The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) revealed that more than 58 000 students have been approved for funding for the 2023 academic year. These students submitted NSFAS appeals to the financial aid scheme after their initial funding applications were rejected by NSFAS.
NSFAS provides comprehensive bursaries to South African students from poor and working-class backgrounds. These bursaries enable students to obtain a tertiary education qualification from a public university or Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college.
In 2023, its was revealed that more than a million students enrolled at universities and TVET colleges in South Africa are receiving NSFAS bursaries. However, many students who applied to receive the government bursary in 2023 were rejected from receiving funding.
Students whose 2023 NSFAS applications were unsuccessful are allowed to submit an NSFAS Appeal Application. NSFAS will consider these appeal applications and make a final decision on whether or not to fund students.
NSFAS says more than 170 000 appeal applications have been processed. These students were initially rejected from receiving the NSFAS bursary because they did not meet the NSFAS financial and academic requirements to be considered for funding.
NSFAS has received a total of 170 683 appeals from FTEN and Returning students. These are a mixture of financial and academic eligibility appeals.
At least 58 924 of these appeal applicants have been approved for funding by NSFAS. However, NSFAS upheld their decision to reject funding applications from at least 6 337 students.
NSFAS has concluded and funded 58 924 students of all appeals received and rejected 6 337 applicants.
The financial aid scheme also revealed that thousands of students submit invalid appeal applications. NSFAS appeal applications are invalid if the application was withdrawn or deleted by the student or if the student submitted multiple appeal applications.
There are 28 971 appeals that are deemed invalid, and these consist of withdrawn, deleted and duplicated appeals.
Students whose NSFAS appeals are successful receive comprehensive funding from NSFAS. In addition to the payment of registration and tuition fees, NSFAS will also provide funded students with several allowances to cover costs students will incur while they study.
NSFAS provides students with an accommodation allowance, a living allowance and a learning material allowance. Students who do not reside in accommodation facilities may receive a transport allowance.
