Applying to NSFAS can be stressful—especially if you’re not sure what to expect.
That’s why we’ve done a round-up of 10 of the most frequently asked questions surrounding this student financial aid scheme’s application process.
That way, you’ll know exactly what you’re getting into and how to apply.
Table of Contents
Before we jump right in, let’s do a quick recap:
What is NSFAS?
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is a government-funded financial aid scheme for high-achieving academics with a low income, and it only has one goal in mind: to help South African students who are struggling financially to get the funds they need to attend a public higher education institution or TVET College of their choice.
How Does NSFAS Work?
The process for NSFAS is quite hectic but not impossible, as you’ll have to be fairly academic to qualify (that is, get good marks in school).
You’ll also have to go through a screening process done by NSFAS to check whether you qualify for the loan and how much money you’ll actually need.
Once you’ve passed the screening process, an allocated allowance from NSFAS will be sent to your institution to help you fund your studies, as well as other general student costs such as tuition, registration, food, and more.
10 FAQs About Applying to NSFAS
Now that you know what NSFAS is and how it works, let’s take a look at the most commonly asked questions about the NSFAS student financial aid scheme—and how the application process works.
Here’s everything you need to know about applying to NSFAS:
1. What are the NSFAS Requirements for Students?
NSFAS has set criteria for students looking to apply for a bursary. The requirements for NSFAS can be broken up into two categories: academic and general.
Academic requirements
In order to get NSFAS funding for a TVET College, you’ll need to have passed Grade 9 to 12.
If you’re applying to a university or college, however, then you’ve got to get that National Senior Certificate.
That’s only for the application though, as once you’ve been approved by NSFAS, you’ll still need to meet all the criteria for admissions at the tertiary institution of your choice.
General requirements
Any person who is a South African citizen—or a permanent resident looking to attend a public university or TVET College—qualifies for NSFAS funding. With that said, there are certain criteria that NSFAS will look at during the screening process, and you’ll need to fall within one of the following categories:
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- A recipient of the SASSA grant: The SASSA, or South African Social Security Agency, is a government organisation that provides grants and allowances to disadvantaged groups in need of financial aid. This includes children, the elderly as well as those with disabilities.
- Low-income salary earner: This includes individuals living in a household where the combined annual income is less than R350 000 per annum, or those living with disabilities with a combined annual income that’s less than R600 000 per annum.
- Students who started studying before 2018: If you fall under this category, you will need to have a combined household income of less than R122 000 per year.
2. Does NSFAS Have an Age Limit?
If you’re in the middle of a career change and looking to go back to school—but lack the funding—then we’ve got some great news!
You can definitely be that weird older person in the lecture room. Or, if you’d rather study on your own terms, try your hand at distance learning.
Whatever you decide, don’t let your age stop you from getting that dream job. Especially considering that there is absolutely no age limit for NSFAS funding. This means that, as long as you meet their requirements, you can apply.
3. What are the Institutions that NSFAS Funds?
According to the NSFAS website, it currently funds the following public South African universities:
- Nelson Mandela University (NMU)
- North-West University (NWU)
- Rhodes University (RU)
- Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU)
- Sol Plaatje University (SPU)
- Stellenbosch University (Maties)
- University of Cape Town (UCT)
- University of Fort Hare (UFH)
- University of Johannesburg (UJ)
- University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN)
- University of Limpopo (Turfloop)
- University of Mpumalanga (UMP)
- University of Pretoria (TUKS)
- University of South Africa (UNISA)
- University of the Free State (UFS)
- University of the Western Cape (UWC)
- University of the Witwatersrand (WITS)
- University of Venda (Univen)
- University of Zululand (UniZulu)
- Walter Sisulu University (WSU)
Those who are looking to attend a technical college (TVETs) will be happy to know that the student financial aid scheme currently funds 50 South African TVET Colleges.
Check the NSFAS directory to see if yours is one of them.
4. When Do NSFAS Applications Open?
The dates for NSFAS applications seem to change annually and run in cycles, although they all happen closer toward the end of each year.
In previous years, applications would generally open around August or September and would close at the end of November.
However, the dates have now changed and applications are now opening as early as September and closing in January of the next year.
With dates changing year-on-year, it’s important to stay in the loop, as anything can happen. Be sure to check out FundiConnect’s website for regular updates or the NSFAS website and social media pages for any news on applications.
In terms of next year, applications to NSFAS for 2025 opened on Friday, 20 September 2024
5. Where Do I Apply for NSFAS?
Students can apply to NSFAS either by visiting one of the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) branches or by registering a myNSFAS account online. If you’re a bit confused about how to register, don’t worry, we got you!
Here’s how to create a myNSFAS account:
- Visit the NSFAS website and click on ‘myNSFAS’.
