National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) Bursary 2023 South Africa

NSFAS application 2023 – Are you looking for NSFAS Bursary online application 2023? In this article, I will provide you with details on the NSFAS Bursary, how to submit your application online and other related information.

Application is currently open for NSFAS Bursary 2023. National Student Financial Aid Scheme invites qualifying South African students to apply for its Bursary Programme for 2023 academic year.

  • Opening Date: 28 November 2022
  • Closing Date: 30 November 2022

NSFAS Bursary Application for 2023

National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) invites students to apply for Bursary Programme / Funding 2023 academic year.

National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is offering Funding / Bursaries Programme for 2023 academic year. The applications system will be open from 28 September 2022 until 30 November 2022 when the NSC results are released.

What is NSFAS bursary and who qualifies for it?

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) was formed in terms of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme. On 16 December 2017, former president, Jacob Zuma, announced that the South African government would phase in “fully subsidised free higher education and training for poor and working class South African students”. The funding would be phased in over a period of 5 years and thus the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) Bursary Scheme was established.

NSFAS is a bursary scheme which provides poor and working class South African students with fully subsidised free higher education and training. NSFAS’s vision is to provides students from poor and working class families with financial aid, to undertake studies at public universities and TVET colleges.

National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) invites students to apply for funding, for the 2023 academic year. Funding is available to students who are currently studying (who have been funded by NSFAS previously, as well as student who have NOT been funded by NSFAS previously), and students who will be starting their studies in 2023.

Funding is open for tertiary undergraduate studies, at public universities or TVET college in South Africa (it does NOT cover private institutions). Funding is available to students who are in need of financial assistance to start or continue with their studies.

When applying, students will be split into 5 seperate cohorts, namely:

  • Cohort 1: First-Time Entering Student (FTEN) who is a SASSA beneficiary
  • Cohort 2: Returning Student, who is SASSA beneficiary
  • Cohort 3: First-Time Entering Student who is NOT a SASSA beneficiary
  • Cohort 4: Returning Student, who is NOT a SASSA beneficiary
  • Cohort 5: Student living with disability

Who qualifies for NSFAS bursary?

Students qualify to get NSFAS funding if you are a South African citizen or permanentresident who plans on registering or already studying at a public university or TVET collegein South Africa and they will fall within one or more of the below categories:

  • SASSA grant recipients (the SASSA COVID-19 grant does not count);
  • Persons whose combined household income is not more than R350 000 per year;
  • Persons living with disabilities with a combined household income not more than R600 000 per annum.
  • The correct supporting documents are important in ensuring that NSFAS process your funding application in time for your registration at an institution of higher learning.

What is needed to apply for NSFAS bursary?

Students must go through the list of required supporting documents that I will mention to ensure that they have all of them before they start with the application process:

  1. All applicants must provide a copy of ID. A temporary ID issued by the Department of Home Affairs will be accepted;
  2. Non-SASSA applicants must provide ID copies of parent/s, legal guardian/guardian or spouse;
  3. Smart ID cards: a copy with both sides of the smart ID must be provided;
  4. Proof of income: applicant and/or parents/legal guardian/spouse (where applicable (non-
  5. SASSA) should provide latest payslip not older 3 months, UIF letter, appointment letter, retrenchment letter (applicant and/or parent(s), legal guardian/spouse).
  6. It must be noted that no affidavits will be accepted as proof for any funding requirement.

What does NSFAS bursary cover?

NSFAS funding will cover the following fees: registration fees, tuition fees, study material expenses, food allowance, incidental/ personal care, as well as accommodation or transport.

University students will receive the following funding:

  • Accommodation – the amount charged by the university (or the equivalent amount for private accommodation)
  • Transport of no more than R7 500 per year (up to maximum distance of 40 km from the institution)
  • Living allowance of no more than R15 000 per year
  • Book allowance of no more than R5 200 per year
  • Incidental/ personal care allowance of no more than R2 900 per year (if residing in catered residence)

TVET students will receive the following funding:

  • Accommodation of no more than R24 000 per year in an urban area/ no more than R18 900 per year in a peri-urban area/ no more than R15 750 per year in a rural area
  • Transport of no more than R7 350 per year
  • Incidental/ personal care allowance of no more than R2 900 per year

University of South Africa (UNISA) students will receive the following funding:

  • Tuition
  • Books (dependent on the number of modules registered)
  • Personal care allowance

Students living with disabilities, will also receive Assistive Devices (such as wheelchairs, hearing aids, adapted laptops etc.) and Human Support (careers, scribes, tutors, sign language interpreters etc.). The cover amount will be reviewed by NSFAS each year..

How to apply for NSFAS bursary

Applications must be submitted online via: NSFAS Application for 2023. Applications can be submitted from any device with internet access: cellphone, tablet, laptop or computer.

