NSFAS (National Student Financial Aid Scheme) Bursary Programmes 2020-2021

NSFAS (National Student Financial Aid Scheme) Profile
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme, or simply referred to as NSFAS, is a governmental establishment that is founded as a means to provided financial assistance towards underprivileged students in South Africa. Higher education can be costly, and not all young individuals could afford university-level education. Noticing the need for more funds to be allocated into fixing this issue, the Department of Higher Education and Training commits themselves to issuing financial aids in the form of bursaries. Through this effort, it is hoped that every student in the country has the chance to prosper and contribute to the welfare of South Africa.

About NSFAS (National Student Financial Aid Scheme) Bursaries 2020-2021
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme is offering bursaries to students who are studying in either a Public University or a TVET College in South Africa. This programme is allocated towards students originating from families with a total household income of ZAR 350.000 or less. Anyone under that situation is highly advised to give the National Student Financial Aid Scheme a try!

The NSFAS is an establishment directly under the Department of Higher Education, Science and Technology, as per the NSFAS Act (Act 56 of 1999). The main purpose behind this formation is to offer the necessary financial support towards underprivileged students who required a great push to continue their education in any public university or TVET college. On top of receiving financial aid, selected grantees will also be eligible for mentorship and training sessions as well.

To all current university/TVET college students already funded by NSFAS
NSFAS is currently having all of the information provided from your respective higher education institutions taken into their records. From there on, announcements will be made to the student-centered model. Candidates will be given further information from the committee through SMS/postal carriage after your details have been recorded on their end.

To all current university/TVET college students, who are not funded by NSFAS, but intend to apply for NSFAS assistance
Any of the students that have been listed, including any individual that has been granted an external government-funded bursary prior to the NSFAS, is eligible to sign up for the NSFAS bursary programme (applies to both university and TVET college applicants).

All the above mentioned students – including those who were previously on a government funded bursary programme not offered by NSFAS – can apply for NSFAS financial assistance for those who will be studying at a university and for those who will be studying at a TVET College.

Selected grantees of the NSFAS Bursary will be entitled to a series of financial funding that will provide coverage for the following student-related items, such as:

  • Accommodation costs which could go up to ZAR 24.000/year (urban area), ZAR 18.000/year (peri-urban area), ZAR15.000/year (rural area)
  • Allowance for their personal needs
  • Any expenses that are required by the university
  • Transportation costs (within a distance of up to 40km) which could go up to ZAR 10.000/year
  • Living expenses which could go up to ZAR 14.400/year
  • Prescribed study materials which could go up to ZAR 5.000/year
  • Incidental expenses of up to ZAR2.750/year

NSFAS (National Student Financial Aid Scheme) Bursary Requirements
To sign up for the NSFAS Bursary, there are a list of eligibility criteria that must be taken note of. All of these items that have been published below shows great importance in determining whether you are well-deserving enough of the progarmme. In order to guarantee success, it is advised that you have all of these things below met. Failure to do so may cause disadvantageous consequences towards the overall results of your application process.

The NSFAS Bursary Requirements are as follows:

  • Officially recognized as a citizen of South Africa
  • If your are an SASS grantee, you may sign up for this bursary
  • Currently admitted to, or is planning to enroll in a PLP, NC(V) or Report 191 course if you are a student of a TVET College in South Africa
  • Candidates’ household income must not exceed ZAR 122.000 per year
  • Has proof of requiring financial aid (this will be determined by NSFAS as well)
  • Students who are renewing their bursary must be able to maintain their academic track record (as per the Bursary Rule and Guidelines)
  • Is not admitted into any course that is a duplicate of their prior state-funded education
  • Should they be under the ZAR350.000/year category of gross income and are enrolled in any tertiary institution, they are allowed to participate in the bursary
  • If the candidate is a person with a disability: combined household income must not exceed ZAR600.000/year

Students are not allowed to sign up for the bursary programme if they:

  • Have signed up for the bursary (complete with a legitimate application reference number)
  • Have signed up for the bursary, passed the applications, and is already granted funding – candidates are automatically given financial assistance on the condition that they maintain their academic track record
  • Does not have any plans in registering in a public university or TVET College
  • Has previously been funded by the NSFAS
  • Not recognized as an official citizen of South Africa (recognized as a foreginer)
  • Has a combined household income that exceeds ZAR350.000/year

Postgraduate students may apply for the bursary as well, provided they are taking up any of these listed courses below:

  • B Tech – Biokinetics/Biomedical Technology/Biotechnology
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting
  • B Tech – Architecture/Architectural Technology
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Education
  • LLB.

