The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) administers the NSFAS bursary which is the primary funding our government provides for higher education students. Now, will students from the University of Fort Hare (UFH) be funded?
NSFAS funds studies done through one of the country's 26 public Universities or TVET Colleges and caters to students from poor and working class backgrounds. Applicants must also be South African citizens.
So, if you attend one of those institutions, and you have a household income coming to below R350 000 a year, you will most likely be funded. This means, yes, UFH students are funded.
If you're a student with a disability the household income threshold is then R600 000 or below.
Students and prospective students who are beneficiaries of SASSA grants immediately qualify to be funded.
The NSFAS bursary covers the following:
- Registration
- Tuition
- Food
- Accommodation or transport
- Learning material
- Personal care
NSFAS applications usually open around August/September and will close in November/December.
These applications can be done online, at NSFAS walk-in centres, at a National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) office or a teachers' centre.
Applicants will need to have the following to apply:
- Applicants ID document/card or birth certificate
- ID of parents/ guardian/ spouse (or death certificate where applicable)
- Applicants proof of income (if applicable and should not be older than 3 months)
- Parents/ guardian/ spouse pay advice/ letter of employment/ pension advice stating income (if applicable and should not be older than 3 months.
- Vulnerable children must provide a completed and signed Vulnerable Child Declaration Form.
- Applicants with a disability must provide a Disability Annexure A Form
- Applicants must sign and submit a Consent form
- SASSA slips are not required and SASSA should not be included as a household income
NSFAS does not have an age limit, they will just not fund you if it's your second degree. Postgraduate qualifications will also not be funded, along with short courses and courses done through private colleges.
If you want to know more about the NSFAS bursary, click here to visit the NSFAS website.
