The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has released a list of revised bursary requirements, which includes changes to the financial and academic eligibility criteria. These changes affect university students funded by NSFAS.
The financial eligibility criteria changes affect university students who first registered for funding before 2018. As of the 2022 academic year, NSFAS will apply a combined household income threshold of R350 000 to all students who first registered for funding before 2018.
Students are reminded that those who were denied funding in the 2021 academic year because their combined household income was more than R122 000 but less than R350 000 will not automatically qualify for funding for the 2022 academic year. These students will need to reapply for funding.
All continuing university students (not first-time entry students) who are funded by NSFAS will need to meet the ongoing academic eligibility criteria to continue receiving funding from NSFAS. This rule now applies to all students who registered at a university in 2018 or later.
Those who were not first-time entry students in 2022 will need to pass the number of courses as specified in the course pass rate table. As of the 2023 academic year, this rule will apply to all students.
Students who do not pass the specified number of courses will no longer receive funding. These students may however appeal the decision.
The appeal should follow the appeal criteria as specified by NSFAS. Students will be informed about the results of their appeal either via their myNSFAS portal or via email.
