The National Student Financial Aid Scheme has advised its student funding applicants to make sure that they fill out all areas of their application form and attach all necessary supporting documentation in order for their application to be processed.
For your application to be processed, you must provide your identity number on each page of all of your supporting documents. Without an ID number, NSFAS will be unable to process applications.
The latest certified copy must be at least three months old. If you are under the age of 18 or dependent on the household income of your parent or legal guardian, then this applies to you.
If you are younger than 16 years of age, and do not have a green bar-coded ID or smart ID card, you must submit a certified copy of your unabridged birth certificate.
Additionally, applicants must submit a certified copy of each household member's identity document, including your parents or legal guardians. A certified copy of your most recent exam report or results. You do not need to submit this if you are currently in Grade 12.
NSFAS requires you to submit a copy of your payslip and letter of employment that is no older than three months. This applies to all employment or income sources for every family member.
Included in this are any earnings from Sassa grants, the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) or other benefits paid as a one-time payment or over the course of a year.
If your parents, the person providing for you, or your legal guardian is retired, NSFAS requires you to submit a copy of an official pension slip or bank statement proving a pension payment.
You will also need to provide an affidavit signed by your parents, the person who supports you, or your legal guardian to confirm any job that they may have as an informal trader. If either of the parents is deceased, NSFAS will need to be provided with a certified copy of the death certificate
Other circumstances and reasons for which the bursary scheme will require additional proof include the those listed below:
- If your parents are divorced, please provide a certified copy of the divorce decree.
- If either of your parents does not live at home, please provide an affidavit explaining the reasons.
- If you are supported by someone who is not your parent or legal guardian, please provide an affidavit explaining the reasons. Certified copy of a SASSA letter if any of your family members are receiving a social grant and are also contributing to your household\income. This also applies to your legal guardian.
- If you have indicated that a dependent in your household is a student, please provide proof of registration or acceptance at the TVET college or university for each dependent.
- If you have a disability, you will need to complete the relevant supporting documents (please see website for details) and submit them with your application form.
In addition, NSFAS has created new channels for applications via a mobile app, USSD, and WhatsApp. Application tracking and cancellation are also available through these channels for applicants. The application period will close on 31 January 2023.
RELATED: NSFAS Consent Form Available For Download
