept expected earnings as proof of funds. Work realistically covers some living costs only.

Are there loans that do not need a South African co-signer?

International lenders such as Prodigy Finance and MPOWER Finance lend without a co-signer for approved universities and programmes, mostly postgraduate degrees. They charge foreign-currency APRs — compare total repayment costs carefully.

How do I legally move study money out of South Africa?

Through your bank using the SARS single discretionary allowance (up to R1 million per calendar year) or, for larger amounts, the foreign investment allowance with SARS approval for international transfers.

Does a scholarship letter count as proof of funds for the visa?

Yes, official scholarship and sponsorship letters are accepted proof of funds by the UK, USA and Australia, provided they state the amount and what is covered.

Are 'scholarship agents' who charge application fees legitimate?

No. Legitimate scholarships never charge to apply. Use only official funder and university websites.

Immigration & Visas

Student Loans & Funding for Studying Abroad as a South African

Almost every student visa requires proof that you can pay first-year tuition plus living costs, so your funding plan must exist before you apply. The realistic mix for South Africans is scholarships first, then savings or family support, then loans, with part-time work only for living costs.

Who needs this

South African students and parents who need to fund overseas tuition, living costs, flights and visa fees — and want to know what NSFAS, scholarships, banks and part-time work can realistically cover.

Featured guide

Student Loans and Funding for Studying Abroad as a South African

Funding is where most study-abroad plans succeed or fail. Almost every student visa requires proof that you can pay tuition plus living costs for at least the first year, so your funding plan must be in place before you apply — not after you get the offer. This guide explains the realistic options for South Africans: NSFAS (and why it does not apply overseas), scholarships and bursaries, bank student loans, and work-study options. For the full application process, read the study-abroad overview.

First: does NSFAS fund study abroad?

No. NSFAS (the National Student Financial Aid Scheme) funds qualifying students at South African public universities and TVET colleges only. It does not pay for tuition, travel or living costs at foreign institutions. If you are currently NSFAS-funded and plan to study overseas, budget as if you have no NSFAS support.

Two DHET-linked programmes are the exception, not the rule: occasional international scholarship calls administered by DHET (often through bilateral agreements with other governments) do fund South Africans abroad, and the NRF funds certain postgraduate research, sometimes with mobility support. Watch DHET's official bursaries page for calls, and treat anything advertised on social media as a scam until verified on a .gov.za website.

Scholarships and bursaries

This is the cheapest money — it does not have to be repaid — but it is also the most competitive, and deadlines usually close months before course applications.

University scholarships for international students. Most universities in the UK, USA and Australia offer merit scholarships that discount tuition for strong applicants. These are listed on each university's international fees page and are often automatic on application or need a short separate form.
Chevening (UK). UK government scholarships for one-year master's degrees, covering tuition, living costs and flights. South Africa has a strong Chevening track record; applications open around August each year.
Fulbright (USA). Funds South African graduates for master's or PhD study in the USA, administered in South Africa through the Fulbright commission (based at the US Embassy).
Commonwealth Scholarships (UK). For master's and PhD candidates from Commonwealth countries, including South Africa, usually aimed at development-focused study.
Australia Awards. Australian government scholarships for postgraduate study, with priority fields that change by year.
Mandela Rhodes and Rhodes Scholarships. Prestigious postgraduate awards — Rhodes for study at Oxford, Mandela Rhodes for postgraduate study at South African institutions (useful if you stay local for an honours year first).
Private bursaries. Some South African companies, trusts and professional bodies fund overseas study in their field — check bursary directories and ask the university's funding office for a list.

Practical tip: scholarship results arrive before visa applications in most countries, and a scholarship letter counts as proof of funds. Apply to several in parallel rather than betting on one.

Bank student loans in South Africa

South African banks — Standard Bank, Nedbank, Absa, FNB and Capitec, plus specialists such as Fundi — offer student loans, but with an important catch: most are designed for study at South African institutions. For overseas study you will usually be looking at a personal loan or a secured loan (for example against a parent's property or investments), not a classic student loan. What to know:

Loans almost always require a South African surety (co-signer) — usually a parent or guardian with a steady income — because the student has no credit history and will be abroad.
Interest on unsecured loans is high relative to prime; repay over the shortest term you can manage.
Some lenders release funds in tranches against proof of enrolment each year.
A loan approval letter in your name or your sponsor's name can support proof of funds, but some visa authorities prefer to see cash in an account — check the specific rules (the UK, for example, accepts official student loans but requires them to meet strict conditions and wants the money held for 28 days).
Borrow only what you need: the rand exchange rate means repayments get more expensive if the rand weakens while you earn in rands.

International student loans

Some foreign lenders (for example Prodigy Finance and MPOWER Financing) lend to international students for specific universities and programmes, often without a co-signer, especially for postgraduate business, engineering and STEM degrees. Check whether your chosen university is on their approved list, compare the annual percentage rate (APR) rather than the headline rate, and remember you will be repaying in foreign currency.

Work-study and part-time work

Part-time work helps with living costs but cannot fund tuition — and visa officers know it. Never present expected part-time earnings as proof of funds.

UK: up to 20 hours a week during term, full time in vacations, for degree-level students.
USA (F-1): on-campus work only, up to 20 hours a week during term; off-campus work needs authorisation (CPT/OPT).
Australia: capped fortnightly hours during term (currently 48 hours per fortnight) and unrestricted hours in scheduled breaks.
Assistantships (USA): graduate teaching and research assistantships can waive tuition and pay a stipend — a genuine full-funding route for strong postgraduate applicants.

