Here’s Which Courses NSFAS Won’t Fund (2024)

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The National Student Financial Aid Scheme, also known as NSFAS, administers bursaries in partnership with the government to help students reach their full potential through furthering their studies.

NSFAS does not cover the following:

• Short courses
• Courses offered at a private college or private higher education institution.
• Part-time studies
• Postgraduate studies
• Second degrees

Students who wish to pursue any of these courses, unfortunately, will not be able to receive funding from NSFAS. However, they may apply for funding from other sources.

These sources include student loans from South African banks and Fundi Educational Loans. Fundi specialises in educational loans to help students cover their tuition fees and any other expenses involved during studying.

Only first undergraduate qualifications are funded by NSFAS which includes full-time and online courses offered by public universities or TVET colleges.

Students need to meet the following criteria to qualify for NSFAS:

University students

• Must be a South African citizen or permanent resident.
• Must be applying or accepted at a university.
• Sassa grant beneficiaries immediately qualify.
• Should have a combined household income below R350 000 per year.
• Persons living with a disability should have a combined household income of R600 000 or less per annum.

TVET Colleges

• Must be a South African citizen or permanent resident.
• Must be registered or intending to register on a PLP, NC(V) or Report 191 programme at a TVET College.
• Should have a combined household income below R350 000 per year.
• Persons living with a disability should have a combined household income of R600 000 or less per annum.
• Returning students must demonstrate proven and accepted academic performance in line with the College’s progression policy or the progression prescriptions of the Bursary Rules and Guidelines.
• Must not be enrolling for a qualification that duplicates previous learning that was state-funded.

The bursary covers registration fees, tuition, accommodation, transport, learning materials allowance and living expense allowances.

Click here for more information about NSFAS.