The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is a bursary that goes beyond your tuition fees. Are you wanting to become a Sefako Makgatho University (SMU) student or already are and you're wondering if they'll cover you? We have the answers you need.
NSFAS provides bursaries to students who study at one of South Africa's 26 Public Universities or 50 TVET Colleges. This means that should you be studying at SMU or you're wanting to, you will be funded.
You will be funded as long as you're doing a full-time undergraduate course.
The NSFAS bursary will cover your tuition fees along with your registration, books, accommodation, transport, meals and other living expenses.
Who qualifies for the NSFAS funding?
- Any South African citizen who is currently studying or plans on studying at a public university or TVET college.
- The combined household income of the applicant who has registered at a public institution from 2018 or plans to register in 2020 for the first time must not exceed R350 000 per annum
- The combined household income of an applicant who has registered prior to 2018 must not exceed R122 000 per annum
- The combined household income of persons with disabilities must not exceeding R600 000 per annum
- SASSA grant recipients immediately qualify
NSFAS applications open around August/September every year and will then close in November/December.
NSFAS is tasked with ensuring that no deserving student is barred from achieving their dreams due to their poor financial background. NSFAS administers funding for potential professionals from poor and working-class families who can’t afford study fees on behalf of the Department of Higher Education, Science and Technology.
To learn more about NSFAS, head to the NSFAS website here.
