If you’re thinking of changing institutions or courses, knowing how this will affect your NSFAS funding is important. Will NSFAS still fund you if you change institutions? How do I transfer NSFAS? What happens to NSFAS when you change courses?
How Do I Transfer NSFAS
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In short, if you’re approved for NSFAS funding, you’ll be funded for the duration of your studies – even if you change institution or course. But first, you will need to notify NSFAS of any changes to your circumstances, including changes to your institution or course. You can make this possible by logging into your myNSFAS account and updating your details.
Procedure On How To Transfer NSFAS To Another Institution
To transfer your NSFAS funding to another institution:
- Log into your myNSFAS account and update your contact details, including your new institution.
- NSFAS will then assess your new application and decide on whether or not to approve funding.
- If you are approved for funding, you will be notified via SMS and email. You will then need to complete the registration process at your new institution.
- Once you have registered, NSFAS will pay your tuition fees directly to your institution on your behalf.
- You will also be granted a loan for your living expenses, which you can use to cover costs such as accommodation, food, textbooks, and other study-related expenses. The loan is paid into your student bank account beginning each semester.
Will NSFAS Still Fund Me If I Change Institution?
If you change institutions, NSFAS will continue to fund you but will re-evaluate your qualifications for funding at your new school. However, until the new college updates NSFAS with your registration date, NSFAS won’t be able to process your monthly allowance payments. Also, keep in mind that not all universities/colleges are approved for NSFAS funding – especially if you change school and choose a private college.
What Happens To NSFAS When You change Courses?
Your funding will not be interrupted if you change to another college.
Your NSFAS funding period relies on the N+ rule and academic eligibility testing.
N means the absolute minimum requirement completion period. It’s the regulation period highlighted by the college for the course that qualifies for NSFAS funding.
Remember, the N+1 works for first-time learners who got registered first after Dec 2017, while the N+2 works for learners who got registered first before Jan 2018. Therefore, what matters is the period you’ve been listed at the university or college, not the institution you choose.
Moreover, the N+ rule doesn’t rely on the years the learner has received NSFAS funding. Instead, it relies on the period the learner has been listed for tertiary learning at South Africa’s public college/university, regardless of the school change. This rule originated in 2018 when NSFAS stopped being a loan scheme and became a bursary scheme.
NSFAS will stop funding you only if you’ve exceeded your N+ period, (you) shift between colleges without updating NSFAS about the change, or don’t meet the absolute minimum requirements anymore.
How To Notify NSFAS After An Institution Change
Your previous and new colleges should coordinate to forward your academic details and NSFAS registration information to NSFAS whenever you change/transfer between institutions. Doing this makes it easy for your funding to be re-assessed as per NSFAS’s requirements.
However, you’re not guaranteed to get NSFAS funding at your new college. You must still meet NSFAS requirements to enjoy funding even after transferring to a new university.
Don’t expect immediate funding because of transferring to a new college. NSFAS will re-assess your funding to ensure you meet each funding requirement per the new university.
Again, remember, you’re guaranteed to enjoy funding only because of transferring to a new school.
Do I Have To Submit An Application Again If I Change My Current Institution?
No need to apply again if you transfer to another TVET college or university. Transferring to a different college doesn’t mean NSFAS has canceled your funding or you don’t meet the NSFAS funding requirements anymore.
However, you must (be getting) NSFAS funding in your other university to continue getting NSFAS funding in your new school. Also, consider applying if you were not receiving NSFAS funding at the previous TVET college.
Will I Continue Receiving NSFAS Funding At The New School If I Failed My Modules In The Previous Institution?
Don’t expect NSFAS to fund you in your new university if you were receiving NSFAS funding in your old TVET college but never passed your modules. NSFAS will always cancel your funding if you fail in your modules.
However, you can receive financial support again at your present college. You can make this possible by writing an NSFAS Appeal Motivational Letter to ask them to fund you again.
Remember, there’s a limit on the number of modules one can fail and still expect NSFAS funding after an appeal. Therefore, ensure that you’re updated about this information.
Will NSFAS Realize Whenever I Change Institution?
NSFAS will never realize that you have changed college unless the new institution forwards your registration information to NSFAS.
