According to the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande, a total of 143 117 applicants were rejected for the 2022 National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) bursary. These students were denied because they did not meet the bursary requirements.
Reasons for NSFAS application rejection included deceased applicant as per the Department of Home Affairs record, household income exceeding the threshold, insufficient information provided in the application, the applicant already achieved an undergraduate degree, and invalid personal details provided. Applicants were also denied due to students exceeding the N+ rule.
The N+ rule states that NSFAS students are awarded an extra year of funding in the event that they fail one academic year. Exceeding the N+ rule means that the student failed more than one academic year.
Here are the number of students whose applications were declined for the following reasons:
- Applicant is deceased as per the Department of Home Affairs record - 4 students
- Household income exceeds the threshold - 48 549 students
- Insufficient information provided in the application - 65 233 students
- Applicant already achieved an undergraduate degree - 18 069 students
- Invalid personal details (ID number, names and surnames) provided - 16 students
- N+ rule exceeded - 10 525 students
- Not compliant with N+ rule (funding pathway) - 62 students
- Not compliant with academic eligibility criteria - 3 students
- Funded by another bursary - 656 students
Minister Nzimande stated that the Department produces the First-Time Entering Undergraduate Cohort Studies for Public Higher Education Institutions Report. This report provides a national overview of the dropout rates within the university sector annually.
The minister was asked whether the Department follows up on students whose NSFAS applications were denied to see if they were able to complete their studies. Nzimande replied that the Department does not follow up on students who have not succeeded.
However, the Department is considering doing tracer studies. These studies establish what graduates and those who have dropped out ended up doing.
