The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is a government-funded bursary that is available to students who would like to further their studies at a public university or TVET college, however do not have the means to do so.
Students hoping to attend the University of South Africa (Unisa) are indeed eligible for funding since the institution is a public university.
Studying at a higher education institution can be quite expensive, which is why NSFAS offers to help students cover the costs of registration, tuition and allowances.
Due to Unisa being a distance learning institution, the allowance amounts differ from those provided to students who attend other universities. Unisa students receive the following allowances:
- Learning Material Allowance: This is calculated based on the number of modules the student has registered for. For the first four modules, students will receive R600 per module and a once-off payment of R5200 for five to ten modules. This allowance is allocated for purchasing textbooks and any other learning materials required to complete their studies.
- Living Allowance: Students who are registered for ten or more modules are eligible for this allowance. It may cover any monthly expenses.
- Incidental Allowance: R290 is paid every month for 10 months to students who are registered for ten or more modules. This allowance covers any small expenses which may arise during the academic year.
The following applies to students who are registering at Unisa:
- First-time NSFAS applicants: Please ensure that you are temporarily registered during Unisa's registration period while waiting for NSFAS funding confirmation. If your NSFAS application is declined or delayed by the close of the registration period, you will be expected to find alternative funding before your registration will be activated.
- Returning NSFAS students who were funded in the year before but have not yet completed their qualification: Please ensure that you are temporarily registered during Unisa's registration period while waiting for NSFAS funding confirmation for the academic year.
- Returning NSFAS students who received funding the year before, have been declined for funding for the next year and have appealed the decision: Please pay the minimum registration fee while you wait for the NSFAS appeal decision if you chose to do so.
If your NSFAS application is provisionally approved then you do not need to pay the minimum registration fee. Your registration will automatically be activated based on NSFAS funding confirmation received by Unisa.
Those who have paid the minimum registration fee will be refunded once NSFAS has confirmed successful processing of registration data to Unisa.