The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is a government-backed bursary and student loan scheme in South Africa. It helps to bridge the gap and enable students from low-income households to pursue higher education.
The NSFAS bursaries are available for eligible students attending TVET colleges, while student loans are available for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes at public universities nationwide. To be approved for funding, applicants must meet the eligibility criteria, submit the application, and attach all the required documents.
This article will cover the documents needed for the NSFAS application, eligibility requirements, and how to submit your application.
Table of Contents
What are the General NSFAS Application Requirements?
Before students can apply for funding, they must ensure they meet all the eligibility requirements. These are in place to assess risk, manage resources, and ensure that the funds meet the needs of those who truly deserve it. If the student meets all the eligibility criteria, they can begin to prepare the documents needed for the NSFAS application.
Student loan providers in South Africa have different eligibility criteria depending on the types of loans that they disburse. They also require different documents as compared to the documents needed to apply for NSFAS.
Let us look at the other eligibility requirements for applying for NSFAS bursaries and loans. The applicant must be:
- A South African citizen or permanent resident
- Enroled or plans to enrol in a public university or TVET college
- From a household with an income of less than R350,000
- For students with disabilities, the household income should be less than R600,000
- Students who started studying before 2018 and whose household income is not more than R122 000 per annum.
- Applying for aid during the application period
List of Essential Documents Needed for NSFAS Application
If a student meets all the eligibility requirements, they can proceed to the next step, which is arranging for all the documents needed for the NSFAS application. These documents are required to verify the details students provide on the application form.
It also helps to demonstrate that the student has indeed been accepted at an institute of higher learning. Additionally, it helps loan providers like NSFAS assess the candidate financially.
Here is a list of the required essential documents for the NSFAS application:
Proof of Identity
- Students must submit a certified copy of their South African ID or permanent residency permit.
- If an ID is not available, a birth certificate might be used. However, it will require additional documentation.
Parent/Guardian’s Identification
- Students who are under 18 years of age need to prove IDs of both parents or the guardian.
Household Proof of Income
- Recent payslips, employment letters or tax returns of employed parents.
- Pension slips or an affidavit declaring unemployment for students whose parents are unemployed.
- A financial statement or an affidavit with income details for self-employed parents and guardians.
Read more about Student Loan Without Surety
Academic Documents Required
Students must provide academic requirements in addition to the essential documents that help to establish identity and proof of combined household income. These are amongst the most important documents needed for the NSFAS application since they determine the students’ academic standing.
Here is a list of academic documents needed for the NSFAS application.
Most recent academic results
- Final matric result or the latest high school transcript for first-time applicants.
- Latest transcript or progress report from the university from returning students.
Acceptance letter or proof of registration
- Students accepted by a TVET college or university must provide their acceptance letter for admission for the 2025 academic year.
NSFAS Additional Documents (If Applicable)
Applying for a loan can be a lengthy process, which is why it helps to know the documents needed to apply for NSFAS. This allows students to gather all the required documents before they begin to fill out their application form.
In addition to the essential and academic documents, financial aid providers such as NSFAS might require additional documents to determine income and financial distress faced by the applicant.
These are some additional documents needed for the NSFAS application.
- Death certificate (for deceased parent/guardian): If a parent is deceased, a death certificate must be provided.
- Divorce decree or affidavit (for separated parents): This is required to establish custody and to clarify the household income
- Disability form (if applicable): Disabled students need to submit the Disability Annexure Form with a medical report merged with it.
- Orphan and Vulnerable Child Declaration form: This is only to be filled if the applicant is under 18 years of age and an orphan OR is categorised as a vulnerable child as identified by the Department of Social Development. Vulnerable children are those who have faced abuse, neglect, and exploitation and are at risk of violence and substance abuse.
NSFAS Consent and Declaration Forms
Once students have all the documents needed for NSFAS, they should complete the application form as soon as possible. In addition to the application and required documents, students must also fill out consent and declaration forms.
While the NSFAS application can be filled out online, the consent and declaration forms need to be printed and filled out by hand in capital letters and black ink. These forms help confirm that the applicant has willingly provided all the details and documents and consented to NSFAS sharing the details with third parties.
Consent Form
All applicants are required to complete and submit this form. By signing, the applicant understands that submitting the application is not a guarantee of funding. They also admit that they are providing true and correct information.
Declaration Form
Only applicants 34 years of age and younger are required to fill out this form. It is used to verify the details of the parents and legal guardians.
Submitting Your NSFAS Application Documents
Once all the documents neeed for the NSFAS application are ready, they can proceed to fill the application form. Students need to ensure that they fill correct details in the application form, attach all the required documents for their eligibility, and make sure to do this before the NSFAS application deadline.
All the documents must be certified, be clearly scanned, and not be older than three months. If these requirements are not met, the application could be rejected.
Students can follow these steps when applying for a NSFAS bursary or loan in South Africa.
- Step 1: Visit the NSFAS website
- Step 2: Create a profile on myNSFAS Portal if you are a first time applicant.
- Step 3: Login using your details.
- Step 4: Complete all the required information
- Step 5: Attach all the documents in the correct categories
- Step 6: Submit your application before the deadline.
What are Some Common Mistakes to Avoid?
It is expected to make mistakes when filling out important documents close to the deadline. Therefore, students should begin gathering documents needed for the NSFAS and filling out the application well before the deadline.
Since the applicant’s future relies on the bursary or loan getting approved from NSFAS, they must take these steps to avoid common mistakes.
- Missing deadlines: If the student misses the deadline, their application will be unsuccessful, and they will not receive financial aid for the upcoming academic year.
- Incorrect personal details: If it is found that the student has submitted incorrect personal and income-related details, their application will be rejected.
- Missing documents: If the applicant fails to provide all the required documents for the NSFAS, their application might be rejected or receive provisional acceptance.
- Ignoring updates: Students should regularly check their myNSFAS portal to check their application status and requests for additional documents.
- Rushing the application: Applicants should begin their application several days before the application deadline and not leave it until the last minute. This is to avoid any unforeseen circumstances, such as internet issues.
Learn more about What provisionally Funded NSFAS means
Conclusion
Financial aid applications are time-consuming and require students to meet eligibility requirements, fill out an application, and submit all the required documents. NSFAS applications open annually for a fixed period and accept applications for the following academic year. Therefore, applicants must gather all the documents needed for the NSFAS application and complete their details online before the deadline.
All the documents required for the NSFAS application must be certified and must be no older than three months old when attached to the application. Submitting duly completed form and attaching all the required documents ensures fast and speedy processing.
Documents Needed for the NSFAS Application – FAQs
Who is eligible for NSFAS funding?
To qualify, applicants must be South African citizens or permanent residents, enrolled in a public university or TVET college, and from households earning less than R350,000 per year (or R600,000 for students with disabilities).
What documents are required for the NSFAS application?
Required documents include a certified copy of your South African ID, proof of household income, academic records, an acceptance letter or proof of registration, and potentially additional documents like a death certificate or disability form.
Can I apply for NSFAS if I start my studies before 2018?
Yes, students who began studying before 2018 may still qualify if their household income is not more than R122,000 per year.
Can I apply for NSFAS funding for postgraduate studies?
Yes, NSFAS offers loans for postgraduate programs, provided you meet the eligibility criteria.
How can I check the status of my NSFAS application?
You can check your application status by logging into your myNSFAS portal regularly for updates or requests for additional documents.
