How to apply for NSFAS: Online application for 2024
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme is a government-run entity that allows any South African student to apply for a bursary or student loan to help them study at a higher education institution. The government's primary goal is to make NSFAS a more efficient provider of financial aid to students from less-privileged families in order to improve access to higher education and training. This will help to end the cycle of poverty and improve the country. Our country's overall performance will improve if more people are educated.
If students get good matric marks and they can qualify to get accepted into a government tertiary institution, they will be able to go study no matter what background they come from because of funding from organisations such as NSFAS. It is a great equaliser.
NSFAS Funding Application for 2023
The NSFAS bursary is available to students who want to continue their education. It covers the cost of studying for certain qualifications at any South African public university or college. This reduces student debt and helps deserving students. To receive financial aid for tuition fees or costs of study, eligible students must create an account and submit their application on the NSFAS online application portal.
NSFAS Application 2023 offers the following bursary programs:
1. Technical Vocational Education and Training is responsible for assessing and implementing systems for continuing and vocational education and training. The TVET Bursary covers the full cost of college fees, as shown in the programme costs for current academic year. It also covers travel and accommodation expenses.
2. The Funza Lushaka bursary programme - supports teaching studies and is available to qualified university students pursuing a teaching degree. The bursary recipient is required to teach in public schools for the same amount of time as they received it. Bursary recipients cannot choose the school in which they wish to teach. The bursary will pay for most of the expenses of tuition and fees. This could include tuition fees, registration fees, accommodation, meals, book allowance, learning materials, and, if necessary, a small allowance to cover monthly living expenses.
Funding is available for two types of qualifications:
- Undergraduate studies, or a 4-year bachelor of education degree (B Ed), with a focus in the Foundation Phase (Grade R - 3), Intermediate Phase (4 - 6), Senior Phase (7 -9) and FET Phase (10-12).
- Graduate studies, or a one year postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE). You can also combine postgraduate qualifications such as a combined specialization in the Foundation Phase and Intermediate Phase, or the Intermediate Phase with Senior Phase or the Senior Phase and the FET Phase.
3. Social Work Bursaries are provided by the Department of Social Development. They provide financial aid to qualified students who want to study for a Bachelor of Social Work degree. Youth between 18 and 35 years old are prioritized in accordance with the government's goal of youth active participation in socioeconomic activities. The university determines the amount of the Social Worker Bursary Cover. It covers registration, tuition fees, book allowance, accommodation allowance and meals.
4. The Disability Bursary Program - Provides financial assistance to applicants with disabilities who have good marks and need financial assistance. The application form must include proof of disability as well as a quote for assistive devices. The applicant must arrange to have an assistive device provided by the student disability unit of the university of TVET college. This will improve the quality and life expectancy of the applicant with a disability, reduce dependency and care costs, and increase the chances of employment and participation in the economy that is enabled by higher education qualifications.
NSFAS bursary recipients are required to work in South Africa during a specific period following graduation. Bursary holders who are unable to find work in South Africa within three months of completing their studies must apply to NSFAS to receive a fair exit/buy-out clause.
Visit the official NSFAS sites for more information: https://www.nsfas.org.za/content/index.html
Bursary requirements and financial eligibility
- South African citizen (foreign students should not apply).
- Applicants who wish to study an undergraduate degree at a TVET college or public university with the required academic requirements.
- Do not apply if you have already applied and have a reference number.
- No grant recipients of NSFAS funding in the current academic year.
Only students from the following fields of study are eligible for postgraduate studies:
- B Tech - Architecture? Architectural Technology
- B Tech - Biokinetics, Biomedical Technology/Biotechnology
- Postgraduate Certificate in Education
- Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting
- Bachelor of Laws/LLB
To apply for a TVET college NSFAS bursary:
- Registered at a South African TVET college
- Registered for National Certificate (vocational).
Register for N1-N6 engineering programmes and N4-N6 all other fields.
How to Apply Online
NSFAS Account Opening Application1. Register online to become a user of myNSFAS, or re-register an account.
- Go to www.nsfas.org.za
- Click on the tab "myNSFAS".
- Click on "Register".
- To allow NSFAS verification of your details, tick the box
- Enter your ID number in the same field as it appears on your ID document.
- Enter your full name and surname.
- Enter your email address
- Confirm your email address
- Enter your cell phone number
- Set up a password and confirm it
- Upload a photo of your ID
- Click to Register
- An OTP will send to the email address and mobile number you provide (this OTP expires 24 hours later).
- Complete the OTP form and click submit
- Complete registration
2. To access the online application form, click the Apply tab.
3. Make certified copies of these documents:
- South African identity document (or unabridged South African birth certificate)
- Identifications of guardians and parents (death certificate, if applicable).
- Identification of every person in your household
- Documentation of proof of household income for the past three months (not more than three months) and combined income, if applicable.
