NSFAS Funding Application South Africa 2023

NSFAS Funding Application South Africa 2023 – 2024

CLOSING DATE FOR NSFAS APPLICATION
21st January 2022 (Extension).
(Applications submitted after this date will not be accepted – please apply before the closing date to ensure your application is considered.)

ABOUT THE NSFAS PROGRAMME

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) was formed in terms of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme. On 16 December 2017, former president, Jacob Zuma, announced that the South African government would phase in “fully subsidized free higher education and training for poor and working-class South African students”. The funding would be phased in over a period of 5 years and thus the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) Bursary Scheme was established.

NSFAS is a bursary scheme that provides poor and working-class South African students with fully subsidized free higher education and training. NSFAS’s vision is to provide students from poor and working-class families with financial aid, to undertake studies at public universities and TVET colleges.

ABOUT THE NSFAS PROGRAMME

National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) invites students to apply for funding for 2022 studies. Funding is available to students who are currently studying (who have been funded by NSFAS previously, as well as student who have NOT been funded by NSFAS previously), and students who will be starting their studies in 2022.

Funding is open for tertiary studies at public universities or TVET college in South Africa (it does NOT cover private institutions). Funding is available to students who are in need of financial assistance to start or continue with their studies.

When applying, students will be split into 5 separate cohorts, namely:
Cohort 1: First-Time Entering Student (FTEN) who is a SASSA beneficiary
Cohort 2: Returning Student, who is SASSA beneficiary
Cohort 3: First-Time Entering Student who is NOT a SASSA beneficiary
Cohort 4: Returning Student, who is NOT a SASSA beneficiary
Cohort 5: Student living with disability

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR NSFAS FUNDING

Applicants must ensure that they satisfy the following minimum entry criteria before applying:

You must be a South African citizen or a South African permanent resident
You must be studying or intend on studying a public tertiary institution within South Africa (University or TVET College)
You must fall in to 1 or more of these categories:
- 1) You must be a SASSA grant recipient (excluding the SASSA COVID-19 grant)
- 2) You must have a total combined household income is NOT more than R350 000 per annum
- 3) You must be living with a disability AND have a total combined household income NOT more than R600 000 per annum

WHAT EXPENSES DOES NSFAS COVER?

NSFAS funding will cover the following fees: registration fees, tuition fees, study material expenses, food allowance, incidental/ personal care, as well as accommodation or transport.

Students living with disabilities will also receive Assistive Devices (such as wheelchairs, hearing aids, adapted laptops etc.) and Human Support (careers, scribes, tutors, sign language interpreters etc.). The cover amount will be reviewed by NSFAS each year…

WHICH INSTITUTIONS DOES NSFAS ACCEPT?

Students who are studying (or will be studying) at any of these 25 public universities or 50 TVET Colleges, in 2022, may apply:
Universities:

Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Central University of Technology
Durban University of Technology
Monash University
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
North-West University
Rhodes University
Stellenbosch University
Tshwane University of Technology
University of Cape Town
University of Fort Hare
University of Johannesburg
University of Kwazulu Natal
University of Limpopo
University of Pretoria
University of South Africa
University of the Free State
University of the Western Cape
University of the Witwatersrand
University of Zululand
Vaal University of Technology
Walter Sisulu University

TVET Colleges:

Boland College
Buffalo City College
Capricorn College
Central Johannesburg College
Coastal KZN College
College of Cape Town
Eastcape Midlands College
Ehlanzeni College
Ekurhuleni East College
Elangemi College
Esayidi College
Ethekwini College
False Bay College
Gert Sibande College
Ikhala College
Ingwe College
King Hintsa College
King Sabata Dalindyebo College
Letaba College
Liphalale College
Lovedale College
Majuba College
Mnambithi College
Nkangala College
Northern Cape Rural College
Northern Cape Urban College
Northlink College
Orbit College
Port Elizabeth College
Sekhukhune College
South Cape College
South West Gauteng College
Tshwane North College
Tshwane South College
Umfolozi College
Umgungundlovu College
Vhembe College
Vuselela College
Waterberg College
West Coast College

APPLY FOR A BURSARY

While NSFAS is a wonderful initiative, unfortunately not all students will qualify for the programme. For students looking for alternative sources of funding for tertiary studies – view our bursaries open for application here: Bursaries closing soon.

