Explain What Is the ‘Missing Middle’? in Details

The “Missing Middle” refers to students whose families earn too much to qualify for NSFAS funding but cannot afford to pay university fees independently. This group typically has a monthly household income between R3,501 and R22,000, or an annual income between R350,000 and R600,000, which is above the NSFAS threshold for bursary eligibility.

To address this gap, NSFAS has introduced a loan option for students in the Missing Middle category. Another popular financial aid option for these students is the ISFAP bursary.