The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is a bursary scheme which provides financial aid to South African students who are pursuing their studies at a public university or TVET colleges.
Eligibility Criteria For NSFAS
NSFAS has eligibility criteria which applicants must meet in order to qualify for the bursary. If these criteria are not met then students may receive a rejected application status.
Applications may be rejected for many reasons. If a student feels as though they have been rejected for a reason that is unfair, they may lodge an appeal to NSFAS.
Here Are The Documents Needed For A NSFAS Appeal
Income Greater Than R350 000 or Income Greater Than R600 000 (First-time Entering Student)
- Combined household income is below threshold:
- Proof of Income (Payslip)
- Change of Income:
- Retrenchment Letter
- Letter of Termination
- UIF indicating unemployed or incapacity
- Deceased parent/guardian/spouse:
- Death certificate for parent/guardian/spouse
- Sassa Beneficiary:
- Sassa letter
- Applicant is independent of their biological parents:
- Court order which shows that the applicant is declared as independent of their biological parents
- Only one parent is responsible for the applicant's cost of education:
- Divorce decree document which indicates that the cost of education is restricted to one parent.
Income Greater Than R350 000 or Income Greater Than R600 000 (Returning Student)
- Combined household income is below threshold:
- ITA34 for all listed parents/guardians/spouse issued from SARS
- Retrenchment Letter
- Letter of Termination
- UIF indicating unemployed or incapacity
- Death certificate for parent/guardian/spouse
- Student is independent of their biological parents:
- ITA34 for all listed parents/guardians/spouse issued from SARS
- Court order which shows that the applicant is declared as independent of their biological parents
- Only one parent is responsible for the student's cost of education
- Divorce decree document which indicates that the cost of education is restricted to one parent.
Academic Ineligibility As A Result of N+ Rule Exceeded
- Student was ill for 2 or more months:
- Letter from institution which shows that the student is able to complete their qualification within one additional academic term.
- Medical report which shows the severe ill health for 2 or more months during the academic term or during examinations.
- Student gave birth during the academic term:
- Letter from institution which shows that the student is able to complete their qualification within one additional academic term.
- Medical report which shows that the student was pregnant and gave birth during the academic term.
- The student's disability affected their studies:
- Letter from institution which shows that the student is able to complete their qualification within one additional academic term.
- Medical report which shows that the student failed to complete their academic term due to the nature of their disability.
- Death of an immediate family member during the academic year:
- Letter from institution which shows that the student is able to complete their qualification within one additional academic term.
- Death certificate for an immediate family member during the academic year.
- Student was subject to a violent crime:
- Letter from institution which shows that the student is able to complete their qualification within one additional academic term.
- Proof that the student was subject to a violent crime.
- Student needs to complete less than 3 subjects to complete their Report 191 qualification:
- Letter from institution which shows that the student is able to complete their qualification within one additional academic term.
- Letter from the TVET college indicating that the student is required to complete less than 3 subjects to complete their Report 191 qualification.
- Student needs less than 4 subjects to complete their NC(V) qualification:
- Letter from institution which shows that the student is able to complete their qualification within one additional academic term.
- Letter from the TVET college indicating that the student is required to complete less than 4 subjects to complete their NC(V) qualification.
How To Submit A NSFAS Appeal
Students must submit an appeal using the myNSFAS portal and they are usually given 30 days to appeal their rejection application status upon receiving the decision from NSFAS.
After submitting an appeal applicants should track their NSFAS appeal to find the outcome.
