North-West University: what to know

Last checked 10 October 2026. Dates, forms and phone numbers change; always confirm on the linked official page.

Closing this month

• NSFAS applications for 2027 close at the end of October 2026 (reported as 31 October). Details below.
• NWU's sports bursary closing date is listed as 15 October.

Funding: NSFAS and NWU bursaries

• Apply for NSFAS on the myNSFAS portal. Household income up to R350,000 a year qualifies for bursary funding. R350,001–R600,000 may be offered the "missing middle" loan. Funding is limited, so apply early. Source: EWN report, 22 Sept 2026 · News report
• NSFAS contact centre: 0800 067 327, info@nsfas.org.za
• If NSFAS shows you as provisionally funded, you can register without paying the first minimum amount.
• Students fully covered by NSFAS can't also receive other NWU bursaries.
• Most NWU bursaries (Sections A to C) close on 28 February of the year you register.
• Student account and bursary queries are logged through the Helpdesk menu on the student portal.

Sources: NWU: Undergraduate bursaries · NWU Financial Support Services: contact · Official

Residences

You apply for residence at the same time as your study application, and select residence choices after you receive a conditional offer. No separate residence application is needed. This year's application window (1 June to 31 August 2026) has closed. Senior residences can run on different dates.

Source: NWU: How to apply for residence placement (PDF) · NWU: Residences · Official

If your studies were terminated or you need readmission

Readmission is governed by NWU's General Academic Rules (Reference 7P). What the rules say:

• Readmission after a break of a year or more needs the written permission of your executive dean, applied for through the student portal. The dean can set conditions.
• If your studies were terminated for not meeting progression requirements, an undergraduate may apply for readmission no more than twice; a postgraduate only once.
• The older (2017) rules set a ten-day window to submit a motivated request on the prescribed form to your faculty, and made the executive dean's decision final. Check the current rules for the exact deadline and whether any further appeal exists.

Ask your faculty's student administration office for the current form and date.

Source: NWU General Academic Rules 2024 (PDF) · Official

Counselling and crisis support (Student Counselling and Development)

Weekdays 08:00–16:30. Book sessions through the SCD booking system on eFundi.

• Potchefstroom: 018 299 2893, SCDPotch@nwu.ac.za, Building F18
• Mahikeng: 018 389 2592, MC-SCD@nwu.ac.za, Building B6 (Health Care Centre)
• Vanderbijlpark: 016 910 3195, scdvc@nwu.ac.za, Building 13, Office 331
• Thuso crisis support: Potchefstroom 018 299 1777; Vanderbijlpark 082 815 9781 (listed on NWU's emergency pages)
• Higher Health, 24-hour helpline: 0800 36 36 36

Source: NWU SCD: contact us · Official

Safety and emergencies

Protection Services runs 24 hours on each campus. Police: 10111.

• Potchefstroom: 018 299 2211, 018 299 2215 or 018 299 1110
• Mahikeng: 018 389 2167
• Vanderbijlpark: 016 910 3339

NWU pages disagree on some Mahikeng numbers, so save the ones from your campus's page below.

Source: NWU Protection Services: contact · Official