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14 August 2020 | Story Amanda Tongha | Photo NSFAS
Applications for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) 2021 are now open.  

The NSFAS application cycle will run for a period of four months starting from 3 August to 30 November 2020. 

NSFAS applications are open to students from poor and working-class backgrounds who wish to further their studies at any public Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college or university. To qualify for NSFAS funding, the applicant must be a South African citizen; come from a family with a combined annual household income of not more than R350 000; for students with a disability, a combined annual household income of not more than R600 000. 

Applications for 2021 funding will be completed online via the myNSFAS portal as per previous years. 

New applicants need a copy of their ID or birth certificate to register and create a myNSFAS account or profile on the myNSFAS portal. Applicants with existing accounts must log on to their accounts to complete an application. Applicants are not allowed to create more than one profile on the portal. The applicant will be required to give consent to NSFAS to verify their personal information with third parties and will not be able to create a profile without giving this consent. This feature allows NSFAS to conduct a three-step verification process with the Department of Home Affairs (DHA), where an ID number will be linked to the name and surname of the applicant and the parents' details. 

In response to the status quo due to the COVID-19 pandemic, applicants will not be required to submit or upload the consent form; however, they will have to grant consent electronically during the application process, along with accepting the terms and conditions for funding. 

Applicants will, however, still be required to submit their supporting documents, comprising a copy of own ID; parents’/guardian's proof of income; copies of parents’/guardian's ID; and/or Annexure A for applicants with disabilities. 

Qualifying students are urged to make use of this opportunity and apply for funding in time. 

 
 

News Archive

Prof André Keet elected to Council on Higher Education and as Social Cohesion Advocate for Department of Arts and Culture
2015-06-17

Earlier this year, the Minister of Higher Education and Training,Dr Blade Nzimande, appointed Prof André Keet from the UFS’s Institute for Reconciliation and Social Justice to the Council on Higher Education (CHE). Given his focus on higher education studies and transformation, Prof Keet said he is looking forward to serving on this council.

Functions of CHE

“One of the main functions of the CHE,” Prof Keet said, “is to advise the Minister of Higher Education and Training on all aspects of higher education policy.” Other vital functions include the development and implementation of a quality assurance system specifically for higher education as well as to monitor and report on the state of higher education in general. The CHE also engages closely with key national issues and international trends to ensure the continual development of our higher education system.

Social cohesion advocate and additional appointments

In addition, Prof Keet has been appointed recently as a Social Cohesion Advocate linked to the work of the Department of Arts and Culture’s social cohesion programme, which advises the Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr Nathi Mthethwa. Prof Keet also serves on the Ministerial Oversight Committee for the Transformation of Higher Education in South Africa, and Higher Education South Africa’s (HESA) transformation structures.

“These appointments serve the interests of the University of the Free State, and affirm the great work being done at the university. I’m simply part of a collective effort at the university, and salute the students and staff members who work tirelessly on the Academic and Human Projects of UFS,” Prof Keet said.

Dr Nzimande has announced recently that a second Higher Education Summit, following the one in 2010, will be convened from 15 – 17 October 2015.

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