The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is set to support over 1.2 million deserving students in the upcoming 2024 academic year. Despite this, hundreds of thousands of bursary applications have been turned down by the scheme.
NSFAS provides extensive financial assistance, including bursaries and student loans, to eligible students enrolled in accredited programs at public universities and TVET colleges. This support encompasses tuition, registration fees, and various allowances for students.
The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) revealedthat out of 1.9 million bursary applications for 2024, 1.2 million were approved. Additionally, 230,669 applications were rejected, prompting individuals to pursue NSFAS appeals if desired.
DHET clarified that many rejections were due to applicants surpassing the R350,000 household income threshold or exceeding the N+Rule.
Merely 8.3% of unsuccessful applicants are eligible to file a NSFAS appeal, amounting to 19,149 appeals received within a 30-day period from the rejection notification.
For those exceeding the household income limit, NSFAS recommends applying for its missing middle loans. The scheme received 30,728 loan applications before the February 15 deadline.
NSFAS has earmarked funding for 31,000 missing middle students, covering both undergraduate and postgraduate studies. The allocation prioritises STEM qualifications with 70%, while 30% is designated for social sciences.
