The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) disburses funds to financially-strained students at public higher education institutions, offering assistance through either a NSFAS bursary or a missing middle loan.
However, NSFAS applicants may face rejection for not meeting NSFAS criteria. NSFAS, however, provides a second chance through appeals, considering several scenarios for those falling short of requirements.
Several situations will be taken into account when reviewing NSFAS appeals for applicants who did not meet the requirements.
Exceeding Household Income Threshold
NSFAS stipulates that, to qualify for a bursary, a student's household income must range from R0 to R350,000, while for loans, it should be between R350,001 and R600,000. Failure to fall within these limits results in rejection.
By submitting a NSFAS appeal in such instances, there is still a chance for consideration such as:
- The financial situation of their household has altered since they submitted their application, and proof of this change has been submitted to NSFAS.
- Students can present proof demonstrating that their household income is genuinely below the specified threshold.
- A significant contributor to their household income has either become incapacitated or passed away after the submission of their application.
- The student/applicant has obtained legal independence from their biological parents through a court declaration.
- The court has ruled that the parents are not obligated to cover the student's/applicant's maintenance, including the expenses related to education.
- The student/applicant comes from a household headed by a child, and this is confirmed by a report from a social worker registered with the Department of Social Development.
Failed to meet the academic eligibility criteria
If you're not a first-year student and have received funding in prior academic terms, meeting academic criteria is essential for NSFAS funding eligibility. Failure to meet these criteria will result in rejection.
By submitting a NSFAS appeal in such instances, there is still a chance for consideration such as:
- The student's inability to successfully complete the academic term is attributed to severe illness persisting for an uninterrupted period of two or more months during the academic term or examinations.
- The student's inability to successfully complete the academic term is attributed to a death in the immediate family during the academic term.
- The student's inability to successfully complete the academic term is attributed to having been a victim of a violent crime.
- The student's inability to successfully complete the academic term is attributed to being pregnant and giving birth during the academic term.
- The student's inability to successfully complete the academic term is attributed to the nature of their disability.
Under these circumstances, the institution must evaluate the student and fill out the standard NSFAS propensity letter, confirming that the student will finish their qualification within an extra academic term.
Other cases:
- The student can provide evidence demonstrating that the academic results submitted to NSFAS are inaccurate.
Exceeding The N+ Rule
The N+ rule allows funding for N+ years, with N representing the registered years at an institution. Presently, the N+1 rule is in effect, granting students an additional year.
Exceeding the N+ rule results in rejection. By submitting a NSFAS appeal in such instances, there is still a chance for consideration such as:
- The student's inability to successfully complete the academic term is attributed to severe illness persisting for an uninterrupted period of two or more months during the academic term or examinations.
- The student's inability to successfully complete the academic term is attributed to a death in the immediate family during the academic term.
- The student's inability to successfully complete the academic term is attributed to having been a victim of a violent crime.
- The student's inability to successfully complete the academic term is attributed to being pregnant and giving birth during the academic term.
- The student's inability to successfully complete the academic term is attributed to the nature of their disability.
- The student, enrolled in a university, can verify having 50% or fewer final-year course credits left to complete their qualification.
- The TVET student can demonstrate that they have two or fewer subjects remaining to complete their Report 191 qualification or three or fewer subjects to finish their NC(V) qualification.
For the mentioned situations, the institution must evaluate the student and fill out the NSFAS standard propensity letter, confirming the completion of the qualification within an extra academic term.
If an institution denies a student's academic progression, appeals related to this issue should be directed to the institution.
