Pursuing a short course at Unisa can be a good way to build on knowledge and skills in your chosen field. It also begs the question of whether studying short courses enables you to receive student funding assistance from NSFAS.
If you plan on becoming a student at the University of South Africa (Unisa) to study one of their short courses, then it is likely that you will also require some form of funding assistance in paying for your studies.
As one of the country’s most sought-after government-funded bursary schemes, NSFAS will probably be the first to come to mind when seeking funding. However, as stated by Unisa’s official website, one of its requirements for NSFAS funding eligibility is that the applicant must not be enrolled for a Short Learning Certificate or Programme or a postgraduate qualification.
The distance higher learning institution even emphasises that students who have completed a higher certificate and will be starting a degree/diploma qualification must re-apply for NSFAS funding.
This further clarifies that although Unisa does fund qualifying undergraduate students, this is not the case for those looking to study short courses. Other Unisa students who do not qualify for NSFAS funding include the following:
- Those who received NSFAS funding during the previous.
- Students who have already completed an undergraduate degree or diploma.
- And those who are not South African citizens.
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme provides financial assistance to eligible South African students to help them pay for their tertiary education.
The scheme is designed to provide funding to financially disadvantaged students who would not otherwise be able to afford to attend university or college.
The scheme covers the cost of tuition fees, study materials, accommodation, and other related expenses. To be eligible for NSFAS funding, students must be South African citizens or permanent residents and must meet the scheme’s academic and financial criteria.
Applicants are required to submit their family’s financial information as part of the application process, and funding is awarded based on the level of financial need.
