The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is a government entity that falls under the Department of Higher Education and Training.
NSFAS offers financial aid to students who cannot afford to pay for their studies at Universities and TVET colleges.
The NSFAS requirements states that those who experience financial constraints which does not allow them to fund their own studies, such as those people who are SASSA recipients qualify for funding from NSFAS.
This is because it indicates that financial assistance is needed.
Receiving a grant from SASSA indicates to bursaries that the prospective bursary recipient is coming from a disadvantaged background. This is because the means test used by SASSA to determine whether a person’s income is low enough to qualify for grants, corresponds to the income requirements of bursaries.
Therefore those who receive money from SASSA would be able to apply for and receive the NSFAS bursary. Some bursaries do require SASSA grant recipients to provide proof such as a grant letter however NSFAS only requires them to provide their SASSA details.
Minister Blade Nzimande has said that applicants for NSFAS who have benefited from the Child Support Grant will be fast tracked to approval for NSFAS funding. They will also be able to apply for university or TVET College places without having to worry about paying application fees for those institutions.
