The National Student Financial Aid Scheme, better known as NSFAS, offers bursaries to South African students who plan to study at public universities and TVET colleges. They cover funding for registration, tuition and allowances.
The question is, do people with jobs qualify for the bursary?
In the NSFAS requirements it states that those with a combined household income of not more than R350 000 per year qualify for the bursary.
Therefore if a prospective student has a job and their income combined with the total income of those they share a household with, exceeds R350 000 per year they will not qualify for the NSFAS bursary. However, if it is R350 000 or less they will qualify.
Some students find that their combined household income exceeds the threshold income but they still can't afford to pay their fees. These students are labelled as the 'missing middle'. However, NSFAS has responded and said that they are working with the government to look into how they can assist in providing funding to students who fall under those categories.
NSFAS requires certified copies not older than 3 months, of the proof of your household income in the form of pay advice, a letter of employment or pension advice. This is so that they can make sure that you meet the requirements.
The other requirements are as follows:
- You're a South African citizen
- If you're a SASSA grant recipient, you qualify for funding
- Person with disability: Combined household income must not be more than R600 000 per year
Application results will be communicated to all applicants once NSFAS received confirmation from the Institution that an academic offer has been made to you.
Once approved for the bursary, the only requirement to stay funded is that students need to pass their modules. However, NSFAS does give grace in case something happens and allows students to fail one year and still be funded.
For more information on NSFAS visit there site www.nsfas.org.za.
