What Is Considered Historic Debt for Students?

Historic debt refers to the unpaid student fees that individuals owe to a university from previous academic years. This situation also affects NSFAS students who had to cover some of their fees out of pocket during their studies.

Typically, universities require students to settle a portion of their historic debt or to pay a specific amount before they are allowed to register for classes. This requirement has become a focal point of protests that seem to occur annually.

Since NSFAS transitioned from a loan model to a bursary system, historic debt has increasingly become a concern for students who received NSFAS funding prior to 2018.