Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande, in alignment with the Department of Higher Education and Training's directives, has greenlit the 2024 NSFAS Eligibility Criteria and Conditions for financial aid.
This is a major development as the eligibility criteria indicate which students will be funded during the current academic year and the conditions under which they will retain their funding for subsequent years.
The newly approved criteria apply to students enrolled at Public Universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Colleges.
Noteworthy adjustments include the revised NSFAS accommodation caps and living allowances aimed at narrowing the gap between university and TVET college students. Additionally, stringent academic eligibility criteria underscore the importance of academic progression for students funded by NSFAS.
University Students
In 2024, continuing and First Time Entering Students (FTEN) university students must achieve a credit pass rate of 50%. Continuing and FTEN university students must achieve a course credit pass rate of 60% at the end of the 2024 academic year to succeed academically for the 2025 funding year.
This means that if students don't achieve a 60% course credit at the end of the 2024 academic year they will not receive NSFAS funding in 2025.
TVET College Students
TVET college students may only be awarded an NSFAS bursary if they pass at least five subjects in the previous NC(V) level and are progressing to the next NC(V) level.
For Report 191 programme/NATED programmes, a bursary may only be awarded to students progressing to the next Report 191 level if they passed a minimum of three subjects in the previous N-Level.
Academic progression criteria requirements for continuing students studying occupational programmes will be determined by TVET colleges, and the results shared with NSFAS.
General NSFAS Eligibility Requirements
In 2024, NSFAS-funded students who deregister or drop out during an academic term and wish to resume their studies in future academic terms must re-apply for funding.
Students who exceed the NSFAS N+Rule for university or TVET college will not be funded.
The university N+ Rule in 2024 will be based on the number of years a student is registered in the higher education sector while the TVET college N+ Rule is based on NSFAS-funded academic terms at TVET Colleges.
The additional NSFAS-funded academic term may be for repeating at any level from the entry academic term to exit the academic term.
It's important to note that the N+ Rule does not apply to occupational programmes as “these programmes are aligned to employment contracts which do not make provision for the N+1 period of study.
NSFAS funding is not intended and cannot be used to settle historic debt unless it is specified as such.
NSFAS 2024 Allowances
The 2024 NSFAS eligibility criteria and conditions for financial aid also confirm that NSFAS allowances will increase in 2024. The increased NSFAS allowances for 2024 were first revealed by Minister Nzimande in January 2024.
Students living in university-managed self-catering and private off-campus accredited accommodation will be capped at R50 000 in metro areas and R41 000 in all other areas per academic year, while university-managed and catered accommodation are capped at R66,500 in metros and R57,500 in other areas, per beneficiary.
TVET college managed and leased self-catered accommodation and private off-campus accredited accommodation will be capped at R50,000 in metros and R41,000 in other areas, whilst TVET college-owned catered residence will be capped at R60 000 in metros and R51 000 in other areas, per beneficiary.
In 2024, the living allowance will be R10 000 for TVET college students and R16,500 for university students per annum. This allowance is distributed to students monthly over ten months.
