NSFAS officially opened its application period on 28 September, 2022.
The financial aid provider is getting started earlier this year with applications to offer applicants enough time to submit, along with supporting documentation, stated Minister of Higher Education, Blade Nzimande, in a media briefing.
Applications for funding from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) for the 2023 academic year will close on 31 January 2023.
Goals of NSFAS Bursary
The NSFAS bursary ensures that students from poor and working-class households can access public universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges without having financial barriers.
One notable change set to come to NSFAS is the plan for higher education institutions to have the funds available ahead of their reopening in late January/early February.
Institutions usually receive the money from Treasury in April, a few months after students have already begun with their academics.
The change will then allow institutions to have money ready before the academic year begins, in order to fund NSFAS qualifying students if the change is implemented.
How To Apply For NSFAS Bursaries
Funding applications can be submitted on the NSFAS portal, myNSFAS. NSFAS has also developed additional channels which students can use to apply for funding, including a mobile application, USSD and WhatsApp.
Students will be able to view the progress of their funding applications and cancel their applications on these channels, these features were previously only available on the NSFAS website.
Bursaries from NSFAS cover tuition and accommodation fees for students who are approved for funding and are registered at tertiary education intuitions. These students will also receive meal, transport and textbook allowances.
