Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

• Applications are done online on the NSFAS website: www.nsfas.org.za

• Who qualifies:

  • Must be South African citizen / permanent resident.
  • Combined gross household income should not exceed R350 000 per annum.
  • SASSA recipients automatically qualify on financial eligibility.

• Yes, students with disabilities must complete Annexures A and B (available on the NSFAS website) and attach proof of disability and quotation for assistive devices with the online application form.

• Registration for approved students as per the NSFAS funding list is activated without paying a minimum registration amount.
• Students receive SMS from UNISA confirming that registration has been finalized.
• By tracking updates on NSFAS portal created during application process, status will show “registration received".

• NSFAS take responsibility to settle your study fee account later or during the year.
• The balance owing on study fee account will not interfere with all services due to a student by the university, for example supply of study material, marking of assignments and exams.
• NSFAS settlement of tuition fee account is subject to a student being registered for first qualification and funded qualification.
• NSFAS does not cover additional charges such as, supplementary exam fees, remark fees and textbook charged on the study fees account.

• NSFAS allowances are paid by the NSFAS service provider COINVEST.
• Coinvest will send communication to students to onboard/register to receive their allowances.
• Students are required to onboard/register on the coinvest platform to receive the NSFAS MasterCard and digital money account.

• Contact COINVEST via the below channels:

• Call: 011 507 5555/ 0800 014 551

  emailing: nsfas@coinvest.africa

                   support@coinvest.africa

• LMA is calculated at R700 per module for the first 4 modules,
• R5460 for 5 or more modules per academic year.
• Students registered for 10 or more modules qualify for incidental allowance of R304.50 per month for 10 months.

• NSFAS has not provided the service provider with the students’ allowance information.
• Allowance reserved for laptop purchase.
• If a student has not successfully registered on the coinvest platform.

• Only if the student registered less than five modules during the first semester registration period and adds additional modules in the 2^nd semester.

• Only students funded by NSFAS DHET grant, DHET Disability and registered for a full load, that is, ten modules in an academic year.

• During the 1^st semester registration period, 1^st year students are sent an email of their mylife emails to make a choice between a laptop or book allowance.
• Only students registered for 5 or more modules in the first semester will qualify for the laptop.

• Students who opted for a laptop will be contacted by the laptop supplier when the laptop is ready for delivery or collection.

I made payment towards my studies and was later approved for funding by NSFAS, will I receive a refund?

• Yes, refunds of R100 or more will be paid to a student except for payments made by another sponsor/bursary.
• All refunds will be less other costs not funded by NSFAS such as previous years debt, supplementary and other exam cost and tuition cost for Non Degree Purpose registered modules. 
• Refunds are subject to NSFAS successfully linking student registration data.

My NSFAS application was rejected, can I appeal the outcome?

• Yes, you can submit an appeal by clicking on the 'Submit Appeal’ tab on the mynsfas portal.
• Should the appeal be approved, NSFAS should notify the institution of the successful appeal outcome.

• A propensity letter serves to confirm that student has the propensity to complete their qualification within one additional academic term.
• To get the propensity letter email DSF-NSFAS@unisa.ac.za

• No, NSFAS only funds a student’s first qualification.
• As of the 2021 academic year, NSFAS will no longer provide funding for postgraduate courses.

• Funza Lushaka bursary: For students studying towards a teaching Degree.

Visit: www.funzalushaka.doe.gov.za

• Department of Military Veterans (DMV) bursary: For Military Veterans and their dependents.

Visit: www.dmv.gov.za

• Truth and Reconciliation (TRC) bursary: For a person declared a victim of apartheid by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and their dependents.

Visit: www.justice.gov.za

• Compensation fund (COID) bursary: For unemployed persons who suffered occupational injuries or diseases and, as a result, acquired a permanent disablement and dependents of COID Persons with Disabilities and dependents of fatally injured workers.

Visit: www.labour.gov.za/

• The Directorate Student Funding administers NSFAS bursaries, and all enquiries and queries should be addressed to DSF-NSFAS@unisa.ac.za