Application for 2020 NSFAS funding is now open for applications for all new South African students. The studentships are available to pursue undergraduate diploma/degree or postgraduate degree programs at TVET colleges or public universities.
ALSO READ: A complete guide to accessing study material via myUnisa account
What is NSFAS?
NSFAS (The National Student Financial Aid Scheme) is a South African government student financial aid scheme which exists to help disadvantaged students with financial assistance to cover the cost for registration and tuition, and provide allowances for food, books, transport and accommodation.
You can apply online: www.nsfas.org.za
The closing date for applications is 30 November 2019.
What does the bursary cover?
TVET
- Accommodation in an urban area R24,000 per annum
- Accommodation in an peri-urban area R18,000 per annum
- Accommodation in an rural area R15000 per annum
- Transport (up to 40 km from institution) R10 000 per annum
- Transport R7000 per annum
- Incidental/personal care allowance R2750 per annum
UNIVERSITY
- Accommodation
- As per the actual costs charged by the university (costs for private accommodation must not exceed costs for university residence)
- Transport (up to 40 km from institution) R10 000 per annum
- Living allowance R14 400 per annum
- Book allowances R5000 per annum
- Incidental/personal care allowance R2750 per annum for students in catered residences
Who qualifies for NSFAS funding?
- All South African citizens
- All SASSA grant recipients qualifies for funding
- Students from a family with an income of 350k or less per year
- Person with disability: Combined household income must not be more than R600 000 per annum
- Students who started studying before 2018 whose household income is not more than R122 000 per annum.
Supporting documents for NSFAS Application
Before you attempt to apply for funding, make sure that you have certified and valid copies of the following documents:
- Your South African identity document / card (or an unabridged birth certificate if you are younger than 16 years old).
- The ID of your parents and / or guardian (or death certificate where applicable).
- Pay advice / letter of employment / pension advice stating income (SASSA slips are not required and SASSA should not be included as household income).
- A completed and signed consent form, which you may download here and must be filled in with your parent / guardian’s signatures. Applications without a consent form signed by all the people whose incomes have been declared in the application will not be accepted and will be considered incomplete.
- If you have a disability, please download the Disability Annexure A from www.nsfas.org.za, fill it in and submit it with your application.
Please note: The stamp on all certified documents should not be older than three months.
You may apply for NSFAS if
- you are a South African citizen with a household income of R350k or less, you are registered at a public university or TVET college and have not been approved for NSFAS funding in 2019.
- you are a South African citizen with a household income of R350k or less, you are registered at an institution but have not applied for NSFAS funding before.
- you are a South African citizen with a household income of R350k or less and you plan to study at a public university or TVET college in 2020 and require funding.
Your NSFAS application will NOT be considered if
- you have already applied for 2020 on www.nsfas.org.za and have an application reference number.
- you already have NSFAS funding for 2019.
- you already have an undergraduate degree / diploma or postgraduate degree, with the following exceptions:
- BTech – Architecture / Architectural Technology
- BTech – Engineering (all disciplines), Cartography, Forestry
- BTech – Biokinetics, Biomedical Technology, Biotechnology
- BTech – Chiropractic, Homoeopathy, all Nursing
- BTech – Clinical or Dental Technology, Emergency Medical Care
- Postgraduate Certificate in Education
- Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting
- LLB
Applicants may make use of the computer lab on campus to apply and may also contact the financial aid office on campus for assistance with their 2019 applications.
You may call the NSFAS Contact Centre on 08 000 67327.
Image Courtesy: Supplied