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01 January 2021
Registration-5

 

1.  What is my NSFAS status?
 
Please log in on your MyNSFAS account to check your status (www.nsfas.org.za).

 

2.  I forgot my password for my MyNSFAS account.  What should I do?

Click on the ‘Forgot your password?’ link:

Nsfas 1

Nsfas edit

3.  I forgot my username for my MyNSFAS account.  What should I do?

Click on the ‘Forgot your password?’ link:

Nsfas 1

4.  Do I have to pay for registration if my NSFAS funds were approved?

No, you do not have to pay for registration if your NSFAS funds are approved.  Please note that Financial Aid will allocate your NSFAS funding on the UFS system, which will lift the registration pre-payment block for you to register without making any payment.  Once the allocation is done, you will receive an SMS message to notify you.

5.  I am funded by NSFAS – what should I do next?

The Financial Aid office at the UFS requests complete funded lists from NSFAS on a regular basis.  Validation checks are done and an NSFAS allocation is made to qualifying students on the UFS system.  Once the allocation is made, Financial Aid will inform the student via an SMS message.  Please note that approximately five hours after allocation of the NSFAS funds, the registration prepayment block will lift automatically.  You are now ready to register.

6.  I am a NSFAS-funded student but did not receive an SMS from Financial Aid to confirm that my allocation was done.  What should I do if I still need to register?

  • Please be patient.
  • Make sure that your cellphone number is correct on the university’s system.If you need to correct your number, please visit Student Academic Services.
  • However, if your funding has been approved by NSFAS for a week and you have not received the SMS, please visit the Financial Aid station/help desk.

7.  I did not receive the NSFAS allocation SMS from the UFS, and the period for registration given to me when accepting the offer for admission has passed.  Can I still register?

Please continue with online registration once you have received the SMS confirming your allocation.

8.  I am a NSFAS student and I have outstanding fees.  Will I be allowed to register?

The university is aware of your situation and will take the amount payable by NSFAS into consideration when you want to register.  Please note that you will have to contact the Student Finance division.

9.  I paid my own registration fees and received NSFAS thereafter.  Can I get a refund?

Yes. However, you will have to apply for a refund. Financial Aid will communicate to all NSFAS students when refund requests may be submitted for registration fees paid.  Any fees not paid by NSFAS (for example, fines, doctor’s fees, etc.) will be deducted from the amount paid and only the balance will be refunded.  All refund requests for NSFAS students must be submitted to Financial Aid. Please note that a closing date for the submission of refund requests will be applicable.

10.  When will I receive my first NSFAS allowances?

NSFAS allowances will be paid during the first week of each month over a period of 10 months.  Please note that due to several variables a specific date for payment cannot be provided.

11.  What NSFAS allowances do I qualify for?

Information will be provided for 2021 once the DHET Guidelines is available.

 

12.  How will NSFAS allowances be paid?

NSFAS allowances will be paid in cash to the student via the Fundi system.  Once the allowances are debited to your student class fee account, you will receive an SMS message from Fundi to upload your banking details.  Fundi will confirm your banking details and payment will follow.

Please note that no payments will be made to a third party.

You only have to upload your banking details once.  If you experience any problems with regards to the upload of your banking details please contact Fundi at +27 8 60 55 55 44.

13.  I did not obtain my higher certificate last year and have to repeat some modules.  Will I qualify for NSFAS?

Information will be provided for 2021 once the DHET Guidelines is available

14.  Does NSFAS pay private accommodation deposits?

No, NSFAS does not pay private accommodation deposits or residence deposits.

15.  How do I apply for private accommodation?

Please visit the UFS website for a complete guide:

Students

Financial Aid

16.  How will the accredited private accommodation work?

If your landlord is not accredited, please refer him/her to the Department of Housing and Residence Affairs. No payments will be made in 2021 and onwards to landlords who were not accredited by the end of 2020. 

17.  When will I receive my NSFAS allowances?

NSFAS allowances will be paid during the first week of each month over a period of 10 months.  Please note that due to several variables a specific date for payment cannot be provided.

18.  Will NSFAS pay all my fees?

NSFAS does not pay for the following:

  • Outstanding balances
  • Fines
  • Doctor’s fees
  • Breakage costs
  • Fridge rental, etc.

Please note that students who were registered for the first time at a tertiary institution before 2018, are subject to a maximum NSFAS amount for the year.  The maximum NSFAS amount for 2021 will be confirmed.

19.  I am funded by NSFAS but will study a course that is not funded by NSFAS.  What should I do?

Your NSFAS funding is subject to you registering for a NSFAS-funded course.  If you want to register for a course that is not funded by NSFAS, you will be unfunded. 

If you want to register for a course that is not funded by NSFAS, you will have to find another source of funding and pay your own registration fees.

Courses not funded by NSFAS is, for example, University Access Programmes / University Preparation Programmes, Postgraduate Diploma in General Accountancy, honours, etc.

Please note that NSFAS-funded students who are registered or would like to register for courses not funded by NSFAS, will be handled as follows:

  • Students must make the minimum required registration payment to register.
  • NSFAS funding for students will be cancelled or not allocated if they are registered or open for courses not funded by NSFAS.
  • If students have registered with NSFAS funding, they will be deregistered and requested to make the minimum payment before being registered again.

20.  I have a registration block for the outstanding NSFAS agreement.  What should I do?

Please visit Financial Aid for assistance.  According to NSFAS, you have received your agreement link to sign, but you have not signed yet.

21.When will I receive my private accommodation payment?

You must apply online for your private accommodation.  It is compulsory to upload your rental agreement and proof of home address.  If your private accommodation application is approved by the 25th of a month you will receive payment from your move in date up to date during the first week of the following month and thereafter you will receive your monthly payments until November.

