A big part of planning to study further is figuring out how to finance it. This is where the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) steps in.
NSFAS provides bursaries and loans to students who attend one of the 26 public universities or 50 TVET Colleges in South Africa. Funding for TVET College students does however differ to that of university students.
The academic schedules of TVET Colleges vary from those of universities and other institutions of higher education. Consequently, NSFAS will provide different application periods for TVET College students enrolled in programmes that do not follow the typical yearly structure.
NSFAS Trimester 3 Applications
NSFAS has now released the 2024 application dates for TVET Colleges. With this, they announced that NSFAS applications for Trimester 3 will open from 2 September 2024 and close on 20 September 2024.
This gives students just over two weeks to submit their NSFAS application.
How NSFAS Trimester 3 Applications Work
NSFAS has clarified that the NSFAS application process for all remaining cycles in 2024 will mirror the method used during the initial cycle of 2024. Consequently, students are advised to apply via the NSFAS website on the myNSFAS portal once applications become available.
Additionally, students may visit the financial aid office at their respective colleges for support with NSFAS applications.
NSFAS funding extends beyond tuition fees to encompass registration, accommodation, transportation, learning materials, and various other student necessities.
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme offers bursaries and loans to students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, including those from low-income and working-class families.
