NSFAS, which provides bursaries and loans, has confirmed it will not fund students seeking a second certificate qualification.
NSFAS explicitly stated, "A student who has achieved a certificate qualification who wants to study on a second certificate qualification" is ineligible for funding. Similarly, students who have obtained an undergraduate qualification and wish to pursue another undergraduate qualification will not receive NSFAS support.
Other NSFAS Funding Exclusions
NSFAS also outlined other circumstances where funding is not provided:
- Students with full scholarships, bursaries, or loans from other sources.
- Students enrolled at private institutions.
- Students registered for unaccredited qualifications.
- Students who fail to meet NSFAS eligibility requirements.
NSFAS Eligibility Criteria Explained
To qualify for NSFAS funding, applicants must meet specific eligibility criteria. The financial eligibility threshold is a household income below R350,000 per year, with a higher threshold of R600,000 for students with disabilities. Recipients of Sassa Foster Care, Care Dependency, and Child Support grants automatically meet the financial criteria. NSFAS verifies income through third-party data and requires accurate consent forms.
Returning university students must pass at least 60% of their modules, while TVET college students need a 70% pass rate or meet subject-specific requirements. National Certificate Vocational (NC(V)) students must pass five subjects, and Report 191 students must pass three. Students are subject to the N+Rule, which allows one additional year of funding, with disabled students qualifying for N+2.