Students who were previously funded by NSFAS, can re-apply by logging in with their email address and password: https://my.nsfas.org.za/Application/selfservice.jsp

Students who fall in to any of these categories, must apply via the steps below:

  • have NOT been funded by NSFAS previously
  • are using Facebook or Google to sign in
  • are studying at any of these NSFAS Wallet TVET colleges: Capricorn TVET College/ Central Johannesburg TVET College/ Coastal KZN TVET College/ East Cape Midlands TVET College/ Ehlanzeni TVET College/ Ekurhuleni East TVET College/ Ekurhuleni West TVET College/ Elangeni TVET College/ Esayidi TVET College/ Flavius Mareka TVET College/ Goldfields TVET College/ Gert Sibande TVET College/ Ingwe TVET College/ King Hintsa TVET College/ Lephalale TVET College/ Majuba TVET College/ Mnambithi TVET College/ Mopani South East TVET College/ Motheo TVET College/ Mthashana TVET College/ Nkangala TVET College/ Orbit TVET College/ Port Elizabeth TVET College/ Sekhukhune TVET College/ Taletso TVET College/ Thekwini TVET College/ Umfolozi TVET College/ Umgugundlovu TVET College/ Vhembe TVET College/ Vuselela TVET College/ Waterberg TVET College

NSFAS application documents 2023

All applicants will be required to submit the following supporting documents when applying – please ensure that you have these nsfas application 2023 documents required ready before submitting your application (note that no applications will be accepted without these documents):

  • South African ID document (this can include any of the following):
    • copy of green ID document
    • temporary ID from the DHA
    • copy of both side of Smart ID card
    • unbridged birth certificate
  • Non-SASSA grant applicants: Parents, guardians or spouse ID documents (copies only)
  • Own, parents, guardians or spouse proof of income, if a non-SASSA applicant (this can include any of the following):
    • latest payslip if employed (not older 3 months)
    • UIF letter
    • employment letter
    • retrenchment letter, if a non-SASSA applicant
  • Students with disabilities: complete and sign the Disability Annexure A Form (.pdf)
  • Students who are recognised as a Vulnerable Child by the Department of Social Development:complete and sign the Vulnerable Child Declaration Form (.pdf)

How to apply for NSFAS funding

Applications can be done in either of the following ways:

1. Online: how to apply for NSFAS online step by step

  1. Visit the official NSFAS website
  2. Navigate to the myNSFAS tab
  3. Select the Register an account tab
  4. Upload your supporting documents (per the list below) and then click “submit
  5. After submitting your application, you will receive a reference number on the screen – it will also be sent to your email address and cellphone number – keep a note of this reference number.

2. In person at your nearest National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) or Thusong Centre. You will need to have copies of the supporting documents below with you when applying.

If you do not have a digital device or access to the internet, do not stress, simply pop into your nearest National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) or Thusong Centre to apply following the same steps.

Prospective students are urged to apply to institutions via their application processes for a study place, as funding is only offered to students who are eligible for funding from NSFAS (financial eligibility) and who obtain a firm place to study in an approved programme at a public institution.

Prospective students can access the NSFAS application portal at www.nsfas.org.za

NSFAS Laptop application

Students who are registered at a public institution and are approved for NSFAS funding, can apply to receive their laptop here: NSFAS laptop application.

Which institutions does NSFAS accept?

Students who are studying (or will be studying) at any of these 25 public universities or 50 TVET Colleges, in 2022, may apply:

Universities:

  • Cape Peninsula University of Technology
  • Central University of Technology
  • Durban University of Technology
  • Monash University
  • Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
  • North West University
  • Rhodes University
  • Stellenbosch University
  • Tshwane University of Technology
  • University of Cape Town
  • University of Fort Hare
  • University of Johannesburg
  • University of KwaZulu-Natal
  • University of Limpopo
  • University of Pretoria
  • University of South Africa
  • University of the Free State
  • University of the Western Cape
  • University of the Witwatersrand
  • University of Zululand
  • Vaal University of Technology
  • Walter Sisulu University

TVET Colleges:

  • Boland College
  • Buffalo City College
  • Capricorn College
  • Central Johannesburg College
  • Coastal KZN College
  • College of Cape Town
  • Eastcape Midlands College
  • Ehlanzeni College
  • Ekurhuleni East College
  • Elangemi College
  • Esayidi College
  • Ethekwini College
  • False Bay College
  • Gert Sibande College
  • Ikhala College
  • Ingwe College
  • King Hintsa College
  • King Sabata Dalindyebo College
  • Letaba College
  • Liphalale College
  • Lovedale College
  • Majuba College
  • Mnambithi College
  • Nkangala College
  • Northern Cape Rural College
  • Northern Cape Urban College
  • Northlink College
  • Orbit College
  • Port Elizabeth College
  • Sekhukhune College
  • South Cape College
  • South West Gauteng College
  • Tshwane North College
  • Tshwane South College
  • Umfolozi College
  • Umgungundlovu College
  • Vhembe College
  • Vuselela College
  • Waterberg College
  • West Coast College

NSFAS application 2023 closing date

The closing date for the submission of applications for the NSFAS funding is 30 November 2022. Applications submitted after this date will not be accepted – please apply before the closing date to ensure your application is considered.

NSFAS contact details

For any queries related to this bursary programme, please contact NSFAS directly:

  • Tel: 0860 067 327
  • Email: info@nsfas.org.za