The National Student Financial Aid Scheme is vital for many South African students as it provides them with the needed financial support to pursue their educational goals.
After submitting your application, the waiting period can take long and naturally, you’ll be eager to know NSFAS’s decision.
How do you know if NSFAS has accepted you?
NSFAS will communicate their decision through several channels but the main ones are:
- myNSFAS Account: This is the most reliable and official way to check your application status. Log in to your myNSFAS account using your username and password. Navigate to “Track Funding Progress,” where your application status will be displayed. Look for “Application Approved” to indicate NSFAS has provisionally approved your funding.
- Email and SMS: NSFAS will also notify you via email and SMS once a decision is made. However, these may arrive slightly after the update on your myNSFAS account.
How Long Does It Take For NSFAS To Approve?
The processing time for NSFAS applications varies depending on several factors, including:
- Application Volume: During peak application periods, NSFAS receives a high volume of applications, which can lead to longer processing times.
- Completeness of Application: Ensure you’ve submitted all required documents to avoid delays. Double-check your application for any missing information.
- Verification of Information: NSFAS verifies your application details with third-party sources, which can take some time.
While there’s no exact timeframe or schedule, applicants can expect a response within 4-6 weeks after submitting their complete application.
How Do You Check If You Are Rejected By NSFAS?
If your application is unsuccessful, you’ll also be notified via your myNSFAS account, email, and SMS.
The notification might include a reason for rejection. Here are some common reasons:
- Household income exceeding the threshold
- Missing or incomplete application documents
- Not meeting the academic requirements
- Outstanding debt to NSFAS from previous studies
What Do I Do If I Haven’t Received My NSFAS Allowance?
If you’ve been approved for funding but haven’t received your allowance, there could be a few reasons:
- Registration Delay: NSFAS relies on confirmation from your institution regarding your registration before releasing funds. Ensure you’ve registered successfully for your courses.
- Account Issues: There might be an issue with your bank account details provided to NSFAS. Double-check your account information in your myNSFAS account.
- Outstanding Documents: In rare cases, NSFAS might require additional documentation before releasing funds.
Here’s what to do if you haven’t received your allowance:
- Contact your institution’s financial aid office to confirm your registration status and if they’ve submitted the necessary information to NSFAS.
- Log in to your myNSFAS account and check for any outstanding documents or messages from NSFAS.
- Contact the NSFAS Client Service Centre at 0800 067 323 for further assistance.
How Much Does NSFAS Pay In Total?
The total amount NSFAS pays depends on several factors, including:
- Your institution: Public universities and TVET colleges generally have different funding structures.
- Your chosen field of study: Certain qualifications, like medicine or engineering, might attract higher funding amounts.
- Your location: NSFAS considers the cost of living in your area when determining your allowance.
- Your living arrangements: Students living in on-campus residence receive a different funding allocation than off-campus students.
The NSFAS website provides a bursary calculator tool to give you an estimated funding amount based on your circumstances https://www.nsfas.org.za/.