NSFAS on campus activation starts in KwaZulu-Natal
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) in partnership with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) has embarked on a nationwide on-campus activation to launch the NSFAS Bursary Agreement (NBA) currently available for signing.
\The activation campaign commenced in the KwaZulu Natal Province where DHET Deputy Minister Buti Manamela and CEO Steven Zwane visited Mangosuthu University, Durban University of Technology and the Elangeni and Thekwini TVET colleges.
The objective of this campaign is to encourage students to sign their NSFAS agreement, as all students receiving government funding through NSFAS are obliged to accept and sign the terms and conditions of the agreement before NSFAS can process payments. If students do not sign, they will not receive allowances and will not be funded by NSFAS. The new bursary agreement is the contractual agreement to the terms and conditions of the government bursary received by the students for the duration of the study.
Since 10 May 2018 NSFAS has been sending out notifications for the signing of the Agreement to all First Time Entering Students (FTENs) and senior students that are receiving NSFAS funding for the first time. To date NSFAS has generated 67 177 and 49 746 have been signed.
The agreement will be applicable to First Entering Students (FTENs) and new senior students that applied to NSFAS for the first time. Returning student will continue with their funding as it was in 2017. If the student has not signed within 10 days after the Email notification, the NSFAS Contact Centre will contact the student to sign. Institutions are encouraged to assist with this process by following-up with students to facilitate the signing process by the required deadline. The deadline for the signing of all NBAs is the 31st of July 2018.
Accepting the bursary funding will not require a beneficiary to pay back the funds in monetary terms. However, it does require that the beneficiary meets and maintains academic conditions/criteria, a service requirements for the duration of the study period, as well as a commitment to the country over the longer term.
- Students need to make sure that the number used to apply for NSFAS is still working, else they must send an email to UDS@NSFAS.ORG.ZA with the required documents.
- If student has not received an email from NSFAS they must call our contact centre on 0860 067 327.
- Signing NSFAS Bursary agreement is a guarantee that tuition and allowances will be covered by NSFAS for the duration of the study.
- NSFAS will continue supporting a student provided that they pass and progress to the next level of studies. There is no need to sign the NSFAS bursary agreement again if you progress to the next study level.
- We encourage students to read the T&C because it will explain your benefits and how to utilise them.
In the first year of study and every year thereafter, the student must comply with academic requirements such as attending and participate in lectures, tutorials and academic support programmes as required by the institution; Complete all set assignments and/or tasks as required in terms of the due performance requirements of the Institution; Undergo all tests and examinations (written and oral) as required in terms of the due performance requirements of the institution; as well as passing at least 50% of all courses in the first year of study, and passing sufficient courses in subsequent years to enable them to complete their studies in the minimum number of years plus one year (N + 1 years of study).
During second year of study and every year thereafter, for the duration of their studies NSFAS beneficiaries need to participate in a minimum of 10 (ten) days or 80 (eighty) hours of community service or special project work, confirmation of participation is a requirement for continued funding in the following year. Failure to do so will lead to a termination of the bursary.
Any graduate funded through Bursary scheme who wishes to emigrate to live in another country will be required to pay back the funds before they leave the country.
The campaign will move to Eastern Cape, Gauteng and other provinces till the 31 July 2018 which is the deadline for all agreement to be signed.
Enquiries:
Phatisa Ntlonze
Cell: 078 144 5980
E-mail: media@nsfas.org.za
