Funding higher education in Namibia after the 2026 reform
Since 2026, the Namibian state has covered registration and tuition fees for first-time undergraduates at public universities and public vocational training centres, while the NSFAF provides means-tested grants and loans to cover accommodation, meals and study materials.
The 2026 subsidy for university fees
Announced in 2025, the reform covers registration and tuition fees for Namibian citizens studying for a first bachelor's degree, honours included, at UNAM, NUST or a public vocational training centre. The scheme is administered by the NSFAF.
Who remains outside the free tuition scheme
Master's and doctoral students, repeating students and those studying for a second qualification do not benefit from the subsidy. For them, funding relies on the NSFAF under other conditions, an employer bursary, family support or a bank loan.
The Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund
Set up to widen access to higher education, the NSFAF long provided loans covering fees and allowances. It now manages the fee subsidy, a non-tuition grant and supplementary loans, with an application process that runs entirely online.
A non-tuition grant of 17,000 NAD
For the 2026 academic year, the NSFAF plans 17,000 Namibian dollars to help students from disadvantaged backgrounds cover living and learning costs. This support is aimed in particular at accommodation, transport and laptops needed for study.
Parental income threshold lowered to 300,000 NAD
Eligibility for NSFAF support rests on a household means test, with a parental income ceiling set at 300,000 Namibian dollars a year. Proof of income from parents or guardians is therefore essential to every application file.
Means-tested loans for non-tuition costs
Beyond the subsidy, the NSFAF offers loans for expenses other than tuition, granted after a strict means assessment. These loans must be repaid after graduation, just like the older loans that are still being recovered by the fund.
Repaying older NSFAF loans
Graduates who received loans before the reform are still required to repay them. The fund stresses this recovery as essential to finance the next generations of Namibian students, and arrears can damage a graduate's credit history.
Priority fields being drawn up
The government is preparing a national list of priority fields to align public funding with the needs of the economy, such as mining engineering, health or energy. This list may shape how NSFAF support is allocated in the coming years.
Private institutions and studying abroad
The 2026 subsidy targets public institutions, so students at a private college should check their status with the NSFAF. Study in South Africa, very common, relies on family or bank funding, as the guide to the South African student loan shows.
Study loans from Bank Windhoek, FNB and Standard Bank
Bank Windhoek, FNB Namibia, Standard Bank and Nedbank offer study loans, often taken out by an employed parent who acts as borrower or surety. The rate depends on the 10.25% prime rate and the profile of the adult guaranteeing repayment.
Employer and industry bursaries
Mining groups, state-owned enterprises and ministries award bursaries tied to a commitment to work for the sponsor for several years. These bursaries often cover accommodation and an allowance, which avoids borrowing for daily living costs in Windhoek.
Before university: secondary schooling costs
Secondary school, boarding and private school fees call for other solutions, described on the page about school fee loans in Namibia. The page on credit in Namibia presents all the financing available to families.
Securing study funding in Namibia
- Gain admission to UNAM, NUST or a public vocational training centre.
- Create your account on the NSFAF online portal during the announced application window.
- Upload your ID, admission letter, academic results and proof of your parents' income.
- State whether you are applying for the non-tuition grant or a means-tested supplementary loan.
- Sign the NSFAF agreement and check the repayment terms of any loans included.
- If needed, top up with an employer bursary or a bank loan guaranteed by a parent.
What each source of study funding covers
| Source | Amount or benchmark | What is covered |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 public subsidy | Registration and tuition fees | First bachelor's degree, public institutions |
| NSFAF non-tuition grant | 17,000 NAD (indicative, 2026) | Living and learning costs |
| NSFAF supplementary loan | Based on means assessment | Non-tuition expenses, repayable |
| Bank study loan | Prime 10.25% plus margin (indicative) | Uncovered fees, private or foreign study |
| Employer bursary | Variable | Often fees, accommodation and allowance |
Documents for an NSFAF application
- Namibian ID card or birth certificate
- Admission letter from the institution
- Secondary school leaving certificate results
- Proof of income of parents or guardians
- Death certificate of a parent where applicable
- Student's bank details
Mistakes that cost Namibian students their funding
- Applying to the NSFAF after the online portal has closed, assuming the subsidy is automatic.
- Leaving out proof of parental income, which is essential to check the 300,000 NAD threshold.
- Assuming the subsidy also covers accommodation and meals, then running out of money mid-year.
- Paying a fake agent who promises to guarantee NSFAF funding in exchange for a fee.
- Ignoring repayment of an old NSFAF loan, which leads to reminders and can count against a future credit application.
Lenders to contact
- FNB Namibia: Namibian commercial bank offering individuals personal loans as well as home loans to finance the purchase of residential property.
- Bank Windhoek: Namibian commercial bank active in consumer lending, notably home loans and vehicle financing, with an online vehicle finance calculator for customers.
- Letshego Namibia: Namibian subsidiary of the Letshego group, an inclusive financial services provider specialising in loans to individuals and micro-enterprises.
- Agribank of Namibia: Namibian state-owned agricultural bank granting loans to farmers and agricultural projects through a range of dedicated financing products.
Namibian students' questions about funding
Has university been free in Namibia since 2026?
Registration and tuition fees for first-time undergraduates at public institutions are covered. Accommodation, transport, meals, books and internet access, however, remain the responsibility of the student or their family throughout the academic year.
Can a repeating student benefit from the subsidy?
No, repeating students, postgraduates and those studying for a second qualification are excluded from the 2026 subsidy. They need to seek NSFAF support under other criteria, a bursary or family funding instead.
Does the 17,000 NAD grant have to be repaid?
This sum is presented as non-tuition support for disadvantaged students, whereas the NSFAF's supplementary loans are repayable. Read the agreement signed with the fund carefully to understand the exact nature of each payment you receive.
How can a Namibian student fund studies in South Africa?
The Namibian subsidy targets national public institutions. For a South African university, families combine savings, a bank loan guaranteed by a parent and any employer bursaries, benefiting from parity between the Namibian dollar and the rand for fees.