The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has confirmed that almost all of the country’s 26 universities have successfully dispersed NSFAS allowances to students. Only one institution has not yet paid February 2024 NSFAS allowances to universities.
NSFAS provides comprehensive funding to deserving students enrolled in approved courses at universities in South Africa. This funding not only includes money for tuition and registration fees but also includes several allowances that students can use to cover costs associated with their studies.
In 2023, NSFAS began the implementation of the Direct NSFAS allowance payment system. This saw private companies take over the responsibility of paying NSFAS allowances to students instead of universities handling the allowance payment process.
While the system will continue to be used at institutions in 2024 despite several concerns, NSFAS diverted from using this payment system at the beginning of the 2024 academic year.
NSFAS announced that universities would facilitate the payment of allowances for February and March 2024. This includes various allowances such as those for books, accommodation, transport, food and personal care.
NSFAS says that 25 out of South Africa’s 26 universities have paid NSFAS allowances to students for February 2024.
Twenty-five (25), out of twenty-six (26) universities paid the February allowances as per their commitment dates. The allowances paid include the book, accommodation, transport, food and personal care allowances.
NSFAS thanks student representatives and institutions for their cooperation at the beginning of the 2024 academic year.
NSFAS is grateful for the cooperation from all the universities and the Student Representative Councils (SRCs), who ensured that the payment of the February allowances was implemented seamlessly. All the universities will also be handling the payment of the March allowance.
Why Unisa Did Not Pay Allowances
South Africa’s largest university, the University of South Africa (Unisa) is the one institution that has not yet disbursed allowances to students. NSFAS said the institution is consolidating which allowances students should receive.
The University of South Africa (UNISA) is finalising the process of determining allowances based on the number of modules registered by students.
Apart from being South Africa’s largest university, Unisa uses the Open Distance e-learning way of teaching. The institution is therefore classified as a distance learning institution.
This also means that the NSFAS allowances received by the institutions’ students also differ from that of other institutions. Students who study from home do not require an accommodation allowance or a travel allowance.
Why NSFAS Allowances Are Being Paid By Universities
The financial aid scheme said universities were also requested to allow direct payment service providers to conduct the process of onboarding students whilst they continue with payments.
Institutions are reminded to allow direct payment service providers to conduct the process of onboarding students whilst they continue with payments.
The direct payments of allowance for the 2024 academic year will commence in April 2024 and universities will administer the payment of allowances for only two months (February and March) because the 3rd allowances will be made on the direct payment platform.
No exceptions or deviations will be allowed.
March will be the final month that institutions are responsible for paying 2024 NSFAS allowances to students.
Universities are also reminded that direct payments of allowance for the 2024 academic year will commence in April 2024.
