As the academic year is about to begin universities and TVET Colleges are about to begin their registration process. In order for students to enrol they are required to pay a registration fee, but does the NSFAS bursary cover these fees?Advertisement
Students approved for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) bursary receive registration fees included in the bursary.
When registering at a tertiary institution students are not required to pay the registration fee all they need to do is clarify that they are funded by NSFAS.
Unfortunately, NSFAS does not offer refunds to those who paid their registration fees themselves.
In addition to covering the cost of registration, the bursary also funds the following tertiary expenses:
- Tuition
- Accommodation
- Transport
- Living & personal care allowances
- Books & learning materials
The bursary only covers funded programmes at universities which include undergraduate qualifications.
It is important to know that the bursary does not cover short courses and private colleges.
In order to receive funding for the entire duration of their studies, students are required to meet the academic requirements of the bursary and university or TVET College. If the student fails one year, they will receive funding for one extra year according to the N+ rule.
The N+ rule refers to the number of years the student has been registered for tertiary study at any public university in the country.
NSFAS updates students regarding their application status via their myNSFAS account. By tracking their application status, students will be able to see exactly which stage they are on.