The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is a South African government-funded financial aid scheme that provides financial assistance to eligible students to help them pay for their tertiary education. The scheme provides bursaries to students who are from poor and working-class families, and who are studying at universities or TVET colleges in the country. The aim of NSFAS is to make higher education more accessible to students who would otherwise not be able to afford it.
NSFAS was established in 1999 by the South African government as a response to the need for increased access to higher education for disadvantaged students. The scheme is funded by the South African government through the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), and it is managed by a board of directors appointed by the Minister of Higher Education and Training.
NSFAS has recently opened its funding applications for the 2023 academic year. Applications will be open until 31 January 2023.
Anyone interested in applying for NSFAS funding, updating their personal details, or tracking the progress of their current NSFAS application will need to create a myNSFAS account. Here is how applicants may create a myNSFAS account.
How to Create a myNSFAS Account:
- Click here to visit the NSFAS website.
- Click on the myNSFAS tab in the top right corner.
- Fill in your personal details as they appear on your Identity Document (ID).
- Fill in your valid contact details.
- Accept the terms and conditions by ticking the box provided.
- Create a password to protect your account, confirm the password then click on ‘Create’.
Applicants are encouraged to ensure that their contact details are correct because NSFAS will use those details to communicate essential updates regarding their application. If their contact details do change, they may revisit their profile to update their details.
It is important to accept the terms and conditions because it allows NSFAS to validate the information provided in the application. If the terms and conditions are not accepted, the applicant would not be able to create their myNSFAS account.
Personal details and passwords should be kept private to avoid identity theft or scammers from accessing the profile. Once the account has been created, a message confirming the account creation will pop on the screen.
In recent years, NSFAS has undergone a number of changes and improvements, including the introduction of an online application system, the simplification of the application process, and the establishment of a new centralised system for disbursing funds directly to universities and colleges. These changes have helped to streamline the process of applying for and receiving NSFAS funding, and have made higher education more accessible to students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
