The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is a government-funded financial aid scheme aimed at assisting eligible students throughout the country in obtaining a higher education.
Students enrolled at the University of South Africa (Unisa) who are approved for funding are eligible to have a range of expenses covered by the scheme.
Registration and Tuition fees: NSFAS covers the full cost of the minimum registration fee as well as tuition fees for eligible students depending on the cost of their chosen course. This means that students will not have to pay out of pocket for their courses and can focus on their studies without worrying about the financial burden.
In addition to this, only those Unisa NSFAS-funded students who qualify may receive a Learning Material Allowance (LMA) and Incidental Allowance (LA). A monthly IA of R290 is to be paid out by the institution via Intellimali.
The university also advises prospective NSFAS-funded students to ensure that they are temporarily registered during Unisa's registration period while waiting for NSFAS funding confirmation for the 2023 academic year.
Textbooks and study materials: NSFAS provides funding for the purchase of textbooks and other essential study materials required for courses. This helps to ensure that students have access to the resources they need to succeed in their studies.
During his address last week, Higher Education Minister, Blade Nzimande confirmed that university students will receive a R5,460 learning material allowance per year
Transportation: NSFAS covers the cost of transportation for students who need to travel to and from their place of study. This includes the cost of public transportation or private transportation, depending on the student’s needs.
According to the bursary scheme university students who reside 10 kilometres from their institution are due to receive a travel allowance that amounts to R7,780 a year.
Personal care allowance: NSFAS also provides funding for personal expenses, such as clothing, toiletries, and other necessary items. This helps to ensure that students have access to the necessities they need to live and study comfortably.
For this, all students funded by NSFAS will receive a personal allowance which is R3,045 per year. Students will be required to be registered for a minimum of 120 courses credits in one academic year
The NSFAS program at the University of South Africa provides essential financial support to eligible students, covering a range of expenses that are critical to their success in higher education.
With NSFAS funding, students can focus on their studies without worrying about the financial burden of tuition fees, accommodation, textbooks, transportation, and personal expenses.
