How Do I Change Institution On NSFAS Application?

By Tevait Feanle •  Updated: 05/18/24 •  5 min read

No matter how carefully you plan your academic journey as a student, sometimes you will need to make course or institution changes to meet your educational goals. If you are being funded by the NSFAS, the good news is that you can do this without impacting your funding, as long as you remain within their other criteria, such as eligibility and academic performance. Here’s what you need to know.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

How to Change Institution on an NSFAS Application

NSFAS will allow you one institution change, but it must be in the first two years of you being funded by them. The same goes for course changes. This is to ensure that you can access funding for the duration of the program, on the N+1 rule (which we explain in more detail below).

NSFAS will take the opportunity to re-evaluate that you still qualify for your NSFAS funding when you change institutions, so be aware of this. As long as you remain within their funding criteria, it should not be an issue. Once you are registered at the new institution, they will need to send this data through to the NSFAS so that you continue to receive your monthly allowance. Failure to do so will cause issues with receiving your bursary money.

As long as you continue to meet all benchmarks for remaining funded- by passing your courses and staying registered at a qualified institution- you will continue to be funded by the NSFAS. While you can change institutions with NSFAS, you cannot be registered at two institutions simultaneously and be funded for both.

Do I Have to Reapply for NSFAS if I Change Institutions?

You don’t have to reapply, exactly, but you will need to ensure that your new institution submits your registration details to the NSFAS on time. Otherwise, there is a risk NSFAS will fund your old institution, at which point you have little recourse to act. You must also have met all academic performance requirements at the old university when you transfer to your new one- but you will need to do this anyway to register at the new institution. Remember that you must pass 50% of your modules to stay funded by NSFAS.

You will only have to reapply for NSFAS from scratch if you have had an application rejected by them. 

Can I Change Universities with NSFAS?

Yes, you can change universities with NSFAS, provided you are moving to an eligible institution. NSFAS offers funding for registered public Universities and TVET institutions in South Africa.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

Remember that the new NSFAS system works on the N+1 rule, where the N is the number of years your qualification should take to complete. This means you have one year beyond that- so you have 4 years of potential NSFAS funding to complete a 3-year degree, for example.

So your NSFAS funding hinges on the duration you have been registered for at a higher education institution, and it is not institution-specific. This timer does not reset when you change institutions- it will apply to your study time overall, not where you study.

NSFAS will not, however, chase down your registration data at the new institution for you. If you fail to update them, they will fund your old university program, and you likely will not be able to get this transferred to the new one. You need to be diligent and ensure they receive your new registration data from the new institution.

How do I Edit my NSFAS Application?

You can edit your NSFAS application via your login on the myNSFAS portal. Simply enter your username and password, and sign in. Here you can edit certain aspects of your NSFAS application. Remember that some edits- like a change in course or institution- will need to be confirmed by the institution itself, so it helps to be proactive on this matter and ensure they submit to NSFAS timeously.

What Happens to NSFAS When you Change Courses?

Changing courses will not impact your NSFAS funding at all. All you need to do is notify the NSFAS that you have changed courses, and it must still be an applicable course for funding, and you must be within the N+1 rule we explain above. If your allotted time to finish the course will expire partway through your new program, you may need to find other funding for the last stages of your course. Remember that NSFAS funding does not ‘reset’ if you change course (or institutions), but applies to the entirety of your tertiary academic journey. So bear this in mind when deciding to change courses.

Changing courses or institutions can be done as an NSFAS-funded student. However, remember that it will cause administration hiccoughs along the way, so make sure you and your institution both submit all required details about the change to them as soon as possible. 

- ADVERTISEMENT -

Keep Reading

How to Apply For NSFAS Laptop Online

How to Apply For NSFAS Laptop Online

Applying For NSFAS Laptop helps students access the technological innovations implemented by the bursary scheme, something covered in this article.

Is It Possible to Delete My NSFAS Account?

Is It Possible to Delete My NSFAS Account?

Have you been in a dilemma and wondering how to cancel and delete your NSFAS account profile? Here is how to delete my NSFAS account

Which Colleges Does NSFAS Fund in Pretoria

Which Colleges Does NSFAS Fund in Pretoria

Which Colleges Does NSFAS Fund in Pretoria. Here are the colleges funded by NSFAS in Pretoria.

What Is NSFAS NBA?

What Is NSFAS NBA?

What Is NSFAS NBA. The NBA is nothing but the NSFAS bursary agreement form. This type of agreement certifies and confirms your need for funds.

What Does NSFAS Cover For UniSA Students

What Does NSFAS Cover For UniSA Students

What Does NSFAS Cover For UniSA Students. Most funds went to the country's largest Unisa. It enrolls 400,000 students, and NSFAS funds almost 40%.

How Much is the NSFAS Allowance Per Month

How Much is the NSFAS Allowance Per Month

NSFAS provides an allowance for its applicants. The monthly allowance in %currentyear% paid directly by NSFAS. The NSFAS allowance period always varies.

NSFAS Late Application For 2025 Opening

NSFAS Late Application For 2025 Opening

Applicants looking to get the NSFAS fund will benefit from this article as we will be giving insight on NSFAS late application and the timelines involved. 

Does NSFAS Fund Second Undergraduate Qualification?

Does NSFAS Fund Second Undergraduate Qualification?

Does NSFAS Fund Second Undergraduate Qualification? Students studying for a second undergraduate degree are considered ineligible for NSFAS

Can NSFAS Fund A Second Degree?

Can NSFAS Fund A Second Degree?

NSFAS can funds a second degree only based on some specific selected courses and if the second degree is a professional requirement for employment.

How Much Does NSFAS Give Students Per Year?

How Much Does NSFAS Give Students Per Year?

How much does NSFAS give students per year?. Something covered in this article on how much NSFAS gives a student per year.

How to Register For Tenet NSFAS

How to Register For Tenet NSFAS

How Long Does NSFAS Take to Respond to Appeals?

How Long Does NSFAS Take to Respond to Appeals?

How Long Does NSFAS Take to Respond to Appeals. The NSFAS appeals process takes approximately 30 days for a response.

How to Get NSFAS Proof of Funding Letter

How to Get NSFAS Proof of Funding Letter

This is everything you need to know about whether you've been funded, including a detailed guide on how to get NSFAS proof of funding letter

How to Apply For NSFAS Private Accommodation

How to Apply For NSFAS Private Accommodation

How to Apply For NSFAS Private Accommodation. Follow these steps to apply for a private room through NSFAS:

What Is NSFAS DHET Grant

What Is NSFAS DHET Grant

In this article, we will discuss most sought-after bursaries among funding hopefuls - the Department of Higher Education and Training Bursary (DHET) scheme.NSFAS DHET Grant