When Can’t You Submit A Nsfas Appeal?

The bursary scheme provides funding to deserving students who meet the stipulated requirement criteria.

If your application is rejected, you may get an opportunity to lodge an appeal in order to get your Nsfas online application reconsidered during the appeals window.

Students who have been assessed as unsuccessful, and who may lodge an appeal, will automatically have access to lodge an appeal on their accounts.  

Appeals can be lodged within 30 days of having your application assessed as unsuccessful.

However, when you see the following Nsfas statuses after submitting your application and having it be rejected, you can’t appeal:

1. Nsfas status: Application is deceased: Two situations apply to this Nsfas status:
   • The applicant is applying using someone else’s name who is deceased and is trying to commit fraud.
   • Department of Home Affairs (DHA) information on their system is wrong. In this case, applicants cannot appeal, and they must visit the DHA to correct the information.
2. Nsfas status: Application received after closing date
   • Nsfas will not accept any late applications, so if you receive this status, it means you’re applying once applications are closed and Nsfas will reject your application.
3. Nsfas status: DHA Error
   • NSFAS wasn’t able to find the applicant on the Department of Home Affairs database.
4. Nsfas status: Not eligible for Nsfas funding, funded by another bursary
   • This implies that the applicant has another bursary, therefore is not not eligible for Nsfas funding.
5. Nsfas status: Income greater than R350k
   • One of the main qualifying requirements for Nsfas is that an applicant (who is able-bodied) has a household income of R350 000 per year or less. If it’s found that their household income exceeds R350 000 per year, they would be rejected. 
6. Nsfas status: Change from NC(V)/Report 191 in academic career
   • This is for TVET College students. There is a clear set of rules when it comes to TVET Nsfas funding and if the rules are not followed, Nsfas will reject the application. 
7. Nsfas status: Change in programme in academic career
   • This status cannot be appealed.
8. Nsfas status: Did not meet the 50% academic progression requirements
   • This is for returning students only. Nsfas has academic requirements for returning students that need to be met to be eligible for funding.
9. NSFAS status: n+ rule exceeded 

• • Currently, the N+1 rule is in place which means that students only have N+1 years to finish a degree. “N” is minimum number of years allocated to complete a qualification (i.e. record time). The “+1” refers to the extra year that a student may need to complete the qualification (making the maximum time).
  • Whether you can appeal or not it is conditional.

Students wishing to appeal must upload all required supporting documentation to substantiate the reasons for their appeal. 

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:

1. Failure to meet academic eligibility (PDF)
2. Appealing N+1 (PDF)
3. N+2 students with disability (PDF)
4. Registered for 50% or less (final year course credits) to complete (PDF)

All appeals must be lodged by the applicants on the Nsfas self-service online portal www.nsfas.org.za