The University of the Free State (UFS) introduced a fairer, more equitable, and sustainable financial support system for students as of 2026.
The amended and streamlined system will be rolled out in 2026. This means that from 2026, students will be fully registered once their fees or funding have been confirmed. This approach allows students to plan and manage their registration while providing certainty about their registration status. It also provides an opportunity for the phasing out of provisional registration.
During a meeting between the university management and the Institutional Student Representative Council (ISCR) on 10 October 2025, it was agreed that the gradual phasing in of this system and approach will NOT affect the following students:
- Students who have confirmed funding from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), irrespective of their historical debt category.
- Students with confirmed financial aid and historic debt of less than R20 000.
- Students with debt outstanding less than R30 000 (these students can register in full for 2026, subject to the payment of a first payment and settlement of historic debt by 30 May 2026).
- Students with debt outstanding more than R30 000 need to reduce their historic debt to R30 000 to qualify for point 3 above.
It was also agreed with the ISRC that students with historic debt of more than R30 000 will be prioritised in funding applications for bursaries, provided that proof of their own application is given.
The implication of the above is that only 6% of currently registered students with outstanding fees will have to either obtain financial support in the form of bursaries or settle a portion of their fees.
Impact of rising levels of student debt
For many years, the UFS was the only university in South Africa that allowed students to register while they still had outstanding fees. This practice reflected the university’s commitment to access and success for all students. However, there are deep concerns about the rising levels of student debt and the accumulation, together with other contributing factors, amounting to close to a billion rand over the past five years. If we continue with past practices, the university’s sustainability is at risk, which will impact students, staff, and the institution.
A comprehensive review and analysis of the 2025 registration data found that the practice of provisional registration was not deemed an effective mechanism to support students with financial challenges. Each year, an average of 8% of UFS students were provisionally registered. In 2025, the majority of students who had registered provisionally and signed payment arrangements were unable to meet their commitments. This caused a high level of stress and uncertainty for students.
Notably, students who were successfully registered in full in 2025 did so primarily through UFS-funded bursaries, rather than personal payment. To address this, and in agreement with the 2024/2025 Institutional Student Representative Council (ISRC), the university has resolved to phase out provisional registration at the end of 2025 and implement a proactive, student-centred financial support strategy.
UFS student-centred financial support strategy
Under the university’s student-centred financial support strategy, bursary applications for the 2026 academic year opened on 11 October 2025 for final-year bursaries and other bursaries will open on 20 October 2025, giving students adequate time to plan and secure funding. The university will also provide targeted financial advising to help students manage their finances, apply for funding, and avoid registration-related crises.
As part of this transition, no deregistration of provisionally registered students took place in 2025. In addition, the VC-ISRC Imbewu Legacy Fund has been established as a joint initiative between the university and the ISRC to create a dedicated vehicle for additional funding to support students at risk. Final-year and leadership bursaries have been created to assist academically qualifying final-year students in 2026 to settle historic debt, ensuring that deserving students are able to continue their studies and complete their qualifications. Applications for the VC-ISRC Imbewu Legacy Fund and the final-year and leadership bursaries must be submitted within the time period.
The UFS remains committed to supporting all our students by building a fairer, more equitable, and sustainable support system that promotes access, success, and responsible financial sustainability.
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