The National Student Financial Aid Scheme, what we all know as NSFAS, is a government bursary that is available to underprivileged South African students.
TVET College students have not been left behind as they can get funded through the NSFAS bursary as well.
The NSFAS criteria for TVET students is as follows:
- Must be a South African citizen
- Must be registered or intending to register on a PLP, NC(V) or Report 191 programme at any public TVET College in South Africa
- Must be admitted/received a firm offer for enrolment in a College
- Must be in need of financial assistance
- Applicants will qualify if they fall within the maximum threshold of up to R350 000 of combined gross family income per annum
- Must not be enrolling for a qualification that duplicates previous learning that was state-funded
Returning students
Returning students may not exceed the N+Rule
Its important to note that a NSFAS bursary may only be awarded to students progressing to the next NC(V) level if they passed at least five subjects in the previous NC (V) level. A bursary may only be awarded to students progressing to the next Report 191 level if they passed a minimum of three subjects in the previous N-Level.
The TVET college N+ Rule is based on NSFAS funded academic terms at TVET Colleges.
The additional NSFAS funded academic term may be for repeating at any level from the entry academic term to exit the academic term.
The policy notes that the N+ Rule does not apply to occupational programmes as “these programmes are aligned to employment contracts which do not make provision for the N+1 period of study.
TVET College students studying occupational programmes can only be funded for the cost of tuition for the duration of the qualification. Allowances for TVET college students studying occupational programmes can only be considered subject to clause 5.4.4 of this Eligibility Criteria.
If you meet these requirements, then you will be eligible for NSFAS TVET College funding which covers tuition fees, accommodation fees, and transport allowances.
