The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is a bursary program in South Africa that provides financial assistance to students who are interested in pursuing higher education, but who may not have the financial means to do so. The bursary offers two types of funding: university funding and TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) college funding.
NSFAS funding goes beyond just covering tuition fees. Eligible students can receive assistance with tuition fees, accommodation fees, transport allowances, living allowances, book allowances, and incidental or personal care allowances. This can help students cover the costs of their education and related expenses, such as books, housing, and transportation.
To be eligible for NSFAS funding, students must meet certain criteria, such as demonstrating financial need and meeting certain academic requirements. It is recommended that students interested in applying for NSFAS funding familiarize themselves with the eligibility requirements and application process, and submit their applications as soon as possible.
You qualify to apply for a bursary if:
- You are a South African citizen;
- Your combined annual household income does not exceed R350 000 per annum;
- You are a SASSA grant recipient;
- You are registering for the first time for an undergraduate qualification at a public university or you are registered at a TVET college for one of the National Certificate Vocational or report 191 programmes;
- You are applying to study at a public university or TVET college for a qualification;
- You are an already registered university student with an annual household income of less than R122 000 per year;
- You have passed Grade 9 & 10 to receive NSFAS funding to study at a TVET college;
- You have passed Grade 12 to receive NSFAS funding to study at a university.
What does the bursary cover?
- Accommodation in an urban area is R24,000 per annum
- Accommodation in a peri-urban area is R18,900 per annum
- Accommodation in a rural area is R15,750 per annum
- Transport (up to 40 km from the institution) R7,350 per annum
- Transport R7000 per annum
- Incidental/personal care allowance R2900 per annum
NSFAS Allowance Amount
| NSFS ALLOWANCE CATEGORY | ANNUAL AMOUNT | SELF-CATERED/CATERED RES |
|---|---|---|
| Study Materials (Once Off) | R5,200 | R5,200 |
| Accommodation (Max) | R5,617 (Private) | |
| Living Allowance | R15,000 | R1,500 |
| Incidental Allowance | R2,900 | R290 |
| Travel | R7,500 | R750 (Home) |
How to Apply for NSFAS Online 2023
If you would like to apply for NSFAS 2023, follow the steps outlined below:
- You have to visit the NSFAS website: www.nsfas.org.za online
- Then, you have to click on the “myNSFAS” tab
- After that, you create your myNSFAS account
- After creating myNSFAS account, you then have to click on the “Apply” tab
- Answer the following questions you see on your screen
- Update all your personal information
- Upload all the required supporting documents
- Lastly, Click on “Submit” to send your application for review.