NSFAS Appeals Guide - How To Submit A NSFAS Appeal

NSFAS Appeal Guide

NSFAS is the National Student Financial Aid Scheme which is a government loan and bursary fund for students through the NSFAS funding. NSFAS application and registration opens in the later part of the year for students with the NSFAS closing date usually being in the next calendar year.

How To Track Your myNSFAS Application Status: 

If you have submitted your funding application, you may be wondering what the outcome is. Fortunately, you can track the status of your NSFAS online application form on the NSFAS website in a few simple steps. Here is how to do a NSFAS status check for your application status.

1. Log in to your NSFAS account on the myNSFAS student portal here 
2. Enter your username and password and sign in
3. Click on Track Funding Progress 
4. You will then be able to track funding progress and check your NSFAS status

Once there, there are a number of results you might receive when doing a NSFAS status check while applying for NSFAS funding. You may encounter terms that you are unfamiliar with, so here is a breakdown.

What Your NSFAS Application Status Means

What's the use of being told to check NSFAS application status if you don't understand what you see on the NSFAS application system? Here's what your NSFAS bursary application status means.

• Application Submitted: This NSFAS status means that your NSFAS bursary online application has been loaded onto the NSFAS system successfully.
• Filtering: If you see this on the NSFAS portal, it means the system is checking if you are a returning student and whether you have any previous qualifications.
• Validation: NSFAS is conducting third-party checks with SASSA and the Department of Home Affairs.
• Evaluation: NSFAS is verifying all the documents you have submitted with your NSFAS applications.
• Funding Eligibility: NSFAS is verifying your household financial status that was declared in your application.
• Awaiting Academic Results/Admission: NSFAS is checking your academic results and your institution's admission status to ensure that you meet the requirements to be funded by NSFAS. Many find themselves staying on this step for a while. This is because NSFAS has to wait for information from your chosen institution.
• Awaiting Registration: NSFAS is receiving data from your institution to enable them to create a bursary agreement. This is another step students find themselves on for a while. This is because NSFAS has to wait for information from your chosen institution.
• Signing Of Agreement: At this stage, you need to sign your bursary agreement so that NSFAS can disburse your allowances.
• Payments: Your allowances are now being paid either through NSFAS mobile wallet system or through your institution. Students are advised to continue to monitor the myNSFAS portal for updates.

If you need help with your NSFAS application, you can visit your university or college's financial aid office.

What Does NSFAS Funding Include?

NSFAS provides funding for student accommodation, transportation, books and stationery, living allowances, food allowances, as well as registration and tuition fees for TVET college and university students.

NSFAS was created with the aim of providing financial assistance to students from poorer and working-class families, to give them the opportunity to attend a university or TVET college and further their education.

You can contact NSFAS directly regarding any NSFAS funding queries or concerns you may have. If you're looking for NSFAS contact details or want to visit the NSFAS website at www nsfas org za, click here.

What To Do If Your Application Is Declined?

Should your NSFAS bursary application be declined, you can still have a second chance at receiving NSFAS funding. How? By submitting a NSFAS appeal. 

A NSFAS appeal allows you to request NSFAS to evaluate your NSFAS online application again. This NSFAS appeal must be submitted within 30 days of seeing the 'unsuccessful' NSFAS application status.

In order to appeal your NSFAS application, you must do so using the myNSFAS portal. You will then need to submit your appeal application along with the required information and documents.

Here's how to submit your NSFAS appeal:

1. Log into your “MyNSFAS" account on www.nsfas.org.za​
2. Click the 'Track Funding Progress' option
3. Check the application progress tabs
4. If your application status reflects an unsuccessful message, you may submit an appeal by clicking on the 'Submit Appeal Tab'
5. Once you are on the 'Application Appeal' page, you can see the reason for your unsuccessful application status
6. You are then able to choose the appeal reason
7. Then upload certified supporting documents to support your reason
8. Then click 'Submit Appeal'
9. You may now track the progress of the appeal on your myNSFAS account. 

It is important to note that NSFAS applicants who want to appeal will also need to complete and download a relevant propensity letter.

Here are the propensity letters available for download:

1. Failure to meet academic eligibility (PDF)
2. Appealing N+1 (PDF)
3. N+2 students with disability (PDF)
4. Registered for 50% or less (final year course credits) to complete (PDF)

Applicants are usually given 30 days to appeal their rejection application status upon receiving the decision from NSFAS. 

Related Article: Who Can Appeal A NSFAS Rejection?