Unisa online - New student funding drop-off procedure

Staff from the various Unisa regions, including regional directors, were present at the launch in Durban on 20 March 2012

Ms Nonhlanhla Nkosi (Deputy Director: Student Funding) addressing guests at the launch

The Division for Student Funding has devised a new drop-off procedure which will assist students in applying for student funding for their studies. Staff have been asked to take note of this procedure in the event that they are requested to assist a student.

Deputy Director: Student Funding, Ms Nonhlanhla Nkosi, said, following the one-on-one interviews conducted with students when they apply for the loans and bursaries, staff found some of the problems to be, amongst others, long queues, and affidavits that are incorrectly written or have insufficient information. 

In order to address this; Student Funding has created a new procedure aimed at alleviating long queues at regional offices during the funding application periods. The drop-off box, which was launched in Durban on 20 March 2012, will be available at all regional campuses.

Being an open distance learning university, Ms Nkosi has encouraged students to make use of the services available online at https://my.unisa.ac.za/portal/site/!gateway/page/3bf961d7-e284-4df9-0008-00b902c0d418.

“Students will be able to obtain application forms and examples of affidavits from this website. It is important for students to make use of the online facilities as we are an ODL institution. However, students can also obtain their forms from the regional offices or they can request that the forms be posted to them.”

Once students have completed the documentation, they should drop all of it off in drop-off boxes that are similar to the assignment boxes. “The drop-off boxes will be checked daily and students will be notified of the receipt of their application forms via sms. If they have not received this sms after five days, they can call and check on the receipt of their applications. However, it is only after the closing of the application cycle that applications will be considered as either successful or not. It is important to note that students are requested to ensure that their application forms are fully completed and that all necessary documents as indicated on the application form are submitted. These documents include, amongst others, affidavits, copies of IDs and birth certificates of siblings as well as copies of death certificates and payslips.”

Applications for the second semester will be from 26 March to 26 April 2012 and applications for 2013 will be from 1 August to 17 September 2012.