HOW TO APPLY FOR NSFAS FUNDING

Applications can be submitted on any device with internet access: cellphone, tablet, laptop or computer.

Students who were previously funded by NSFAS, can re-apply by logging in with their email address and password: https://my.nsfas.org.za/Application/selfservice.jsp
Students who fall in to any of these categories, must apply via the steps below:

have NOT been funded by NSFAS previously
are using Facebook or Google to sign in
are studying at any of these NSFAS Wallet TVET colleges: Capricorn TVET College/ Central Johannesburg TVET College/ Coastal KZN TVET College/ East Cape Midlands TVET College/ Ehlanzeni TVET College/ Ekurhuleni East TVET College/ Ekurhuleni West TVET College/ Elangeni TVET College/ Esayidi TVET College/ Flavius Mareka TVET College/ Goldfields TVET College/ Gert Sibande TVET College/ Ingwe TVET College/ King Hintsa TVET College/ Lephalale TVET College/ Majuba TVET College/ Mnambithi TVET College/ Mopani South East TVET College/ Motheo TVET College/ Mthashana TVET College/ Nkangala TVET College/ Orbit TVET College/ Port Elizabeth TVET College/ Sekhukhune TVET College/ Taletso TVET College/ Thekwini TVET College/ Umfolozi TVET College/ Umgugundlovu TVET College/ Vhembe TVET College/ Vuselela TVET College/ Waterberg TVET College

STEPS TO APPLY FOR NSFAS

Applications can be done in either of the following ways:

1) Online:
Visit the official NSFAS website
Navigate to the myNSFAS tab
Select the Register an account tab
Upload your supporting documents (per the list below) and then click “submit”
After submitting your application, you will receive a reference number on the screen – it will also be sent to your email address and cellphone number – keep a note of this reference number.

2) In person at your nearest National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) or Thusong Centre.
You will need to have copies of the supporting documents below with you when applying.

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR NSFAS APPLICATION

All applicants will be required to submit the following supporting documents when applying – please ensure that you have these documents ready before submitting your application (note that no applications will be accepted without these documents):

- South African ID document (this can include any of the following):
  - copy of green ID document
  - temporary ID from the DHA
  - copy of both side of Smart ID card
  - unbridged birth certificate
- Non-SASSA grant applicants: Parents, guardians or spouse ID documents (copies only)
- Own, parents, guardians or spouse proof of income, if a non-SASSA applicant (this can include any of the following):
  - latest payslip if employed (not older 3 months)
  - UIF letter
  - employment letter
  - retrenchment letter, if a non-SASSA applicant

Students with disabilities: complete and sign the NSFAS Disability Annexure A Form (.pdf)
Students who are recognized as a Vulnerable Child by the Department of Social Development: complete and sign the NSFAS Vulnerable Child Declaration Form (.pdf)

Please note: affidavits will NOT be accepted.

Applicants are advised to apply to institutions for placement, as NSFAS funding is only awarded to students who meet the financial requirement and who have acceptance to study in an approved programme at a public institution.

NSFAS LAPTOP

Students who are registered at a public institution and are approved for NSFAS funding, can apply to receive their laptop here: NSFAS laptop application

NSFAS ACHIEVEMENTS

- - From 2018 to 2021, NSFAS funding increased by 107% (R20 billion in 2018 and R42 billion in 2021), for poor and working-class students, at University and TVET College.
  - In the 2020 academic year, 489 912 university students and 261 404 TVET college students received full NSFAS funding.
  - In the 2020 academic year, the demographic profile of students was: African (92.9%), Colored (4.2%), White (0.9%), Indian (0.7%), and others (1.4%).
  - In 2018, 61.5% of all students who received NSFAS funding were female (this falls in line with the percentage of female undergraduate students within the public university sector).
  - In 2020, the number of female students who received NSFAS funding increased from 360 344 (in 2018) to 470 696 – this was an increase of 30.6%.
  - From the 2014/ 2015 academic year, to the 2020/ 2021 academic year, NSFAS funding increased from R5.9 billion to around R35 billion.

CONTACT NSFAS

For any queries related to this bursary programme, please contact NSFAS directly:
Tel: 0860 067 327
Email: info@nsfas.org.za

Things To Note Before Applying For A Bursary

SOUTH AFRICAN BURSARIES OPEN ALL YEAR ROUND