The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) provides comprehensive bursaries and student loans to deserving students. These students must be registered in an approved course at a public university or Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges.
NSFAS funding includes the money for tuition and registration fees. They also include several NSFAS allowances for students that aim to cover the costs students will incur during their quest to obtain a tertiary education qualification.
Whether you are benefitting from a NSFAS bursary or a NSFAS missing middle student loan, many of the rules remain the same. This includes the actions students must take if they transfer from a TVET college to a university or vice versa.
How NSFAS Works If You Transfer From TVET College To University
Students who transfer from a TVET college to a university or vice versa are referred to as continuing students.
A continuing student is defined as a previously supported by NSFAS in the last academic term, currently enrolled in an accredited program at an institution and remains eligible both financially and academically, excluding those progressing through academic pathways, attaining their first undergraduate degree, or transitioning between institution types (e.g., from a TVET College to a University or vice versa).
This has been differentiated from a returning student, who is a senior student and was not funded by the NSFAS in the immediate prior academic term and needs to re-apply for funding.
Due to them falling into the continuing student category, they will need to really for NSFAS funding.
Students who change institution types (i.e., shift from TVET College to University or vice versa) must re-apply for funding
It's important a student can only be funded for one qualification at one institution at any one time. Students can't be funded for two courses at the same time. NSFAS will also only fund a students first qualification.