Also known as: NSFAF · Namibia Student Financial Assistance Fund · National Student Financial Assistance Fund · Namibia Student Finance Assistance Funds
Government fund providing tertiary education financing to Namibian students, now integrated into the Ministry of Education as part of subsidised education policy.
The Ministry of Education has released comprehensive eligibility criteria for subsidised tertiary education through the Namibia Student Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF), specifying minimum academic requirements, exclusion categories, and funding rules for undergraduate, postgraduate, and vocational students at local and foreign institutions.
21 January 2026 · Informanté →
The Ministry of Education has released comprehensive eligibility criteria for subsidised tertiary education through the Namibia Student Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF), specifying minimum academic requirements, exclusion categories, and funding rules for undergraduate, postgraduate, and vocational students at local and foreign institutions.
21 January 2026 · Informanté →
Education Minister Sanet Steenkamp has clarified that while subsidised tertiary education will continue in 2026 with government funding secured, eligibility for funding will be determined by Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) requirements, not automatic institution acceptance. The government has increased the non-tuition household income threshold to N$300,000 to expand access for low and middle-income students.
21 January 2026 · Informanté →
The education ministry has reaffirmed its commitment to improving access to tertiary education for students from the San, Ovatue and Ovatjimba communities through considerations within the subsidised funding framework and targeted interventions to ensure equity and inclusivity. Beyond financial support, the ministry is urging regional education directors, councillors and traditional authorities to ensure provision of academic, psychosocial and administrative support measures, with funding for 2026 already secured for qualifying students.
21 January 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia's education ministry has widened access to tertiary education funding by including Grade 11 (NSSCO Ordinary Level) students in the subsidised model and raising the non-tuition household income threshold to N$300,000. Minister Sanet Steenkamp emphasised that NSFAF requirements remain the basis for funding eligibility, and tertiary institutions must refund any illegally collected registration fees.
19 January 2026 · New Era →
The National African Students Association has criticised the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund's decision to limit subsidised degree funding to Grade 12 graduates, arguing that qualified Grade 11 learners should also be eligible. NASA's acting president called on government to revise the policy to ensure equitable access to degree programmes for suitably qualified Grade 11 candidates.
16 January 2026 · New Era →
A New Era editorial argues that NSFAF's funding requirement of 26 points exceeds Unam's minimum admission threshold of 25 points, creating confusion and effectively gatekeeping access to higher education by financial means. The editorial calls for urgent alignment between universities, funding bodies, and policymakers, and clearer communication about what subsidised education actually covers.
16 January 2026 · New Era →
Education Minister Sanet Steenkamp announced that up to 134,000 students will benefit from Namibia's new subsidised tertiary education programme in 2026, which will fully cover tuition and registration fees for eligible first-time undergraduates at public and private institutions, though families must still cover accommodation, transport and materials. The minister emphasised the programme is subsidised rather than free, is grounded in labour market evidence to address oversupply in fields like nursing and education, and will be implemented in phases with strict oversight to prevent fee increases.
8 January 2026 · New Era →