Can NSFAS Stop Funding a Student? | Explore Details

Though getting your NSFAS application approved is a challenging step in securing your tertiary education funding, it is not it. There is much more to it, and NSFAS may not simply fund you without any terms and conditions. Simply put, if you are unable to maintain the financial, academic, or social threshold set by NSFAS, your funding may be suspended.

When Does NSFAS Stop Funding You?

Wondering when does NSFAS stop funding you? Here are a few circumstances under which NSFAS may suspend your study grant.

• If the student has finished the program or is aged out of the N+1 rule. According to this rule, N refers to the minimum qualification completion time, and the +1 that follows suggests the number of years for which NSFAS will pay you if you are unable to complete your studies within the specified duration.
• If the student violates the terms and conditions of the NSFAS funding agreement.
• If the student cannot meet the NSFAS academic minimum requirements set by the institution.
• If the student has misused the funds for non-academic activities.
• If the student’s household income becomes more than the allocated threshold. According to NSFAS, the combined household income should not be more than R300,000 per year and R600,000 per year (for disabled students).

Why Would NSFAS Stop Funding a Student?

In 2018, NSFAS transitioned into a government-run bursary program from a student loan provider. For the most part, NSFAS stopped funding students because of the sheer low rate of students who would graduate. For instance, in 2018 alone, only 59,249 students would graduate from the 361,449 students who were funded under the NSFAS program.

Apart from this, students are defunded from the program because their household income exceeds the one set by NSFAS. They may also be defunded if the agency receives any complaints from SARS regarding the students’ eligibility or violating behavior against the NSFAS guidelines and standards.

What Happens If NSFAS Stop Funding You?

There are many dire consequences for students who have been defunded by the NSFAS. Let’s say NSFAS has decided to stop finding you in the middle of an academic year; you would find it challenging to continue your studies without the required allowance. It would also mean you will have no money left for transport, meals, accommodation, or even study materials, especially when you have no alternate funding source.

Can NSFAS Stop Funding You in the Middle of the Year?

Yes, if an NSFAS beneficiary violates any terms and conditions set by the bursary, the relevant authority may decide to terminate their funding in the middle of an academic year. In 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, around 7000 beneficiaries had their funding cut off under the pretext of students violating the N+2 rule.

• Please note that students have no channels to appeal their decision if NSFAS suspends their funding for tertiary education.

Does NSFAS Stop Funding You If You Fail?

Just like other bursary programs, NSFAS has a rule under which students must complete their education within time and maintain the academic threshold to be eligible for funding throughout the duration of their degree. Hence, failure to do so can eventually result in NSFAS ceasing to fund the students.

Given this scenario, NSFAS beneficiaries are required to meet the academic performance criteria set by the authorities, which is at least a 50% passing percentage in each module. Hence, if you fail even one module, you will be disqualified from the funding automatically.

That said, the good news is that you are still eligible for funding throughout the duration of your degree, even if you fail one module. In this case, you are required to apply for the NSFAS funding from scratch. Just make sure you are not violating the N+1 or N+2 rules set by NSFAS.

How Do You Know if NSFAS is No Longer Funding You?

The easiest way to figure out whether NSFAS is no longer funded is through the myNSFAS portal. Log into your account and navigate to Track Funding Progress to check any payment updates. You can also reach out to NSFAS directly through their WhatsApp or SSD services.

How Long Does NSFAS Fund You?

NSFAS does not require you to apply for the funds at the end of every semester. In fact, it only has a one-time application process which is valid for the entire duration of your education. It means that you will just have to apply for the NSFAS funds once and if your application request is approved, you will be granted the funds for all the years of your educational qualification.

You won’t even be required to ask them for the checks either; rather, the institute will pay your college tuition fees on your behalf directly to the institute before every due date. Furthermore, the amounts for your other educational expenses might be directly transferred into your NSFAS-approved bank account.

