2019 NSFAS applications deadline draws closer
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has called on all learners, who have not yet applied for 2019 financial aid, to submit their online applications before the closing date. tudents have less than 30 days left to submit their 2019 funding applications. Applications will close officially on 30 November 2018. NSFAS Administrator Randall Carolissen said since the application cycle opened, the scheme has received 191 887 applications. This is more than double the applications in October 2017, when only 90 000 applications had been received. “On average, NSFAS has been receiving 3 500 applications a day. The numbers can be attributed to the easy-to-complete online application system that allows applicants to complete the application within five minutes. Our partnerships across the country have also improved our outreach,” Carolissen said.
Applications opened on 1 September 2018 to eligible students wishing to further their studies in 2019 on an approved course at any public university or Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college in South Africa. Students are encouraged to submit online applications or visit their nearest National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) centres before the closing date.
At the beginning of the campaign, NSFAS partnered with the NYDA to utilise their branches in all nine provinces to support online applications and to receive and capture manual applications on the online system. Carolissen said more than 30 000 students have been assisted through NYDA branches since the opening of applications.
“NSFAS has communicated to all vice-chancellors and TVET principals that the closing date for applications is 30 November 2019 and that no extension will be granted.
“Institutions were also informed that NSFAS funded students, with a confirmed bursary offer, should not pay a registration fee when they present themselves for registration in January 2019,” Carolissen said. Carolissen emphasised that there will be no extended window period for the 2019 applications, therefore “NSFAS will not accept any late applications after the 30 November 2018 deadline”.