22. How will I know if my private accommodation application status has changed?

You will immediately receive an email on your ufs4life email address when your status change.  

23.What should I do if my private accommodation application is incomplete?

Please log in on your Student Self Service.  The reasons for your incomplete application will be listed under your private accommodation application.  Please correct the application and resubmit.  Please do not resubmit if the application was not corrected.  Please visit the website for clear explanations on the reasons for incomplete applications if you are unsure what is expected from you.

Please note that no payment will be made before your private accommodation application is approved.

24. When is the closing date for NSFAS private accommodation applications?

The closing date for applications for private accommodation is 10 September 2021.  Please note that no extension will be given.

25.I qualify for NSFAS transport allowance.  What do I do to receive this allowance?

This process will be confirmed

 

Merit Bursaries 

 

26.  Do I have to apply for a merit bursary?

You do not have to apply for a merit bursary.  The system will identify qualifying students and you will receive an SMS message to inform you of the amount you qualify for.

27.  How do you determine who qualifies for a merit bursary?

Please visit the UFS website for complete information regarding the merit bursary.

28.  Can I use my merit bursary to register?

Yes, you can use your merit bursary to pay for registration or a part of your registration fee, depending on the amount received.

29.  For how long will my merit bursary be valid?

The merit bursary will be valid for five years.

30.  When will my merit bursary be paid?

The merit bursary payment will be done after registration. 

31.  Is the merit bursary refundable?

  • NSFAS students cannot receive a refund on the merit bursary, since NSFAS is the last resort of funding and will only pay what the student needs.
  • When a student has another bursary, it will depend on the donor.
  • If the tuition fee account has been paid in full by the student, parents or guardian, then any possible credit may be refundable.

32.  I was a final-year student and received a merit bursary.  Do I have access to the funds?

You have to register again for a qualifying course in order for the merit bursary to be paid to your tuition fee account.  The merit bursary is valid for five years.

 

Financial Aid

 

33.  I am in need of funding.  What should I do?

Please visit the UFS website for bursary information:

34.  Where do I find Student Academic Services?

You can visit Student Academic Services at the following venues:

Bloemfontein Campus:  George du Toit Administration Building, First Floor

Qwaqwa Campus: Administration Building, Ground Floor

35.  Where do I find Financial Aid?

You can visit Financial Aid at the following venues:

Bloemfontein Campus:  George du Toit Administration Building, First Floor

Qwaqwa Campus: Administration Building, Ground Floor, Room 17

36.  Where do I find Student Finance?

You can visit Student Finance at the following venues:

Bloemfontein Campus:  George du Toit Administration Building, First Floor

Qwaqwa Campus: Administration Building, Ground Floor

 

 



News Archive

The launch of a unique conservation project
2011-06-06

 

Our Department of Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences launched a very special pilot project at Woodland Hills Wildlife Estate in Bloemfontein on Friday 03 June 2011, which aims to eventually aid in the conservation and study of one of Africa’s most graceful animals.

The project aims to provide the scientific basis needed for making future decisions in the best interests of the giraffe in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in the Northern Cape and involves collaring and monitoring the behaviour and movement of these animals via GPS.

Based on the public interest in the giraffe and the increased impact of the growing giraffe population on the vegetation in the area, SANParks has been considering the translocation of a number of Kgalagadi giraffe. Due to limited information regarding their adaptation success and potential impact on their new environment, thorough planning and subsequent monitoring of the species is required.

Mr Francois Deacon from our university decided to undertake a PhD study to address the existing challenges. This will be the first study of its kind, undertaken on giraffe.

He says he decided on this project because of his love for animals and conservation. “There are nine sub-species of giraffe and seven of these are already endangered. I want to involve people and make them aware of the plight of the animals and the need for conservation,” he said.

The project kicked off on Friday morning, with a group of students and curious nature-lovers tracking a herd of giraffe at Woodland Hills. The challenge laid in identifying one of the animals which could easily be collared with a GPS device, tranquilising it, and applying the device, without harming the animal.

After a young bull was identified, it was up to Dr Floris Coetzee, a veterinarian, to get close enough to the animal to tranquilise it, and to the group of students to catch it and hold it down. All this was done perfectly and the animal was fitted with its new collars. The collars were designed and made by Mr Martin Haupt, who gained extensive experience in the design of similar collars for other research studies.

Mr Deacon will spend the following two weeks personally monitoring the animal constantly, to ensure that the collars do not cause any discomfort or injury and to determine whether it should be removed or adapted.

It has taken Mr Deacon over a year to plan the collaring process and the associated study. He says the main challenges in the project are financial, since it will cost approximately R500 000 to run over five years.

Thus far he has been supported by Mr Pieter Malan of Woodland Hills, Mr Cas Kempff of Cas Kempff Consulting Engineers and Prof. Frans Swanepoel of the UFS’ Directorate of Research Development, all of whom have been benefactors of the project.
Information gathered from the pilot project will provide the data to assess how to best fit the collar onto the giraffe to ensure that the animal is comfortable and that the collar will last in the wild.  Scientific data will be generated and processed for use by the Woodland Hills Wildlife Estate management.

Should the pilot project be successful, between four and eight giraffe in the Kgalagadi will be tracked using the satellite GPS collars. The GPS collars will enable the constant recording of the location of individual giraffe for up to 2 years. This will allow control and monitoring of the animals in real-time.

The main benefits of the project include, amongst others, improved decision-making, informing tourism development, education and community involvement, improved sustainability and improved cross-border collaboration between South Africa and Botswana.

Anyone who wishes to get involved with the project or get more information, should contact Me. Sonja Buhrmann at sbuhrmann@vodamail.co.za or 0827735768.
 

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