If you’ve been looking for funding for your studies, you may have come across the the term NSFAS. You may be wondering: what is NSFAS? Let’s take a look at what NSFAS is and what it can do for you.

NSFAS: What is NSFAS?

NSFAS, or National Student Financial Aid Scheme, was established according to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme Act of 1999 and incorporated Tertiary Education Fund of South Africa (TEFSA), which stopped operating in 2000.

When you want to apply for NSFAS bursaries to pay your college or varsity fees you can do the whole application online. If that is difficult for you then you can also apply from any public university or college.

The first thing you need is your SA ID document or your Unabridged Birth Certificate.

You then need the ID documents for your parents or guardian.

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has officially tested the improved online application system which is aimed at improving the time at which users take in applying for funding.

“This is an effort to showcase the improved efficient process. The aim and focus was to make the online application system simpler for applicants, with the process shorter and reactive, providing feedback to the applicants within a week,” NSFAS said.

If you’re looking for funding for your studies, you probably know you need to go through NSFAS.

Applications for funding in 2019 will be open from Monday 3rd September 2018.

You may be a little confused as to how to apply though, so here’s a quick guide on how to apply for NSFAS online.

Get your certified supporting documents ready.

You will need:

You may have read recently that NSFAS would be changing the way applications worked. The organisation has adopted what they call a Student Centered Model, completely overhauling the applications system. So what does this mean for you?

NSFAS: What is the Student Centered Model?

The idea behind the Student Centered Model is that students will no longer apply for financial aid through their colleges or universities. Instead, students apply directly to NSFAS and bursaries are awarded after an evaluation of the application.

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is the biggest government-funded entity used to administer financial aid to struggling students.

In an effort to establish equality in the education sector government has pledged to support underprivileged or disadvantaged students through various financial aid schemes.

Government also offers sector specific bursaries directly through its Departments.

Some private organisations and individuals have joined government's efforts to provide funding to students who are unable to finance their own studies.