The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) provides comprehensive bursaries and student loans to those individuals who can't afford to pay to further their studies. This NSFAS funding targets those coming from poor and working-class backgrounds.
NSFAS funding extends to both students from universities and TVET Colleges. The funding not only includes money for tuition and registration fees but also includes several allowances for food, accommodation and learning materials.
However, not all students will require accommodation allowances as they live with relatives. These students are entitled to an NSFAS transport allowance.
How The NSFAS Transport Allowance Works
NSFAS provides accommodation allowances that assist students pay the transportation costs to travel to and from campus and ensure they can attend classes regularly.
Students who live with a relative, but not in private accommodation, are eligible for a transport allowance.
For students who live 10 kilometres away from their campus, the allowance structure is slightly different.
If the institution has not arranged travel for these students, they qualify for a transport allowance which will be paid directly to them. This ensures that students can manage their transportation costs independently when institutional support is not available
However, in cases where the institution has made travel arrangements for students living 10 kilometres away from campus, the transport allowance will be paid to the institution instead.
Overall, NSFAS's policy stipulates that when transport is managed by the institution, the allowance will be paid to the institution. Alternatively, if no such arrangements exist, the transport allowance will be paid directly to the student.
Who Qualifies For NSFAS?
To qualify for NSFAS funding, the most important eligibility criteria is a combined gross household income of R350,000 or less annually for a bursary, and R600,000 or less for a loan. If the total household income exceeds these thresholds, the student does not qualify for NSFAS support.
Additionally, NSFAS funding is exclusively available to South African citizens. Students must also be enrolled in an approved course at a public university or TVET college.
