National Housing Finance Corporation (NHFC)

About the NHFC

The National Housing Finance Corporation, or NHFC, is a South African development finance institution owned by the state. Its job is to fund affordable housing for low- and middle-income households. It does this by working with developers, intermediaries and other lenders rather than selling homes directly. The head office is at 90 Grayston Drive in Sandown, Sandton. Its funding helps developers and intermediaries bring new housing projects to market. The NHFC forms part of the wider human settlements effort of government. It lends money, builds partnerships and helps other finance providers reach people who banks often overlook. As a result, the organisation needs staff who understand property, finance and development.

How the NHFC supports students

To build that expertise, the NHFC runs a tertiary bursary fund. The fund aims to grow skills and work opportunities in the housing finance sector. It is open to students who have already finished their first year, so it targets second-year undergraduates and postgraduate students.

The corporation lists a wide range of qualifying study fields. They include built environment, construction economics, developmental studies, economic development, energy efficiency and finance. In addition, housing, housing construction, human settlements, property markets, real estate and risk management qualify. This mix means that both number-focused and construction-focused students may fit.

Recent adverts describe support for tuition fees, prescribed books and study materials. Accommodation and other costs may also be covered, but the NHFC decides this case by case. The official page does not state a service obligation or fixed amounts, so you should not assume either. Read the advertisement for each year to see the exact terms. Study areas such as energy efficiency show that the NHFC also cares about the quality and running costs of homes, not just the number built.

What to know before applying

Applicants must be South African citizens from financially disadvantaged backgrounds. You also need a good academic record in a relevant field. The NHFC publishes a bursary advertisement and an application form on its careers page each cycle. Download both, because they list the required documents and the closing date.

Closing dates have fallen in the second half of the year in recent cycles, but they can shift. Therefore, check the NHFC careers page early and submit a complete application well before the deadline. Incomplete forms are usually rejected. If you study a field outside the list, ask the corporation whether it can be considered before you apply. Finally, remember that funding is limited and competitive, so strong results and a clear explanation of your career plans will help your case. Keep copies of everything you submit. Ask your university for an up-to-date academic record in good time, since offices are busy near deadlines.