Can NSFAS Fund You For A Second Degree? The wish of every determined and hardworking student is to get good financial backing in their education, be it at the primary, secondary or tertiary level.
The highest stage of a person’s education begins from the tertiary level, where you must have enough means or financial support to avoid being distracted by academic work. The government of South Africa has provided a solution to the problem of students who need financial support by introducing the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).
Does NSFAS Pay For Second Degree?
In as much as the NSFAS bursary was created generally for students offering undergraduate programs in the tertiary, it still gives financial aid to student beneficiaries who aim to further their studies as postgraduate students and has a master’s degree or a professional qualification.
However, the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) funds for a second degree only based on some specific selected courses and if the second degree is a professional requirement for employment.
How Many Times Can NSFAS Fund Me?
There is a limit to the number of times a student can be a beneficiary of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) can fund entering students who qualify for their bursary once for a qualification in an institution at a time. There’s nothing like double funding from NSFAS in my qualification.
Can You Apply For NSFAS If You Already Have A Tertiary Qualification?
The NSFAS has terms and conditions for students who wish to benefit from the program. This is such that students who enter tertiary institutions for the first time and with a new program are those eligible for the government scheme’s financial support.
Generally, those with a first degree or a university qualification do not qualify to apply for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). However, there are some exceptions for these people. If the course I want to offer is part of the approved selected courses of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) or, better still, the course is a professional requirement for employment, I can apply.
As an applicant, I should bear in mind that there is no guarantee that I will be assisted financially for my second qualification. Nevertheless, I can still apply if I qualify because my application may turn out successful for me to get the chance to benefit from the scheme.
What Second Qualification Does NSFAS Fund?
The NSFAS has selected courses to fund postgraduate students. All I have to do is check if my course of study is part of the selected courses of the scheme before attempting to apply. Any other course that has not been approved by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) will not be funded should I apply as a postgraduate student.
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) approved second-degree courses are;
- B Tech – Architecture/Architectural Technology
- B Tech – Biokinetics/Biomedical Technology/Biotechnology
- B Tech: Chiropractic
- B Tech: Clinical Technology/Dental Technology
- B Tech: Emergency Medical Care
- B Tech: Engineering (Chemical/Civil/Electrical/Industrial/Mechanical/Mechatronics/Metallurgy/Refractories)
- B Tech: Forestry
- B Tech: Homeopathy
- B Tech: Nursing/Nursing Science/Community Nursing/Primary Health Care/Occupational Nursing)
- Postgraduate Certificate in Education
- Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting
- Bachelor of Laws/LLB
What Second Qualification Does NSFAS Not Fund?
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) was created for students admitted to any public tertiary institution in South Africa for the first time.
The scheme has only limited itself to funding a few specific courses and job-related courses for postgraduate students. The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) generally denies second qualification funds. These are as follows;
- Postgraduate Diplomas
- Honours Degrees
- Masters Degrees
- PhD Degrees