- Tap on ‘register’ and then select the ‘acceptance’ option, which allows NSFAS to validate the information you’ve provided.
- Enter your South African ID number, name, and surname as they appear on your ID document.
- Fill in your contact details, such as your email address and cell number (if you don’t have an email address, you can always create one).
- Create a password and put it somewhere safe.
- Upload a copy of your ID.
- Click on ‘register’ and wait for the One Time Pin (OTP), which will either be sent to your phone or email.
- Enter your OTP and hit ‘submit’.
Once you’ve entered your details, you’ll receive an SMS confirmation from NSFAS stating that your myNSFAS account has successfully been created.
6. What Documents Do I Need to Apply for NSFAS?
If this is your first time applying to NSFAS, you’re going to need the following supporting documents:
- A valid form of identification: This can either be a copy of your ID, Smart ID card (front and back), or a temporary ID that has been given to you by the Department of Home Affairs.
- Your legal guardians’ or parents’ ID copies (this only applies to non-SASSA applications)
- Proof of income: A payslip not older than 3 months needs to be sent in either by you, your parents, guardians, or spouse along with a UIF letter, appointment letter, or retrenchment letter
- NSFAS will also accept a passport or driver’s licence as proof of identification.
7. How Do I Check My NSFAS Status?
So you’ve applied to NSFAS, and now you’re squatting in front of your emails anxiously waiting for that letter of approval (and, let’s face it, abusing the refresh button).
Although NSFAS does provide feedback, it may be quicker and easier to check your status online.
To check your NSFAS status, all you have to do is:
- log on to the myNSFAS student portal
- click on ‘Track Funding Progress’, and
- check your status to see what the next steps are.
8. What Does My NSFAS Status Mean?
So you’ve followed all the right steps, and now you’ve finally gotten feedback on your status. But what does your NSFAS status mean?
Let’s take a look at all the types of NSFAS statuses and their meanings:
- Application Submitted: Your application to NSFAS has successfully been loaded onto the system.
- Filtering: NSFAS is now verifying whether you’re a returning student or whether or not you have any previous qualifications.
- Validation: NSFAS is busy running some third-party checks on SASSA and the Department of Home Affairs in relation to your application.
- Evaluation: NSFAS is verifying all the documentation that you submitted to make sure that they’re legit.
- Funding Eligibility: NSFAS is making sure that your financial status matches what you declared on your application form. Basically, they’re making sure that you are in fact from a low-income household and that you require the funds.
- Awaiting Academic Results: NSFAS is making sure you meet all the requirements of the university or college that you’re looking to apply to.
- Awaiting Registration: If you’ve reached this stage, it means NSFAS is creating a bursary agreement with your institution.
- Signing of Agreement: This is the last step before you get your funding! NSFAS is waiting for you to sign the bursary agreement so that they can send your institution your allowances.
9. How Much Does NSFAS Pay Students?
According to the NSFAS, the DHET Bursary Scheme for students attending a public university can be broken up as follows:
- Accommodation: This will be the actual cost of residence at the student’s university of choice.
- Transport: Up to R7,500 per annum (this will allow you to travel up to 40km from your university).
- Living allowances: Up to R15,000 per annum, or R1,500 per month over a span of 10 months
- Book allowances: Up to R5,200 per annum
- Incidental care: Up to R2,900 per annum
If you’re taking the TVET College route, then your bursary allowances will be as follows:
- Accommodation: Your allowance for accommodation is divided into three areas; urban (up to R24,000), per-urban (up to R18,900), and rural (up to R15,750)
- Transport: Up to R7,350 per annum (this will allow you to travel up to 40km from your university).
- Incidental care: Up to R2,900 per annum
10. Which Courses Does NSFAS Not Cover?
In 2021, it was announced that NSFAS is no longer funding nursing or teaching qualifications for postgraduate students and that it would only fund undergraduate studies within these chosen fields.
Students who therefore have already completed a degree and would like to do a postgraduate certificate in education, for example, will not be able to receive funding from NSFAS.
The NSFAS student financial aid scheme additionally does not fund the following qualifications:
- Courses offered by private institutions
- Part-time studies
- Postgraduate studies
- Second degrees
- Short courses
This news may be disheartening, especially if you were hoping to study toward one of these qualifications. Don’t worry though, there are still other organisations that offer bursaries and loans to students, including:
Learn more about bursaries and how they work.
Get a Student Loan with Fundi
Fundi offers funding to students looking to study at tertiary institutions as well as TVET Colleges. Allowances offered by Fundi cover all expenses study-related, including accommodation, tuition, electronics, and more.
Try out our Fundi student loan calculator to see what your estimated instalments will be, and how we can make your dream a reality.
Don’t wait, get a student loan with Fundi today!
