Experts warn of NSFAS overload in light of the new R3.8 billion fund. Image: File
CONFIRMED: NSFAS allowances for the 2024 academic year
In 2024. students funded by the NSFAS at TVET colleges will receive a R10 000 monthly allowance. Here are other allowances.
Experts warn of NSFAS overload in light of the new R3.8 billion fund. Image: File
Students at TVET Colleges will receive an increased living allowance of R10 000. In contrast, university students funded by the National Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) will continue to get a monthly living allowance of R1650 in 2024.
NSFAS ALLOWANCES FOR 2024
During a briefing earlier this month, Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande said of its financial reserves, NSFAS will pay R1 billion to TVET [Technical Vocational Education and Training] colleges and R3.2 billion to universities.
- In 2024, the living allowance will be R16 500 for university students, including R3 045 personal care allowance and R13 455 meal allowance per year.
- Nzimande also announced that the TVET living allowance will increase from R6 000 to R10 000 as part of continued efforts to bring parity between the university and TVET sectors.
- In addition, the department has introduced the differentiated accommodation cap between metro and non-metro areas, which will see all institutions owned or leased and private accommodation being capped at R50 000 in metro areas and R41 000 in other regions per academic year.
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“Students living in institution-catered accommodation qualify for a maximum allowance capped at R66 500 in metros and R57 500 in all other areas per annum. Institutions in non-metro areas may request NSFAS to review the assigned accommodation cap in exceptional circumstances, and a detailed motivation and supporting evidence for NSFAS consideration must accompany such request.
“Students who opt to make their accommodation arrangements with immediate family or with relatives do not qualify for the accommodation allowance, [but] they qualify for a travel allowance determined by the institution, up to a maximum of R7 875 in 2024,” Nzimande explained.
He added that all university students qualify for a learning material allowance set at a maximum amount of R5 460 for students for the 2024 academic year.
“The learning material allowances must be used to purchase academic books and materials and a learning device, [and] only one allowance is provided per student per academic year. Allowances for students in distance education programmes are calculated based on the number of courses registered up to a maximum of R5 460,” the minister said.
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DISTANCE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
Distance university students studying an equivalent full-time course credit load qualify for the personal care allowance of R3 045 per academic year [and] this requires a student to be registered for a minimum of 120 course credits in one academic year.
“Allowances for students in distance education programmes are calculated based on the number of courses registered up to a maximum of R5 460,” Nzimande said.
Distance university students studying an equivalent full-time course credit load also qualify for a personal care allowance of R3 045 per academic year, which requires a student to register at least 120 course credits in one academic year.
TVET COLLEGE STUDENTS
TVET college’s catered residence in metros is capped at R60 000, and, in other areas, it is capped at R51 000, with students qualifying for either the travel allowance or the accommodation allowance.
Nzimande emphasised that TVET college students registered on an occupational qualification may qualify for allowances only if “in simulated training, students registered on an occupational qualification that has an employment contract and is paid stipend do not qualify for NSFAS allowances.”
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R20 000 ALLOWANCE FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
Students with disabilities qualify for living allowances, including meals, at R20 000 per academic year.
According to the department, they only qualify for a learning materials allowance of R6 000 per academic year for university students. A TVET college learning materials allowance is included in the cost of tuition.
“The assistive devices allowance’s actual cost is limited to R50 000 as a once-off allowance. These students also qualify for repairs and maintenance of assistive devices to the value of 2 000 per academic year,” Nzimande said.
Nzimande said students with disabilities do not automatically qualify for the allowance for assistive devices or their repairs and maintenance, noting that the allowances will be granted if the student application for the allowances is approved and “all conditions and criteria are met as set out in the policy standard.”
