What does funding eligible mean on NSFAS applications. If you are applying or planning to apply for NSFAS for the next academic period, you must read this to understand what does funding eligible mean.
NSFAS is National Student Financial Aid Scheme. It is a South African Government bursary scheme aimed at assisting students with academic funding for them to pursue their tertiary studies.
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What does funding eligible means for NSFAS application
Funding eligible means that you meet necessary conditions as set by the scheme to determine the approval of your application. There are two eligibility criteria that NSFAS looks at before approving one’s application. That is financial eligibility and academic eligibility. See further below to understand NSFAS financial eligibility and academic eligibility criteria.
Financial Eligibility Criteria
Financial eligibility criteria are used to assess prospective students applying for funding for
the first time continuing and returning students.
Household Income
Household income is applicable to non-SASSA recipients only and is determined as follows:
Where the student/ applicant is unmarried, household income is the sum
of the gross income (from all sources) of the biological (or adoptive)
mother, the biological (or adoptive) father and the student/ applicant.
Where the student/ applicant is under legal guardianship, the household
income is the sum of the gross income (from all sources) of the legal
guardian and that of the student/ applicant.
Where the student/ applicant is married, the household income (from all
sources) is the sum of the gross income of the student’s spouse and that of
the student/ applicant.
Students/ applicants who are unmarried and independent of their parents
must substantiate this by submitting a report from a social worker (if the
student/ applicant is not a SASSA recipient) or a court order to this effect.
Social Grants Recipients (SASSA)
Any student who is a South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) recipient, as validated
by NSFAS, automatically meets the financial eligibility criteria and will be eligible for a
bursary award if they are registered at an institution and are academically eligible.
Non-Social Grants Recipients (NON-SASSA):
As of the 2023 academic year, all students (except those with disabilities), irrespective of
when they first registered at an institution will be assessed as financially eligible if the
applicant’s household income is R350,000 or less.
Applicants living with a Disability will be assessed as financially eligible if the applicant’s
household income is R600,000 or less.
Third party data sources
NSFAS will use any third-party data source, over and above the declared household income
to determine an applicant’s financial eligibility.
Academic Eligibility Criteria
Academic progression criteria will be measured by the percentage of course credits that a student achieves in the academic year. Institutions and NSFAS will progressively align academic progression criteria requirements.
The criteria are applied as follows to students in Universities
Students who receive financial aid from NSFAS must meet set academic achievement
criteria, in order to continue being eligible for financial aid.
As of 2023 First Time Entering Students (FTEN) must achieve a course credit pass rate of 50% for their previous academic term.
Continuing university students must as of 2023 achieve a course credit pass rate of 55% for their previous academic term.
The criteria are applied as follows to students in TVET Colleges:
A bursary may only be awarded to students progressing to the next NC (V)
level if they passed at least 5 subjects in the previous NC (V) level.
A bursary may only be awarded to students progressing to the next Report
191 level if they passed a minimum of 3 subjects in the previous N-Level.
Academic progression criteria requirements for continuing students
studying occupational programmes will be determined by TVET Colleges, and results shared with NSFAS.
Once a student is rejected for further funding due to not meeting the NSFAS academic eligibility criteria requirements, the student is no longer eligible for financial aid from NSFAS.
How to Apply for NSFAS in South Africa
Below are the steps to follow to apply for NSFAS in 2025.
How to Apply for NSFAS
Step 1: Go to www.nsfas.org.za
Step 2: Click on ‘Register’
Step 3: Complete the required fields with your personal details. Details such as ID number, cell phone number and email address.
Step 4: Upload a copy of your ID or birth certificate.
See more on NSFAS here.
