How To Submit A NSFAS Appeal

If your application to be funded by NSFAS was declined, you can appeal the decision. You can read below to find out how to do that. 

How To Submit An Appeal

New students

1. Log into your myNSFAS account
2. Click on 'Track Application Progress' to view your application status
3. If unsuccessful, you should see 'Appeal'
4. Click on 'Appeal'
5. Provide the relevant information and supporting documents

NSFAS appeals for returning students are yet to open. NSFAS will communicate the opening and closing dates for this process as well as how it's going to be done when the appeal cycle opens.

Appeals will only be considered on the following grounds:

• Material change in combined household income (proof of loss of income needed with a fully completed NSFAS form for students that were not previously funded);

• Loss of a bursary/sponsor in the 2019 academic cycle (documented proof should be provided and should be accompanied by a fully completed NSFAS application form);
• Failure to meet academic criteria where prior academic performance has been satisfactory (provide supporting information and documentation that provides details of the reasons that affected performance);
• Failure to meet academic criteria due to medical condition (s) or death of an immediate family member (provide supporting information and documentation);
• Student had a gap year in NSFAS funding or failed to register previously and could not reapply for funding;
• More than one student from the same household concurrently enrolled at a university/TVET college; and
• Applying for an approved post graduate qualification (see section F on the appeal form for list).

Applicants are also required to download and complete a relevant propensity letter to motivate their reasons for their NSFAS appeal.

Here are the relevant propensity letters:

1. Failure to meet academic eligibility (PDF)
2. Appealing N+1 (PDF)
3. N+2 students with disability (PDF)
4. Registered for 50% or less (final year course credits) to complete (PDF)

Once an appeal has been lodged with Nsfas, the bursary scheme will take around 30 days to respond to the appeal.

(As of now there is no end date for general appeals but it should take about 30 days to get a response after submitting your appeal.)