National Student Financial Aid Scheme (Nsfas) bursary students funding applicants for 2023 who are Non-Sassa beneficiaries as well as those who are returning students will be pleased to know that the bursary scheme has now made their funding decisions available to their respective institutions.
The funding list for Non-Sassa applicants and returning students will be released to institutions by 6th February 2023.
In effort to speed up the application process, the scheme initially prioritised decisions for First-TIme Entering (FTEN) Sassa applicants who received feedback on their funding outcome immediately upon submitting their applications.
Nsfas further stated that this was because non-Sassa applicants and returning students require financial and academic eligibility verification, for which the bursary scheme relies on the assistance of third parties to confirm funding.
The bursary scheme recently closed its funding applications for 2023 at the end of January and currently only allows applicants to lodge appeals on their rejected funding outcomes. The closing date for all Nsfas appeals for the 2023 funding cycle is on Monday 20 February 2023.
Nsfas is a South African government-funded student financial aid scheme that was formally converted to a bursary scheme in 2018.
It provides financial support to students from low-income families who wish to study at all public higher education institutions throughout the country, including universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges.
The aim of Nsfas is to increase access to higher education and training for underprivileged students. The financial aid offered by Nsfas can cover tuition fees, accommodation, and other study-related costs.
To be eligible for funding, a student must meet certain criteria, such as being a South African citizen and coming from a household with a combined annual income of less than R350,000.
