Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande held a media brief earlier this week. He announced the opening of the National Student Financial Scheme (NSFAS) 2023 academic year.
The Minister also noted that this year marks 30 years since the tertiary education financing scheme was introduced.
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Nzimande said a budget of R43 billion will be allocated to the scheme towards the beneficiaries’ tuition fees, including food and travelling allowance, and study material.
Further more, 985 672 applications were received with approximately 140 636 application unsuccessful. That out of the applications received, 739 526 applications were provisionally funded pending registration from their respective institutions. Over 200 000 SASSA beneficiaries received instant approvals
“Most of the unsuccessful applicants failed to provide sufficient evidence to support their application for funding; exceeded the financial eligibility threshold; already achieved the highest level of qualification that NSFAS funds, exceeded the N+ rule and being non-compliant to the academic pathways of the TVET college sector,” said Minister Nzimande.
NSFAS introduced real-time response to funding applications from applicants who are beneficiaries of South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), and 287 217 of those applicants received instant approvals because beneficiaries in the SASSA category often receive automatic qualification for funding.
How to access NSFAS bursary
- You qualify for a NSFAS bursary if you are a South African citizen who plans to study in 2023 or you are already studying at a public university or TVET college and you meet the following requirements:
- You are SASSA grant recipients or
- Your combined household income is not more than R350 000 per year or
- If you are a person living with a disability, your combined household income should not be more than R600 000 per year or
- If you are a student who begun their university studies before 2018 and their household income is not more than R122 000 per year.
Visit the NSFAS website at www.nsfas.org.za for more information on the required supporting documents and the application process.
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