Getting the money out of South Africa

South Africans moving study funds abroad use the SARS single discretionary allowance (up to R1 million per calendar year without a tax clearance) or the foreign investment allowance (up to R10 million a year, requiring SARS approval for international transfers). Speak to your bank's foreign-exchange desk early — transfers take days, require supporting documents, and the exchange rate on transfer day can move your budget by thousands of rand.

A sensible funding sequence

Price the full first year: tuition, visa fees, health cover, flights and realistic rent.
Apply for every scholarship you qualify for — first, because they close early.
Fill the remaining gap with savings, family support and, only if necessary, a loan.
Keep proof for each source in one place: scholarship letters, loan approval, bank statements covering the required holding period.
Only book flights after the visa is granted.

Common funding mistakes

Assuming NSFAS or a SA bursary will transfer to an overseas university — it will not.
Showing a lump sum deposited days before applying; visa offices want explained, seasoned funds.
Depending on part-time work income to satisfy the visa's financial requirement.
Ignoring the exchange rate; budget in the destination's currency with a buffer of at least 5–10%.
Paying "scholarship agents" upfront fees. Legitimate scholarships never charge to apply.

Sources

NSFAS — funding scope for public SA institutions (nsfas.org.za)
DHET — international scholarships and bursary calls (dhet.gov.za)
Chevening Scholarships (chevening.org)
Fulbright South Africa (fulbright.org.za)
Commonwealth Scholarships (cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk)
Australia Awards (australiaawards.gov.au)
UK Home Office — Student visa money rules (gov.uk/student-visa/money)
SARS — allowances for transferring funds abroad (sars.gov.za)

This is general information, not financial or immigration advice. Scholarship rounds, loan terms and exchange-control rules change regularly — confirm everything on official websites and with a registered financial adviser before borrowing.

Download a printable checklist

A one-page PDF of everything you need to bring with you. Tick items off before you go.

What you need before you start

A full first-year budget: tuition, visa fees, health cover, flights and realistic rent
Proof-of-funds evidence the visa office accepts (seasoned bank funds, scholarship letters or approved loan letters)
Scholarship applications submitted early — most close months before course deadlines
A South African surety (usually a parent) for most local bank loans
Bank foreign-exchange arrangements for the SARS single discretionary or foreign investment allowance
A contingency buffer of at least 5–10% for exchange-rate movement

Step-by-step process

1
Price the full first year
Add tuition, visa and health-surcharge fees, flights, deposits and living costs in the destination's currency — not in rand.
2
Rule NSFAS in or out
NSFAS funds SA public universities and TVET colleges only. For overseas study, budget without it and watch DHET's official international scholarship calls instead.
3
Apply for scholarships first
Chevening and Commonwealth (UK), Fulbright (USA), Australia Awards, plus university merit scholarships. They cost nothing to repay, count as proof of funds, and close early.
4
Fill the gap with savings and family support
Keep the money in the account for the required holding period — the UK, for example, requires funds held for 28 consecutive days.
5
Borrow only the shortfall
SA bank student loans mostly cover local study, so overseas funding usually means a personal or secured loan with a surety, or an international lender such as Prodigy Finance or MPOWER for approved programmes. Compare APRs, not headline rates.
6
Use part-time work for living costs only
Student visas cap work hours (about 20 a week in term in the UK and USA, a fortnightly cap in Australia). Visa officers will not accept expected earnings as proof of funds.
7
Move the money legally and early
Use the SARS single discretionary allowance (up to R1 million a year) or apply for the foreign investment allowance, through your bank's forex desk, with documents ready.

Where, how much, how long

Where to submit

Scholarship applications go to each funder (Chevening, Fulbright, Commonwealth, Australia Awards, or the university itself). Bank loans are arranged with South African banks or specialists such as Fundi; international lenders like Prodigy Finance and MPOWER apply online per approved university programme.

Fees

Scholarships are free to apply for — never pay a 'scholarship agent'. Bank and personal-loan costs depend on credit profile and are priced off prime plus a margin; international student loans quote an APR in foreign currency. Allow roughly R4,500–R6,500 for English tests and the normal visa and health-surcharge fees on top of tuition.

Processing time

Scholarship rounds run on annual cycles with results months before term starts; bank loans take days to weeks once surety documents are in; international lenders typically need proof of admission. Start funding applications at least a year before the intake.

Common rejection reasons

Assuming NSFAS will pay for an overseas university — it only funds SA public institutions
Lump-sum deposits that appear days before the visa application with no explanation
Counting expected part-time work income toward the visa's financial requirement
Loan letters that do not meet the visa office's conditions for acceptable evidence
Paying upfront fees to unaccredited scholarship or funding agents
Budgeting in rand without a buffer for exchange-rate movement

Official sources

Always confirm the latest requirements and fees on the official website before submitting.

How this guide was checked

Our editorial team compared this guide with 8 official sources linked above and rewrote the process in plain English. We are independent and are not part of any government department.

Reviewed: 15 Sept 2026Updated: 15 Sept 2026

Fees, forms and processing times can change. Please confirm them with the responsible authority before applying. If you spot a change, tell us on the corrections page.