The University of South Africa (Unisa) has announced that there is currently a delay in funding confirmation for students from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (Nsfas). This is subsequently having a negative impact on the institution’s plans to start the academic year.
Unisa recently announced that there has been a delay in the confirmation of 2023 Nsfas funding applications. This means that the university is unable to verify if students who applied to study at the institution have funding for the academic year.
The institution says management is negotiating with the Nsfas management to finalise the process of sending the funding list. This as the delay is currently delaying Unisa from commencing with teaching for the upcoming academic year.
“Unisa management is engaging with Nsfas management to finalise the process and to make Nsfas aware of the negative impact this delay is having on the academic calendar,” declared the university.
The university said further information will be communicated to new and returning Nsfas-funded students as soon as it becomes available.
Unisa advised returning students who were previously funded by Nsfas to ensure that they are temporarily registered during Unisa's registration period while waiting for Nsfas funding confirmation for the 2023 academic year.
Continuing students whose 2023 Nsfas applications were declined are advised to pay the Unisa minimum fees while they await their Nsfas appeal decisions.
First-time Nsfas applicants are required to temporarily register for their Unisa course while they await Nsfas funding confirmation. If their Nsfas application is declined or delayed by the time the registration period closes, they will be required by Unisa to find alternative funding before their registration is activated.
“If your Nsfas application is provisionally approved, you do not need to pay the minimum registration fee. Your registration will be automatically activated based on NSFAS funding confirmation received by Unisa,” added the university.
Unisa said all Nsfas-funded students who pay the minimum registration amount to activate their registration will be refunded once their funding is confirmed by Nsfas. The refund will only be processed once Nsfas confirms successful processing of the registration data to Unisa.
Students are not required to apply for their refunds.
RELATED: Download the NSFAS Consent Form.
