The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) covers studies through one of South Africa’s 50 TVET colleges or 26 public universities and caters to students from underprivileged households.
All students applying for the bursary need to be South African citizens or permanent residents.
Students who wish to study at the University of Fort Hare will be funded by NSFAS if they meet the bursary requirements.
Those with a combined household income of R350 000 or less per year are eligible for the bursary. Persons with a disability with a combined household income of no more than R600 000 per annum may apply for funding.
Prospective students and students who are Sassa grant recipients immediately qualify for funding.
The NSFAS bursary provides students with the following:
- Registration fees
- Tuition
- Meals
- Accommodation or travelling allowance
- Learning material allowance
- Personal care or incidental allowance
Students may apply for NSFAS online, with assistance from application centres or through their campus financial aid office.
The following documents are required to apply for the bursary:
- Applicants ID document/card or birth certificate
- The ID of parents/ guardian/ spouse (or death certificate where applicable)
- Applicants proof of income (if applicable and should not be older than 3 months)
- Parents/ guardian/ spouse pay advice/ letter of employment/ pension advice stating income (if applicable and should not be older than 3 months.
- Vulnerable children must provide a completed and signed Vulnerable Child Declaration Form.
- Applicants with a disability must provide a Disability Annexure A Form
- Applicants must sign and submit a Consent form
- SASSA slips are not required and SASSA should not be included as a household income
Unlike other bursaries, NSFAS does not have an age limit which means that applicants of any age are eligible for funding.
Unfortunately, postgraduate qualifications, short courses and courses offered by private tertiary institutions are not funded by NSFAS.