The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (Nsfas) is an important instrument used by the South African government to make higher education more accessible for students from poor and working backgrounds.
Making higher education accessible to these students is achieved through the provision of comprehensive bursaries which cover tuition and accommodation costs of deserving students. Funded students also receive allowances for travel expenses, meal expenses and stationery costs.
It's important to note that Nsfas has guidelines which allows them to discontinue a students’ bursary if they do not meet predetermined requirements.
Failure to meet these requirements could result in a student losing their funding. Nsfas allows students to appeal their decision to defund students. However, not all students are permitted to submit Nsfas appeals.
These Students Are Not Permitted To Submit A Nsfas Appeal
- They are registered for a qualification that Nsfas does not fund.
- They have reached N+2 (N+3 in the case of a student living with a Disability).
- The detail of the appeal indicates that the student is disclosing different parental or legal guardian information than disclosed in the application, or if the student is now indicating that he/ she is independent which is different to the application.
- The student is a gap year student who Nsfas previously declined to provide financial aid to due to not meeting the academic eligibility criteria.
- The institution has not submitted their registration record or submitted an incorrect registration record to Nsfas – such queries must be directed to the institution.
Nsfas students who submit appeals are reminded that the process can take around 30 days to complete.
It is important to note that NSFAS applicants who want to appeal will also need to complete and download a relevant propensity letter.
Here are the propensity letters available for download:
- Failure to meet academic eligibility (PDF)
- Appealing N+1 (PDF)
- N+2 students with disability (PDF)
- Registered for 50% or less (final year course credits) to complete (PDF)
Students who require funding can visit the Bursaries Portal for more information on bursaries.
