Funding your tertiary education can be challenging, but the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) aims to provide financial support to students who are in need. If you’re a TVET college student, here’s how NSFAS funding works.
NSFAS is a government financial aid scheme that offers funding to students in public institutions of higher learning. This means, students attending TVET colleges can apply for funding should they meet the NSFAS qualifying criteria.
TVET college students must meet the following requirements in order to qualify for NSFAS funding:
- Must be a South African citizen
- Must be registered or intending to register on a PLP, NC(V) or Report 191 programme
- Must be in need of financial assistance (NSFAS will determine whether or not a student meets the financial eligibility criteria)
- Returning students must demonstrate proven and accepted academic performance (academically deserving) in line with the College’s progression policy or the progression prescriptions of the Bursary Rules and Guidelines (whichever is higher)
- Must not be enrolling for a qualification that duplicates previous learning that was state-funded
- Applicants will qualify if they fall within the maximum threshold of up to R350 000 of combined gross family income per annum and are admitted/received a firm offer for enrolment in a College.
Below are the TVET College programmes that NSFAS funds:
- Engineering Studies
- National Certificate -Vocational NQF levels 2-4
- Report 191 N1-N6
- Engineering and Related Design; Electrical Infrastructure; Civil Engineering Construction; Information Technology & Computer Science
- Business & Utility Studies
- National Certificate – Vocational NQF levels 2-4
- Report 191 N1-N6
- Management; Marketing; Finance; Office Administration; Economics & Accounting; Education & Development; Hospitality; Tourism; Safety in Society and Transport & Logistics
- Pre-Learning Programme (PLP) funding through NSFAS
The following tuition expenses are covered by NSFAS:
- Registration & Tuition Fees
- Personal Care Allowance
- Transport Allowance
- Accommodation Allowance
How To Apply
NSFAS has application cycles for TVET funding applications. This means, students can only apply once the application cycles open.
- National Certificate Vocation (NC(v)) , Semester 1 and Trimester 1 – Annual – online application and walk in assistive capture application at the beginning of each year
- Trimester 2 & 3 as per DHET calendar, in May and September respectively , also Walk in assistive capture application
- Semester 2 June – July walk in, assistive capture application
Applications can be submitted using one of the following methods:
- Visiting TVET college bursary offices
- Online
- NSFAS head office
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