The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is a vital lifeline for many South African students who need funding to pursue tertiary education. However, not everyone who applies for NSFAS funding will be approved.
NSFAS provides comprehensive bursaries and student loans to deserving learners enrolled in approved courses at universities and TVET colleges. This includes money for tuition and registration fees as well as several allowances for food, accommodation and learning materials
When a NSFAS application is declined, the applicant has the right to submit an appeal. The NSFAS appeal must be submitted within 30 days of receiving NSFAS’s decision.
Therefore, as soon as your application is declined, you can submit an appeal. This will then indicate to NSFAS that you want your NSFAS application to be reconsidered.
2025 NSFAS Appeals Guide
Exceeding Income Threshold: When You Can Appeal
Students who exceeded NSFAS’s income threshold may still appeal if they meet certain criteria. Here are situations where an appeal may be considered:
- If your household's financial situation has changed since you submitted your NSFAS application, you can appeal. For example, if there was a significant reduction in income or a loss of employment for the primary breadwinner, provide evidence to support your appeal.
- If the main income contributor in your household has become incapacitated or has passed away since the initial application, you may be eligible for reconsideration. Documentation, such as medical certificates or a death certificate, is necessary for this type of appeal.
- If a court has declared you independent from your biological parents and removed their legal responsibility to cover your educational costs, you can present this court order to support your NSFAS appeal.
- For students from child-headed households, an appeal can be submitted with supporting documentation from a registered social worker with the Department of Social Development to verify this situation.
- If your parents are divorced and a court has legally assigned financial responsibility for your education to only one parent who meets NSFAS’s income eligibility criteria, you may qualify for an appeal. A copy of the divorce decree outlining this financial arrangement will be necessary.
Why Your NSFAS Application May Be Rejected
NSFAS uses data from SARS and credit bureaus to verify household income. Appeals are likely to be rejected if your income exceeds the threshold of R350,000 (or R600,000 for students with disabilities). Appeals may also be rejected if your declared income was inaccurate or does not match third-party data from SARS or credit bureaus.
Who Cannot Submit a NSFAS Appeal
- Students are not permitted to appeal if they are registered for a qualification that NSFAS does not fund.
- Applicants may not appeal if they are gap year students whom NSFAS previously denied financial aid because they did not meet the academic eligibility criteria.
- Students cannot submit a NSFAS appeal if their institution has not submitted their registration record to NSFAS or has submitted an incorrect registration record. Such enquiries should be directed to the institution.
- If the student has exceeded the N+Rule, they may not appeal.
NSFAS appeals are subject to budget availability. Appeals will only be considered for students who has applied to NSFAS for Financial Aid.
