The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) provides NSFAS bursaries to students who come from poor and working class backgrounds. This includes TVET College students.
NSFAS funds individuals studying at any of the 50 public TVET Colleges in South Africa.
If you're a TVET College student wanting to apply for NSFAS funding, here are the NSFAS requirements for you:
- Must be a South African citizen
- Must be registered or intending to register on a PLP, NC(V) or Report 191 programme
- Must be in need of financial assistance (NSFAS will determine whether or not a student meets the financial eligibility criteria)
- Returning students must demonstrate proven and accepted academic performance (academically deserving) in line with the College’s progression policy or the progression prescriptions of the Bursary Rules and Guidelines (whichever is higher)
- Students must comply with the N+Rule
- Must not be enrolling for a qualification that duplicates previous learning that was state-funded
- Applicants will qualify if they fall within the maximum threshold of up to R350,000 of combined gross family income per annum and are admitted/received a firm offer for enrolment in a College.
Its important to note that a NSFAS bursary may only be awarded to students progressing to the next NC(V) level if they passed at least five subjects in the previous NC (V) level. A bursary may only be awarded to students progressing to the next Report 191 level if they passed a minimum of three subjects in the previous N-Level.
The TVET college N+ Rule is based on NSFAS funded academic terms at TVET Colleges.
The additional NSFAS funded academic term may be for repeating at any level from the entry academic term to exit the academic term.
The policy notes that the N+ Rule does not apply to occupational programmes as “these programmes are aligned to employment contracts which do not make provision for the N+1 period of study.
TVET College students studying occupational programmes can only be funded for the cost of tuition for the duration of the qualification. Allowances for TVET college students studying occupational programmes can only be considered subject to clause 5.4.4 of this Eligibility Criteria.
When NSFAS applications are open and you meet the NSFAS criteria, you can apply at TVET college bursary offices, Online through myNSFAS or at the NSFAS head office.
TVET College will have their registration and tuition fees paid for as well as receive NSFAS allowances for transport, accommodation and personal needs.
