NSFAS (National Student Financial Aid Scheme) is a government entity under the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET). It was established to provide financial support to disadvantaged students who wish to further their studies at public universities or TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) colleges. It is Governmentally funded and then granted to students.
What Happens To NSFAS When You Change University?
Should you decide to change Universities and still Qualify for NSFAS, you will be able to keep your funding and continue at your new institution. If you are transferred from any other public university, regardless of whether you were funded at that university, the years already registered for the qualification will be counted as part of the minimum qualification completion time.
Will I Have To Reapply To NSFAS When I Change University?
No, you don’t need to reapply as you are only changing Universities, and as long as you still qualify for your funding, it will be carried over. The only time you will have to reapply is if your earlier application was rejected or unsuccessful, which is not the case here.
Will NSFAS Fund Me If I Change University?
Yes, you will remain funded should you change institutions; however, NSFAS will re-evaluate to ensure that you still qualify for the funding at the new university. To ensure that your change is successful, your institution must send your registration date to NSFAS to receive your monthly allowance. Changing your course of study does not automatically disqualify you from getting funded.
How Do You Keep NSFAS Funding When You Change University?
You must meet academic performance requirements when changing universities while funded with NSFAS. You will need to pass 50% of your modules at your former university as you register at another University to be able to keep your funding. You need to ensure that your new university sends the NSFAS on your registration date to continue with your monthly funding.
Will NSFAS fund me if I fail and change institutions?
If you have failed a course, you may wonder if NSFAS will fund you; the Answer is Yes. According to the NSFAS policy agreement, the student must pass at least 50% of their modules and meet the Academic requirements, which are the following, the student must have received confirmation of admission into a public higher education institution for an approved, funded qualification.
Returning students must be registered for the relevant academic year. They must satisfy the minimum progression requirements of the educational institution and progression rules in terms of the DHET (Department of Higher Education Training) National Rules and Guidelines.
However, it is essential to remember the N+1 rule. The N stands for the number of years your qualification goes for, and the number (+1) refers to the number of years NSFAS will continue to Fund you if you fail. NSFAS will have to apply the NSFAS N+ Rule to continue to fund students who may need additional years to complete their qualifications. Should you decide to change institutions, you will still be funded if you qualify for 50% for all your modules.
What happens to NSFAS when you change courses?
Changing Courses will not affect your NSFAS funding in any way. When changing your course, you need to notify the NSFAS so that they can ensure that your course is in correspondence with the N rule. If you need more time to complete your course, you will receive the N+1 rule; should you require an extension, you will receive the N+2 rule.
You will then need to complete your courses at your chosen University or TVET within the given period; the institution usually specifies that the student is enrolled at. If a student is transferred from any other public university, regardless of whether they were funded at that university, the number of years already registered for the qualification will be counted as part of the minimum qualification completion time. Should you require to change your course, you have to declare your movement to the NSFAS.
How many years does NSFAS fund a student?
Students that have enrolled or if they are they are applying for the first time for NSFAS will be supported for a maximum of Five years. Based on the funds available each year, NSFAS will only supply support to you if you meet the Criteria and Qualify for the bursary.
The NSFAS will provide you with the following support during your course period; your tuition fees will be covered as well as the accommodation needed and the needed transport to get to and from the institution. You will receive living allowances to cover your living costs during your time of the study; you will receive a book allowance and an Incidental allowance for your personal care should you live in a catered residence.
Can NSFAS fund you at two universities?
The NSFAS cannot fund you at two Universities at the same time; for you to be able to get the bursary created for you, only one registration at a university or any other institution is needed. You will only get funded once for your entire study of your qualification years until you complete your studies.
When you decide to change to a new institution, you will have to deregister from your former institution so that your registration at your new institution will be your current and officially recognized institution by NSFAS.
