The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) funds thousands of university and TVET College students annually. The government bursary scheme revealed how the N+ Rule will be affected when a student changes their course.
Funding provided by NSFAS covers tuition and registration fees. Students also receive several allowances for food, accommodation, transport and learning materials.
The N+ Rule sets the maximum duration for which a student may receive NSFAS funding. Once a student exceeds this limit, they become ineligible for financial aid.
How The N+ Rule Works If You Change Your Course
NSFAS explained that the N+ Rule is applied to the specific qualification a student is registered for during a given academic term. This means the "N" may change if a student switches qualifications from one term to the next.
The N+ rule is applied to the qualification that the student is registered for in the relevant academic term. The N thus changes for students who change qualifications from one academic term to the next.
If a student changes their qualification and the remaining N period is not sufficient to complete the new programme, they will not receive NSFAS funding.
Where a student has changed their qualification and the remaining N does not accommodate the time required to complete the different qualification, the student will no longer receive NSFAS funding.
N+ Rule For Institutions
The University N+ Rule is based on the number of years a student is registered in higher education. For distance university students, the N period is doubled due to the challenges of remote learning.
In the instance of distance university students studying at a non-contact university, the N period of study equates to double the minimum time required to complete the qualification.
Students with disabilities qualify for an N+2 extension, recognising the additional challenges they may face in completing their studies.
The TVET College N+ Rule is based on NSFAS-funded academic terms. Additional funding may be granted to repeat any academic term, from entry to exit level.
The N+ Rule does not apply to occupational programmes, as these are tied to employment contracts that do not accommodate the N+1 period.
