Students have been advised to apply for NSFAS funding before the looming deadline in January. Photo: Flickr / GovernmentZA
Students have been urged to apply for NSFAS funding by taking these steps ahead of the looming deadline for the new academic year.
Students have been advised to apply for NSFAS funding before the looming deadline in January. Photo: Flickr / GovernmentZA
First time students and those already enrolled at educational institutions have until January 7 2022 to apply for National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) funding.
The applications process is also open to individuals who are already enrolled at institutions, but are without funding and qualify financially for NSFAS funding.
Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology, Blade Nzimande, said the NSFAS applications system opened from 2 November 2021 and runs until 7 January 2022 when the NSC results are released.
“Some results will be received immediately and others may take up to 48 hours to be provided,” he said.
“I look forward to hearing reports of a successful NSFAS applications system and I urge students to apply as soon as possible and to provide the necessary information to support their applications, and ensure that the process goes smoothly and quickly,” he said.
Students qualify to get NSFAS funding if you are a South African citizen or permanent resident who plans on registering or already studying at a public university or TVET college in South Africa and they will fall within one or more of the below categories:
· SASSA grant recipients (the SASSA COVID-19 grant does not count);
· Persons whose combined household income is not more than R350 000 per year;
· Persons living with disabilities with a combined household income not more than R600 000 per annum.
Students must provide the following supporting documents:
Apply online via www.nfsas.org.za by taking the following steps:
Step 1: Go to www.nsfas.org.za and click on the ‘myNSFAS’ tab
Step 2: Create a myNSFAS account
Step 3: Click on the ‘APPLY’ tab and complete the sections on the screen
Step 4: Upload required supporting documents where applicable
Step 5: Click on ‘Submit’
If you do not have a digital device or access to the internet, simply pop into your nearest National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) or Thusong Centre to apply following the same steps.
Prospective students are urged to apply to institutions via their application processes for a study place, as funding is only offered to students who are eligible for funding from NSFAS (financial eligibility) and who obtain a firm place to study in an approved programme at a public institution.