NSFAS funding, through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, has helped millions of disadvantaged students gain access to further education at any of the 50 TVET colleges or 26 public universities in South Africa. A NSFAS bursary allocates money for accomodation, living allowance, transport and learning materials.
NSFAS has a funding criteria that an applicant needs to meet in order to qualify. After the #FeesMustFall campaign these NSFAS requirements changed.
The requirments for NSFAS funding are as follows:
- Must be a South African Citizen
- Sassa Grant Recipients qualify immediately
- Combined household income of R350 000 or less per annum
- If you are living with a disability, you need to have a combined household income of R600 000 or less per annum
If you are a returning student from 2018 and you meet pre-2018 academic and financial requirements, you will still be considered. Students who started studying before 2018 are required to have a household income that does not exceed R122 000 per year.
Allowances for accomodation, transport, living allowance and leanring materials differ for Universities and TVET Colleges.
The allowances for University are as follows:
- Accommodation: As per the actual costs charged by the university, costs for private accommodation must not exceed costs for university residence
- Transport (up to 40 km from institution) R7 500 per annum
- Living allowance R15, 000 per annum
- Book allowances R5200 per annum
- Incidental/personal care allowance R2900 per annum for students in catered residences
The allowances for TVET colleges are as follows:
- Accommodation in an urban area R24,000 per annum
- Accommodation in an peri-urban area R18,900 per annum
- Accommodation in an rural area R15,750 per annum
- Transport (up to 40 km from institution) R7,350 per annum
- Transport R7000 per annum
- Incidental/personal care allowance R2900 per annum
Students who have previously studied without NSFAS funding or who are in their second year of studying can also apply as long as they have not recieved any other types of funding, however if you have previously completed a qualification you cannot apply.
