NSFAS ready to fund students in 2019
THE NATIONAL STUDENT Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) received over 400 0000 applications for 2019.
Higher Education and Training Minister Naledi Pandor says the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is ready to fund qualifying students for the 2019 academic year.
Minister Pandor made the announcement during a media briefing held in Cape Town recently.
In 2018, NSFAS disbursed loans and bursaries to the tune of R22 billion for 659 000 beneficiaries which included 371 368 university students and 288 341 TVET colleges.
“This amount is expected to increase [in 2019] to approximately R32 billion, which is estimated to fund about 400 920 TVET colleges students and 377 050 University students,” said Minister Pandor.
She said NSFAS will communicate to students who meet the financial eligibility criteria and have received an academic offer via SMS and email at the beginning of this month. This will be done once academic results have been made available to NSFAS.
Pandor said the scheme was in the process of evaluating all applications received. The evaluations process checks whether applicants are eligible for funding by verifying all data received by students with third parties like the SA Revenue Service and Home Affairs.
“To qualify for funding a student must meet the financial eligibility criteria and register at an institution for an approved programme. Successful students will receive bursary funding to cover their tuition fee for their registered programme and an allowance for learning materials. They may also qualify for subsidised accommodation and transport allowances where applicable,” she said.
She said funding is only confirmed once a student has met the financial eligibility criteria and is formally registered at a public TVET college or university for an approved funded programme.
Smooth application process
Pandor added that the 2019 application cycle has proceeded relatively smoothly with more than 400 000 applications received between the opening of applications on the 3 September and the