As Long As You Are Eligible

It is absolutely true that NSFAS provides you with funds for the entire educational duration however, there is one condition to this rule. The condition is that you must remain eligible for the NSFAS funds the entire time. The institute will keep a check on your living conditions and financial situation, and any positive change that could render you ineligible for the funds would disrupt your financial inflow from NSFAS.

Will NSFAS Fund Me if I Deregister?

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is a source of financial support for students planning to continue their studies but lack the financial means to do so. Therefore, every year, thousands of students apply for NSFAS in hopes of receiving financial assistance. However, there are certain conditions involved when it comes to who NSFAS can fund.

NSFAS provides financial support to students enrolled in public universities or Technical or Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges. Students who are not enrolled in public universities or TVET colleges are not eligible to receive NSFAS funds. Moreover, the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) also has the authority to stop funding students if they fail to comply with the scheme’s regulations.

As a student handling numerous responsibilities, the idea that NSFAS might cancel your funding due to a lack of understanding is a daunting prospect. Therefore, it is crucial to understand queries concerning the termination of NSFAS funding. So, the main concern is whether NSFAS funds every course and whether they will fund the students if they deregister.

Does NSFAS Fund You if You Change a Course?

Keep in mind that the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) does not fund every course or institution. Therefore, before applying for NSFAS, make sure you are enrolled in the course funded by NSFAS. So, the main concern of most students is whether NSFAS will fund them if they deregister.

If you have withdrawn from your course or educational institution and are wondering whether you can still receive funding from NSFAS, the answer is complex. It depends on various factors and is not simply a yes or no response. If you enroll in another course that falls within the coverage provided by NSFAS immediately after deregistering from your previous course, NSFAS should still support your studies.

Simply put, as long as NSFAS funds the new course you selected and you meet all the other requirements, you should continue to receive financial assistance from NSFAS. On the other hand, if you decide to deregister from your current course and, for the time being, do not enroll in another course, or if NSFAS does not cover the new course you registered for, it would be considered a termination of your NSFAS fundings.

As a result, you will no longer be eligible to receive funding from NSFAS. This is mainly due to the fact that NSFAS provides financial assistance specifically for approved courses, and failing to continue with an eligible course could result in the termination of funding support.

Can NSFAS Fund You If You Dropped Out?

People frequently ask whether they get NSFAS support if they are dropped out of the institute. NSFAS is a government body that does not take action out of the given framework of federal authorities. According to the rules of NSFAS, a person cannot get funds if he is dropped out of the institute due to any condition except he was ill.

Will NSFAS Fund Me If I Fail and Change the Institution?

NSFAS organization provides financial assistance and funds for South African students who are unable to get higher education and pay for tertiary educational costs. There are certain rules and regulations that the organization follows when it comes to funding. 

One of the most common queries is that most of the students who are getting funds are seen searching for whether NSFAS funds them if they fail or if they change their institution. The simple answer to the question is yes, the organization will continue funding you. 

But there is a rule in such a situation that the organization follows. For this, you have to understand the n+1 rule NSFAS has in its rules and regulations. In this n+1 rule, n stands for several years the qualification goes for and +1 stands for several years NSFAS will continue funding you in case you fail. 

Students are given one extra year of funding in case they fail in whatever course they’re taking. That means the duration you have been registered as a student of higher education degree is important, instead of where you are registered. 

Keep in mind this, n+ rule is totally based on the number of years the student is registered for tertiary education in South Africa instead of the number of years the student has been funded. Moreover, even if you have to change your institution the organization will continue to fund you regardless of which institution you are in.  

It will give you funds if the institution that you have shifted to is also in the compatible institution’s list of NSFAS. Keep in mind funding is only continued when the organization receives the registration data of the student from the new institution. 

In essence, to make sure you keep receiving NSFAS study grants throughout the duration of your studies, it is ideal to maintain their financial and academic threshold. I hope this guide has been helpful for anyone who is wondering why their NSFAS has been suspended.