FUEL YOUR FUND FREE TERTIARY EDUCATION: THE FACTS Who will be funded? • You ll be funded if you are a first- or second-year student who has been accepted to study at one of South Africa s 26 public universities or at one of the country s 200-plus technical vocational education and training (TVET) colleges, and if you come from a household with a combined annual income of less than R350 000 per year. • Previously, the income threshold for deserving students to access study loans through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) was R122 000 per year. • This benefit has now been extended to include students from working-class families ‒ and instead of receiving loans that they have to pay back, eligible students are now given bursaries that do not need to be repaid. • For families earning less than R650 000 per household, there was no fee increase in 2018 and the government gave universities a subsidy to cover the shortfall. What will be covered? • Qualifying students will have their tuition and registration fees at a public tertiary institution covered by the Department of Higher Education and Training s Bursary Scheme. • Accommodation (and/or transport), as well as study materials and meals will also be subsidised for students who qualify, but this will be capped at a certain amount. • The bursary scheme started with first- year students in 2018 and will be phased in over five years. In 2019, first-year and second-year students will be eligible for free education. • Students who have received NSFAS loans in the past, and who are currently enrolled at a South African university, will have their loans converted into grants. How do I apply for free funding? • First, apply to your university or college of choice to secure your place. • You will still have to meet the academic requirements or criteria for a particular public university or TVET college. • Each university will still set its own fees for its various programmes of study, which will be covered by the government bursary if you qualify. • Once you have been offered a place, apply for your university or college bursary through NSFAS.
• NSFAS reserves the right to verify your household income, to ensure that you are eligible for free tertiary education. • If your funding application is okayed, NSFAS will pay your fees directly to the institution where you are enrolled. • If you fail to secure a place in an institution, register on the Department of Higher Education s Central Applications Clearing House (CACH) system once you ve received your matric results. This online application portal will then share your information with all the universities, colleges, private institutions and SETAs that still have space available. For more info, contact: National Student Financial Aid Scheme on 086 006 7327, info@nsfas.org.za or www.nsfas.org.za Career Centre on 086 999 0123 or www.careerhelp.org.za Department of Higher Education and Training on 0800 087 2222 or www.dhet.gov.za Central Application Clearing House on 0800 356 635 or https://cach.dhet.gov.za National Career Advice Portal on http://ncap.careerhelp.org.za/ For lists of bursaries available, check out www.bursaries-southafrica.co.za or www.zabursaries.co.za
TYPES OF FUNDING: QUICK AND DIRTY DEFINITIONS Bursary A bursary is funding from an academic institution, company or government entity that enables you to start or continue with your tertiary education studies. A bursary is awarded based on an excellent academic record and/or proven financial need. It usually covers registration and tuition fees, and often includes accommodation and meals, as well as textbooks and stationery. To keep receiving the bursary, you will need to maintain a certain level of academic performance while studying. In some cases, this might mean simply passing. In others, you may have to maintain an average of 60% or more. Some bursaries give preference to previously disadvantaged groups. Pros: The government bursaries that are now being awarded to financially needy students do not come with any strings attached. And if you receive a private-sector bursary that you have to work back , it means you re guaranteed a job after graduating. Cons: Certain bursaries are only offered for the second year of study onwards. Also, some students might resist the idea of being tied down to work back the study grant or complete some sort of training after graduating. Plus, if you happen
Tips for funding success • If you have to apply for a bursary or loan – either because you don’t quaify for the Department of Higher Education and Training’s Bursary Scheme or you’re applying to a private institution – make sure you get in early with your funding applications and don’t wait till the last minute. • Attend the open days of universities and colleges, and gather information on all the funding options. Speak to your career guidance counsellor at school for tips. • Find out what the scarce and critical skills that are currently in demand in the marketplace. You will have a better chance of getting a bursary if you study in a field where there is a shortage of, or a demand for, workers. • Find out what the minimum admission requirements are for the degree, diploma or certificate course you want to follow. Try to exceed those requirements to improve your chances of being accepted. Popular courses are usually oversubscribed and you could be denied a place, even if you meet the basic criteria. • Here’s food for thought: only one in eight matrics who apply to universities will be accepted. Many universities don’t think a matric certificate holds much value and you may have to write an entrance test before being considered for some courses. • Compile a professional-looking CV or résumé, listing your work experience, interests and achievements – it may help you with scholarship applications in particular.
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