Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges provide students with occupational and vocational training. This means that the student will receive education and training with a view to a specific range of technical jobs.
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (Nsfas) provides comprehensive bursaries to thousands of South African students, including those attending TVET colleges. They also provide bursaries to TVET college students enrolled in distance education or online courses.
This bursary includes Nsfas covering a student’s tuition and accommodation fees. Students also receive a transport allowance, personal care allowance and stationery allowance.
However, it's important to note that students enrolled in distance learning courses will not receive all these allowances. Nsfas only provides distance TVET college students with the personal care allowance.
To qualify for a Nsfas Bursary, a student must
- be a South African citizen;
- registered or intending to register on a PLP, NC(V) or Report 191 programme at any of the 50 public TVET Colleges in South Africa;
- be in need of financial assistance (Nsfas will determine whether or not a student meets the financial eligibility criteria);
- returning students must demonstrate proven and accepted academic performance (academically deserving) in line with the College’s progression policy or the progression prescriptions of the Bursary Rules and Guidelines (whichever is higher);
- not be enrolling for a qualification that duplicates previous learning that was state-funded;
- fall within the maximum threshold of up to R350,000 of combined gross family income per annum.
TVET college students can apply for Nsfas funding at a TVET college bursary office, online on the Nsfas website, or at the Nsfas head office.
