Thousands of students apply for funding every year, but unfortunately, some of them do not receive a pleasant outcome when tracking their application. It is for this reason that the Department of Higher Education and Training urges this cohort of students to apply for an appeal.
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (Nsfas) caters funding for students who are pursuing a qualification in a public institution.
Although the government bursary scheme received a total of 1,587,968 applications from prospective bursary recipients, just over 300,000 applications were rejected for the 2023 academic year’s funding.
Students whose applications have been rejected have been urged to submit an appeal within 30 days after the receipt of the application outcome.
In a statement, Nsfas has also explained:
The opportunity to submit an appeal is mainly for prospective bursary recipients whose application for funding has been rejected and continuing students whose financial aid has been withdrawn for the current academic year.
Students who will be submitting their appeals, will need to do so by lodging their appeals application online via their myNsfas account by clicking on it. Nsfas will not be considering appeals that are being submitted via email.
Students have been advised to submit their appeal along with supporting evidence within the prescribed timeliness.
Should these students lodge an appeal, Nsfas might reconsider their decision but this also depends on budget availability.
An Independent Tribunal has been established to provide effective management of appeals from students whose applications for funding have been rejected, or discontinued funding and the tribunal will commence with their work in the upcoming week.
This tribunal will be chaired by Advocate Tommy Ntsewa, joined by Yonke Twani, Zodwa Kula, Lubabalo Ndzoyiya, Lukhanyo Daweti Nhlonipho Nxumalo, Wongani Mgwali, and Thabelo Mofokeng.
This team is a clear representation of a cross-section of stakeholders in the Higher Education sector.
Once the students have completed this process, they will need to track the progress of the appeal on their myNsfas portal.
