The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) offers comprehensive bursaries and student loans to deserving students enrolled in approved courses at public universities or Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges.
NSFAS funding covers tuition and registration fees and includes various allowances aimed at covering students' expenses during their pursuit of a tertiary education qualification.
Whether benefiting from a NSFAS bursary or a NSFAS missing middle student loan, many rules remain consistent, including the procedures for students transferring between institutions.
When a student transfers from a TVET college to a university or vice versa, they are classified as continuing students. A continuing student is defined as someone who was previously supported by NSFAS in the last academic term, currently enrolled in an accredited program at an institution, and remains eligible both financially and academically.
However, this excludes those progressing through academic pathways, attaining their first undergraduate degree, or transitioning between institution types (e.g., from a TVET College to a University or vice versa).
This distinction is important, as continuing students, unlike returning students, do not need to re-apply for NSFAS funding. However, if students change institution types (i.e., shift from a TVET College to a University or vice versa), they must re-apply for funding.
Students who change institution types (i.e., shift from TVET College to University or vice versa) must re-apply for funding
It's crucial to note that a student can only be funded for one qualification at one institution at any given time. NSFAS does not fund students for two courses simultaneously and only covers a student's first qualification