- Academic results
- Documents for university registration
- If applicable, travel and accommodation documents
- If applicable, proof of marital status
- Fill out the consent form, and sign it with all the signatures of those whose incomes were declared in the application.
- Download the Annexure A for people with disabilities.
NSFAS Manual Application Forms
- You can pick up a printed copy of the application form at one of the centers.
- To complete the NSFAS application, use black ink and make sure you write in the spaces with capital letters.
- Don't cancel any text. Make sure you write clearly.
- Sign the consent form with your parents/guardians.
- Make certified copies of all supporting documents listed and attach them to your application form by stapling.
- Documents should be certified on the front of the page within three months.
- Complete the application form and send it in to an assistant at the NYDA.
- An application form will be attached along with a barcode. Wait for the acknowledgment of receipt card.
You can also apply elsewhere
The DHET is expanding other areas for applicants to apply for and/or use computers and/or the internet.
- Department of Basic Education (DBE), District Teacher Development Centres. To use the facilities, students must make an appointment to meet with the centre manager.
- Thusong centres (community Development Centres)
A list of Thusong and Teacher centres per province is available at https:///www.nsfas.org.za/content/application-centres.html
NSFAS Application Closing Date for 2023
NSFAS Applications are now open for 2023. NSFAS funding is available starting September 28, 2022. The 31st of January 2023 is the deadline for applications.
Late applications received after the closing date won't be accepted for 2023.
You can check your application status at:
You can check your NSFAS application status logging into the myNSFAS port: https://my.nsfas.org.za/
NSFAS Contact Details
Post: Private Bag X1, Plumstead 7801, South Africa
Address: 10 Brodie Road, House Vincent 2nd Floor, Wynberg, Cape Town 7700
Tel: 0860067327
Email: info@nsfas.org.za
Twitter: @myNSFAS
FAQs about NSFAS
How to reset myNSFAS login details in order to recover your account
Go to www.nsfas.org.za and click on myNSFAS. Select "forgot password?"
Enter your ID number, and then indicate the assistance you require. Enter your password or username, and click on submit.
The username and link to reset your password will be sent by email and SMS. Follow these instructions to recover your account.
How do I find out if my application was successful?
Once it receives confirmation from an educational institution, NSFAS will send applicants the results of their applications.
Notifications will be sent out to applicants via email, SMS and myNSFS accounts before the start the academic year.
MyNSFAS accounts allow students to track the progress of their applications.
Can I appeal against a rejected application
You may have the right to appeal a rejection of your NSFAS request.
- Log into the MyNSFAS portal at https://my.nsfas.org.za/Application/selfservice.jsp
- Choose the Track Funding Progress option
- You can check the progress tabs of your application
- If your application status shows as failed, you can appeal the situation by clicking the Submit Appeal tab.
- You will be taken to the Application Appeal page. Here you can see the reason behind the unsuccessful application.
- A motivational letter explaining why you appeal your application status should be submitted.
- To support your statement, upload any supporting documents.
- Click Submit Appeal.
- The MyNSFAS portal allows you to track the progress of appeals.
If my NSFAS funds are approved, do I need to pay registration?
No. Registration fees are included in the first payments made by NSFAS therefore NSFAS students will not be blocked from registration.
Is there an age limit for NSFAS?
NSFAS administers the DHET bursary without age restrictions.
Age limits are imposed on some bursaries offered by NSFAS, such as the Funza Lushaka teaching Bursary and Social Work Scholarship.
Does NSFAS give you a laptop?
Students can use their book allowance for laptops and tablets.
During the COVID-19 lockdown 2020, it was decided to provide laptops for free to both TVET and University students who did not have them yet.
If I fail a module, will NSFAS finance me?
To continue receiving financial aid, students must pass at minimum 50% of their modules.
The funding period is limited. NSFAS will only pay for the course's standard duration plus an additional year according to the n+1 formula.
NSFAS won't pay for repeat modules to obtain higher certificates.
Does NSFAS fund postgraduate studies?
NSFAS does not fund post graduate degrees in careers that require it to be a professional requirement.
- PGCE - Postgraduate Certificate in Education
- PGDA - Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting
- Selected B Tech courses
Is NSFAS able to fund private college and university studies?
No. Only students studying approved courses at state universities and TVET colleges in South Africa will be funded.
What are the chances of me being funded to complete a second qualification?
Students who have not completed a university degree before are not eligible for funding. A TVET N6 qualification is not eligible for funding at a TVET college. However, they may be eligible at a university.
Unemployed guardians/parents, or parents who work in the informal sector must provide proof of employment.
A signed affidavit is acceptable, but NSFAS will verify employment status through government agencies and third-party agencies.
Does NSFAS affect my credit score?
NSFAS reserves all rights to report students who fail to meet their debt obligations to credit bureaus. NSFAS has used debt collection services in recent years to monitor outstanding loans for students who have completed studies up to 2017.
