10 Things to Know Now Before You Begin the NSFAS Application Process

Its crucial that you are approved for the bursary and your funding allowance gets paid to you on time. In order for these things to happen, you need to be approved and knowledge of these below would be very helpful to you.

Things to Know Now Before You Begin the Entire Process

1. Can I apply if I was funded previously? Yes, you may apply for funding. You will be required to apply during the application period. Please note that if you have been registered prior to 2018 your combined household income must not exceed R122 000 per annum. If you were registered in or after 2018 for the first time your combined household income must not exceed R350 00 per annum.

2. Can students with disabilities apply for funding? Yes. Students with disabilities are encouraged to apply for financial assistance. They provide special disability funding to all approved students with disabilities at any of the 26 public universities or 50 TVET colleges. The applicant’s household income must not exceed R600 000 per year.

3. Can I apply for NSFAS if I have already studied without the NSFAS funding or with another sponsor? Yes, you may apply if you are a South African citizen studying at a public university or TVET college. If you have been registered and started studying before 2018, your combined household income must not be more than R122 000 per annum for you to qualify. However, if you were registered in or after 2018 for the first time, your combined household income must not be more than R350 000 per year.

4. Do I need to apply for 2022 funding for each semester and trimester if I am currently approved?No, if you are currently funded by them, you are not required to reapply. The approved application will cover your studies till you complete the degree or qualification that you applied for assistance with the bursary for. This means that it will cover the entire duration of your study. It only applies to undergraduates currently as the scheme is pulling away from postgraduate funding, leaving them to get their funding needs sorted out by other funds.

5. Does the funding cover short courses at universities? No. NSFAS funding covers only approved funded programmes at universities which are all undergraduate whole qualifications i.e. degree and diploma. Quite unfortunately this means all those enrolled in the sandwich programme and other courses will not be funded by the financial aid scheme.

6. Does the scheme pay registration costs for first-year and returning students? Yes. Registration costs are usually the first payment made towards your tuition costs, and if you have been confirmed for funding by them, universities and TVET colleges will not expect you to pay the registration fees upfront.

7. I already have a bursary from another organisation that covers part of my studies, can I apply to cover the balance of funds needed? Students on a full scheme bursary may not receive another full cost of study bursary from another source at the same time. If a student receives a partial bursary from another source, a scheme bursary may be awarded, but the allocations must be reduced accordingly so that the student is supported fully for their studies.

8. I have already completed a university qualification but would like to enrol for a second one.
Students who have already obtained a prior university qualification do not qualify and should not apply for funding. Students who have completed TVET N6 qualifications cannot be funded at a TVET college again but can be funded at university.

9. I have not received any funding decision for my 2022 funding application.
Check your application status by logging into your account and tracking your application progress. The page will advise on what stage your application is at.

10. I studied at a TVET college in 2020 but want to study for a university qualification in 2022. Yes, to be funded for the university qualification in 2022, you need to have passed and completed your 2020 TVET qualification. You need to ensure that you apply at the university for the nsfas scheme funded course, once you have been admitted at the university, the university will send us registration details that will confirm your registration, we will then change your funding from TVET to university.

11. If a student had previously been rejected by NSFAS due to lack of funds, is it now guaranteed that they will be awarded funding? All eligible students who fall within the R350 000 household income bracket, and have been admitted at universities and TVET colleges, will be funded.

Read More on NSFAS Applications Processes