17 February 2022
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Story Anthony Mthembu
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Photo Sonia Small
The University of the Free State realises that the registration period can be stressful and frustrating to students for various reasons.
In an effort to ensure that as many students as possible can successfully register for the 2022 academic year, the University of the Free State (UFS) has introduced a number of financial concessions. These financial concessions are specifically intended to fast-track the registration process of students who are currently awaiting confirmation of funding from the
National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).
Students with challenges regarding the application of the N+ rule
Students who have previously registered for foundation programmes and those who have continued with mainstream programmes will be allowed to register without the prerequisite of a first payment. This is on condition that they apply with the N+ rule (an added year of funding) and that their respective foundation programmes are included in the
Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET)-funded list. Only students who do not have outstanding debt will qualify for this concession.
2022 NSFAS-funded students
In addition, students whose funding has been confirmed by NSFAS for the 2022 academic year, will be permitted to register without a first payment.
Students without NSFAS 2022 funding confirmation with outstanding debt
Students awaiting NSFAS funding confirmation for 2022 will be allowed to register provisionally if their debt does not exceed R25 000.
Approval has been obtained to increase the maximum debt carried forward from 2021 from R20 000 to R25 000 to enable students to register provisionally.
Provisional registration for continuing NSFAS students
Furthermore, continuing NSFAS students who are currently awaiting funding confirmation for the 2022 academic year, will be permitted to register provisionally. These are students
• who have been funded by NSFAS in 2021;
• whose funding reflects on the NSFAS Bursary Agreement Report for the year 2021; and
• who have passed 50% of registered modules in 2021 or are in their final year in 2022.
• The offer for continuing students to register provisionally also extend to those who are in the N+1 period.
The official registration of these students will be subject to funding approval from NSFAS for the 2022 academic year. To ensure that all students are in classes on 21 February 2022, the abovementioned group of students have until 31 March 2022 to confirm their funding.
Conditional registration for first-time entering students
With registration an overwhelming experience for first-time entering students, the UFS is also looking at concessions for these students who will start their studies at the university this year.
The university has given first-time entering students who have applied for NSFAS funding and are awaiting confirmation, until 28 February 2022 to finalise their registration.
Permission to finalise registration a week after the UFS registration cut-off time is granted to all South African first-time entering undergraduate students who are admitted and term-activated for 2022 NSFAS-funded academic programmes, and whose funding has not yet been confirmed.
The amount payable for conditional registration for first-time entering students (residential and non-residential) is R500.
The UFS is hopeful that these financial concessions will assist in calming anxiety around the ongoing registration process.