Scholarships and Student Funding in Namibia
By Muntasir • Published May 19, 2026 • Updated Sep 20, 2026 • African Countries & Cities, African Scholarships & Student Funding
The Namibia Student Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) is the main government funding route, giving loans and grants to undergraduate, vocational, and postgraduate students, plus scholarships for priority fields. Note that from the 2026 academic year tuition and registration fees at public universities and public vocational centres are covered by government for eligible Namibian students on a first qualification, so student funding now mainly needs to cover accommodation, materials and living costs, private-institution fees, or study abroad. Apply through the NSFAF student portal each year, and check your university and employers for extra bursaries too.
🎓 NSFAF funded 172,599 students between 2010 and 2023
💵 Covers loans and grants for tuition, plus scholarships in priority fields
📩 Apply online through the NSFAF student portal on the yearly cycle
🏠 University bursaries and employer sponsorships are separate routes worth checking
NSFAF is the main funding body
The Namibia Student Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) is a government fund with a legal mandate to provide financial assistance, in the form of loans and grants, to eligible students at approved institutions of higher learning. It covers undergraduate, vocational, and postgraduate study, along with dedicated scholarships for priority fields and some international study support. Since 2026 it sits alongside the government's direct waiver of tuition and registration fees at public institutions rather than being the only route to an affordable degree.
NSFAF has a long funding record. Between 2010 and 2023 it supported 172,599 students in total: 122,335 undergraduates, 45,635 vocational trainees, 4,243 postgraduate students, and 386 scholarship recipients. That scale makes it the backbone of student funding in the country rather than a niche program.
What NSFAF covers
Loans and grants for tuition and related costs at approved institutions (at public universities and vocational centres, tuition and registration are already government-funded from 2026 for eligible first-qualification students, so this mainly applies to private institutions and to students outside the free-tuition criteria)
Scholarships targeted at priority or scarce-skill fields identified by government
Support for vocational and technical training, not only university degrees
Postgraduate funding for eligible students continuing beyond a first degree
Limited funding routes for Namibians studying outside the country in approved cases
How to apply
Applications run through the online student portal at students.nsfaf.na , on an annual cycle with a defined opening and closing window each year. Apply as soon as the cycle opens for the intake you are targeting rather than waiting until your university admission is finalized, since processing loan and grant applications takes time and late applications risk missing the funding round entirely. Once you apply, track your status through the same portal rather than relying on email alone.
Approved institution status matters: NSFAF only funds study at institutions it has approved, so confirm your chosen university or college is on the approved list before you count on NSFAF to cover it.
Beyond NSFAF: other funding routes
NSFAF is not the only option, even though it is the largest. Consider these alongside or instead of a government loan:
University-specific bursaries and hardship funds run by UNAM, NUST, and private institutions directly
Employer sponsorship, common in mining, banking, telecoms, and government-linked sectors, which typically fund a degree in exchange for a work-back period after graduation
Donor and NGO scholarships tied to specific fields such as health, education, or agriculture
Regional and community bursaries run by local authorities or constituency development funds
Ask your university's student finance or financial aid office directly about internal bursaries, since these are not always advertised as widely as NSFAF.
Repayment and loan terms
NSFAF support for undergraduate study is typically structured as a loan-grant hybrid rather than a pure grant, meaning part of what you receive may need to be repaid once you graduate and start earning, while a portion converts to a grant based on your academic performance and completion. Confirm the specific loan-to-grant split and repayment terms that apply to your award directly with NSFAF when you receive your offer letter, since terms are set out in your individual funding agreement rather than published as one universal rate.
Practical tips
Apply within the NSFAF cycle for the year you start, not after
Keep your NSFAF portal login and documents (ID, admission letter, bank details) ready before the window opens
Read your funding agreement carefully so you understand what part of your award is a loan versus a grant
Ask about university bursaries even if your NSFAF application is approved, since some cover gaps NSFAF does not