Do you come from a poor or working-class family with a combined household income of not more than R350 000 per annum?

The Department of Higher Education and Training has a bursary designed to assist you with funding towards a tertiary qualification of your choice. The bursary is administered by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) and is available for persons who wish to or are studying at a public institution of higher education and training (university or TVET college).

Who qualifies for NSFAS?

Funding will be available to:
• Students from families with a combined household income of not more than R350 000 (three hundred and fifty thousand Rand) per annum, registering at TVET colleges and universities for the first time,
• Students returning to TVET colleges and universities to complete or continue their first undergraduate qualification. Only select post-graduate qualifications are funded, please refer to the website for the full list.
• Students from families with a combined household income of up to R122 000 (one hundred and twenty-two thousand Rand) returning to TVET colleges and universities after a gap year or two to complete their first undergraduate qualification.
• Students from families who are recipients of child support grants or disability grants administered through South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) will automatically qualify for NSFAS funding.
• Orphans will automatically qualify for NSFAS funding, provided there is confirmation of their status.

What the bursary covers?

NSFAS funding covers the actual cost of tuition plus prescribed learning materials -this means the tuition fee for the specific programme that the student it registered for; these fees differ depending on the field of study (e.g. engineering; medicine; art; history etc.) and the institution that the student is admitted to. AND dependent on eligibility a subsidised accommodation and living costs including meals. The bursary funding is for the duration of study and does not require any repayment.

Upon qualifying for the NSFAS bursary, a beneficiary is required to sign a NSFAS Bursary Agreement with terms and conditions. Beneficiaries will then be expected to:

• Comply with all academic requirements as set by institutions.
• Attend and participate in lectures, tutorials and academic support programmes as required by the institution;
• Complete all set assignments and/or tasks as required in terms of the due performance requirements of the Institution;
• Undergo all tests and examinations (written and oral) as required in terms of the due performance requirements of the institution;

For more information on how to access this funding, please visit http://www.nsfas.org.za