The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) announced that more than 1.9 million applications have been received for the 2024 NSFAS applications, which closed on 15 February.
In the event of an applicant's NSFAS application being denied, there is a 30-day window for them to submit an NSFAS appeal. This appeal process involves a reassessment of the initial NSFAS application, potentially resulting in a reversal of the rejection.
NSFAS appeals for 2024 are now open. The financial aid scheme recently revealed that 114 198 NSFAS applications have been rejected with 1 213 NSFAS appeals having been lodged so far.
NSFAS will upon making the funding decisions commence with the appeals process in order to ensure that appeals decision are communicated to students and the institutions on time.
How To Submit A NSFAS Appeal
- Click here to visit the myNSFAS website.
- Log into your myNSFAS account.
- Click the 'Track Funding Progress' option.
- Check the application progress tabs.
- If your application status reflects an unsuccessful message, you may submit an appeal by clicking on the 'Submit Appeal Tab'.
- Once you are on the 'Application Appeal' page, you can see the reason for your unsuccessful application status.
- You are then able to choose the appeal reason.
- Upload certified supporting documents to support your reason.
- Click 'Submit Appeal'.
Of the 1 904 209 applications received:
- 989 998 are provisionally funded
- 369 320 are awaiting evaluations
- 72 574 have been withdrawn by the student
- 161 492 are in progress
- 139 928 applications are on the NOT-STARTED status as applicants only created profiles and did not submit applications.
However, numerous applicants have reported not receiving any feedback after applying. A significant portion of applicants has expressed that their NSFAS status remains stagnant, indicating 'Awaiting Evaluation' and 'Financial Eligibility.'
When Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Buti Manamela, visited the NSFAS offices, he acknowledged and addressed this issue by stating:
We are quite concerned. We've had a lot of queries from students, prospective students who have applied for NSFAS and they have not yet received responses. I'm quite excited that there are plans that have been put into place to make sure that we, as speedily as possible, deal with this.
Manamela continued, "Most of the universities will be beginning with their learning and teaching in the course of this month so we need all of this cleared up".
It's quite an anxious period for especially those who are going to university and TVET College for the first time. I think for us to say to them that if we had managed by now, it's been a short space of time since the results, to communicate about 900 000 decisions. It should be easier to complete the rest of the 311 000. I know if you're the one who's affected, the bigger picture doesn't make sense.
The Deputy Minister has encouraged applicants to promptly submit their NSFAS consent forms. This step is crucial for NSFAS to verify the household incomes of parents and guardians.
NSFAS Consent Form
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is calling on all applicants to submit a consent form to finalise their 2024 NSFAS bursary application. Failure to submit a consent form may delay confirmation of funding by NSFAS.
DOWNLOAD YOUR NSFAS CONSENT FORM HERE
Students must note that not submitting the consent form will result in delays in the outcome of the application. The consent form will ensure that NSFAS complies with all SARS requirements.
Almost all students who applied for an NSFAS 2024 bursary are required to submit a consent form. This includes individuals whose NSFAS statuses are Awaiting Evaluation, Financial Eligibility, and Application Data.
Applicants exempt from submitting a consent form are those who receive South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) grants and have already secured funding approval. This exception is due to the absence of financial checks on the parents, guardians, or spouses of these applicants in such instances.
