Funding from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme are provided to deserving students in order to ease the financial burden of their studies. However, not everyone may qualify for a Nsfas bursary or students may lose their funding due to academic circumstances.
Speaking on the Department of Higher Education’s readiness for the 2023 academic year, Minister Blade Nzimande announced that as of 20 January 2023, a total of 1 131 419 applications have been received through the scheme’s online application portal.
Applications for 2023 Nsfas funding are still open and will close on 31 January 2023.
The Minister said that Nsfas will release application results for those who applied for funding for the first time and returning students on 6 February 2023 while the funded list for continuing students was released on 24 January 2023.
Unsuccessful applicants are reminded that they have an opportunity to appeal the scheme’s funding decision.
The 2023 Nsfas appeals window opened on 20 January, and students wishing to appeal their unsuccessful applications are encouraged to do so before the closing date.
All application decisions, including the appeal option and appeal processes will be available to applicants through the myNSFAS portal accessible via the NSFAS website.
During the appeal process, Nsfas will give a list of possible situations and you will then need to choose the suitable option.
Reasons Nsfas Will Consider if You Appeal
Below are the reasons Nsfas will consider if you appeal:
- Failure to meet academic performance requirements
- Change in financial circumstances
- Loss of bursary sponsor
- Incorrect academic results submitted which led to non-renewal of funding
How to Appeal Your NSFAS Application
To appeal your NSFAS application you can follow these steps:
- Login into your myNSFAS account
- Click Track Funding Process option
- Check you progress to see if your application was unsuccessful
- You will now be able to submit an appeal by clicking on the submit an appeal button
- Once you are on the application appeal page you will be able to see the reason for your unsuccessful application
- You will now need to give a reason for your appeal
- A document needs to be provided to support your appeal
- Click submit
Applicants are usually given 30 days to appeal the rejection status upon receiving the decision from NSFAS.
The closing date for all Nsfas appeals for the 2023 funding cycle is on the 20th of February 2023.
