The class of 2021 recently receive their Matric results on Friday with a pass rate of 76.4% for public schools. It is safe to say that many are celebrating, while this may not be the case for those who got poor results or failed altogether.

Rejection by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme can be devastating for prospective students. But does this mean you can't reapply? This is what the bursary scheme says about it.    

NSFAS is looking to cut out the middleman when it comes to the payment of student allowances. This is to happen through the NSFAS Bank account, which is said to have a number of benefits for students.

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme has recently stated that it is reassessing the appeals of applicants who initially had their applications rejected for the 2023 academic year.

It goes without question that legal professionals, including lawyers and Advocates play a crucial role in the function of the country’s justice system. Thus, it is unsurprising that pursuing a law degree is considered a lucrative career choice.

In a significant announcement made while addressing Parliament on Wednesday, Minister of Higher Education, Blade Nzimande, shared updates on the future of student funding in the sector. 

As a recent graduate, establishing a solid foundation is crucial for your future financial success. If you're beginning your career in South Africa, consider the following tips for long-term financial planning after repaying your student loans.

While short courses come with the advantage of enabling you to complete them within a shorter time span than a traditional qualification, they are usually not funded by well-known bursary schemes such as NSFAS among others.

NSFAS plays a huge role in lowering the barriers to entry into tertiary education for millions of South Africans. To meet the rising demand for its funding assistance, the scheme has also made amendments to its funding model.

The price of higher education is often out of reach for many of the country's financially disadvantaged aspiring tertiary students. Fortunately, bursaries often serve to bridge this gap and there are a few that are specifically intended for students enrolled in programs within the STEM field.

NSFAS funding brings a sigh of relief for many students who cannot afford to finance their tertiary education. However, it can also, unfortunately, make students vulnerable targets to online scammers who seek to profit from their allocated funds  
 

An ongoing investigation into NSFAS has found that some of the country’s higher-learning institutions still owe millions in unallocated funds to the bursary scheme. The University of Johannesburg is the most recent to have reimbursed NSFAS.
 

Pursuing your tertiary comes with the burden of finding alternative funding assistance, especially in cases where affordability is an issue. Fortunately, there are several types of bursaries and scholarships that are available to aspiring tertiary students.

When it comes to bursary programmes, Isfap is a good alternative option for students who are unable to fund their tertiary studies. However, is the same true for you are a Unisa postgraduate student? 
 

If you are currently an NSFAS-funded student, there is a high chance that you may be targeted by online scammers. NSFAS has compiled a list of some of the fraudulent websites that are currently active. 

The National Student Financial Scheme says that its newly introduced R45,000 annual price cap on student accommodation has been well received by stakeholders in the sector. However, the decision has not been without challenges and widespread criticism. 

One of the notable changes in the NSFAS application process is that the scheme also took over the processing of appeals from tertiary institutions. And after concluding the process, the scheme saw an improvement in the system's pace in the lead-up to the closing deadline.

As an applicant of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, one of the challenges that you may encounter is a delay in the processing of your application. As frustrating as this can be, this is often due to valid reasons that you may have overlooked. 
 

If you intend to study towards a teaching qualification at Unisa but do not meet the specified requirements, completing a bridging course in the field can put you in a good position to do so. But would NSFAS fund these bridging courses? 

As any previously rejected NSFAS applicant will tell you, the news can leave you feeling somewhat helpless. Thankfully the bursary scheme also allows you to appeal, provided that all the right steps are followed.