How to Apply NSFAS (National Student Financial Aid Scheme) Bursary 2020-2021
It’s time to being your NSFAS Bursary applications! To get started, all interested candidates must visit the Official NSFAS Website. Once you have reached the website, candidates must first make an online account, which will then be used to access your application form. This process alone doesn’t take half an hour. Additionally, there are a couple of documents that candidates will need to prepare as well for the applications, such as:

  • A valid Matric Certificate
  • A valid South African Identity Document/Card, or your birth certificate
  • Your parents’/guardians Identity Documents (or death certificates)
  • Identity Documents of the residents in your household
  • Any letter of employment, pay advise, or pension advise that does not exceed the age limit of three months
  • Your most recent academic transcript
  • Valid proof of your parent’s household income (if they are employed)
  • Valid death certificates of your parents (if they have passed on)
  • Valid doctor’s certificates (if they are permanently disabled).

Please make sure that you have all of the documents above scanned and uploaded onto your personal online account. Once you have begun your applications, you will not be able to save it if you have any missing information or document. Therefore, you will need to restart the entire process once again.

After you are sure that all of your documents are compiled, it’s time to follow these application instructions below:

  1. Access the Official NSFAS Website
  2. Click on the myNSFAS tab
  3. Click “Register”
  4. Tick the box (this will allow the NSFAS to verify your credentials)
  5. Capture your Identity Document Number
  6. Put in your complete, full names, surnames as per accordingly
  7. Put in your e-mail address
  8. Confirm your e-mail address (your e-mail address will be your username)
  9. Put in your cell phone number
  10. Create a password
  11. Confirm your newly-made password
  12. Upload copies of your Identity Documents (both sides of the Identity Document Card must be uploaded)
  13. Click “Register”
  14. The OTP will be sent to the e-mail address and the cell phone number that you have put in for your registration
  15. Put in your OTP, then click “Submit”
  16. Congratulations! You have finished your re-registration. All you need to do now is wait for your Reference Number to be sent to you.

Important Notes

  • All applications must have a consent form attached to it – the consent form itself must be signed by all participating individuals
  • Bursaries will only be offered to students who have met the requirements of being admitted to a higher education institution
  • Applicants must select the course of their choice in any public university/TVET college
  • All cell phone numbers that are provided must be active – if a candidate is unable to be reached through their phone numbers, the committee will not be held responsible
  • All applicants must already have their own e-mail addresses
  • All applications must be sent in before the closing date – all late applications will automatically be disqualified from the application procedure

Application Cycles

  • National Certificate Vocation (NC(v)), Semester 1 and Trimester 1 – Annual – online application and walk in assistive capture application at the beginning of each year
  • Trimester 2 & 3 as per DHET calendar, in May and September respectively , also Walk in assistive capture application
  • Semester 2 June – July walk in, assistive capture application.

Applicants who would like to register for a TVET funding may do so online, the TVET College Bursary Offices, or NSFAS Head Offices. Should you not be successful with your applications, you may still stand a chance to appeal your NSFAS funding decision, which will be communicated even further. Last but not least, selected students will have their NSFAS registration fees paid by NSFAS themselves (limited number of students only.)

NSFAS Contact Address
Office Address:
10 Brodie Road, House Vincent 2nd Floor, Wynberg, Cape Town 7700

Mail Address:
Private Bag X1, Plumstead 7801, South Africa

Tel: +27 80 006 7327
Fax:
Email: [email protected]
Site: http://www.nsfas.org.za/

Source: NSFAS; Author: Larxsati; Editor: Melisa; Picture: nsfas.org.za.

Related: NSFAS Learnership | NSFAS Internship | NSFAS Job Vacancy.

6 thoughts to “NSFAS (National Student Financial Aid Scheme) Bursary Programmes 2020-2021”

  1. Im sphelele i finished grade 12 on the year of 2017 i would like to apply for Nasfas so that i can continue study further.i dont have anyone who can assist me because no one is warking at home who can pay for my fees.i want apply for next year 2021.

  2. Im sphelele i finished grade 12 on the year of 2017 i would like to apply for Nasfas so that i can continue study further.i dont have anyone who can assist me because no one is warking at home who can pay for my fees.i want apply for next year 2021.

  3. Hey
    I finished my matric 2017 I have been Trying to apply for NSFAS but I never got a response please assist

  4. Hy , I am a learner who is doing grade 12 and I would like to apply for NASfas because no one is working in my family and I am good in Mathematics , Life science and Physics . I want to apply for next year .

    1. Hi I’m SELWANE MORWAMAKWADI DONALD I’ve passed my matric last year,I want to apply for NSFAS so that it can fund me through my studies next yearsince my mother is not working

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