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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

New world-class Chemistry facilities at UFS
2011-11-22

 

A world-class research centre was introduced on Friday 18 November 2011 when the new Chemistry building on the Bloemfontein Campus of the University of the Free State (UFS) was officially opened.
The upgrading of the building, which has taken place over a period of five years, is the UFS’s largest single financial investment in a long time. The building itself has been renovated at a cost of R60 million and, together with the new equipment acquired, the total investment exceeds R110 million. The university has provided the major part of this, with valuable contributions from Sasol and the South African Research Foundation (NRF), which each contributed more than R20 million for different facets and projects.
The senior management of Sasol, NECSA (The South African Nuclear Energy Corporation), PETLabs Pharmaceuticals, and visitors from Sweden attended the opening.

Prof. Andreas Roodt, Head of the Department of Chemistry, states the department’s specialist research areas includes X-ray crystallography, electrochemistry, synthesis of new molecules, the development of new methods to determine rare elements, water purification, as well as the measurement of energy and temperatures responsible for phase changes in molecules, the development of agents to detect cancer and other defects in the body, and many more.

“We have top expertise in various fields, with some of the best equipment and currently competing with the best laboratories in the world. We have collaborative agreements with more than twenty national and international chemistry research groups of note.

“Currently we are providing inputs about technical aspects of the acid mine water in Johannesburg and vicinity, as well as the fracking in the Karoo in order to release shale gas.”

New equipment installed during the upgrading action comprises:

  • X-ray diffractometers (R5 million) for crystal research. Crystals with unknown compounds are researched on an X-ray diffractometer, which determines the distances in angstroms (1 angstrom is a ten-billionth of a metre) and corners between atoms, as well as the arrangement of the atoms in the crystal, and the precise composition of the molecules in the crystal.
  • Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) for thermographic analyses (R4 million). Heat transfer and the accompanying changes, as in volcanoes, and catalytic reactions for new motor petrol are researched. Temperature changes, coupled with the phase switchover of fluid crystals (liquid crystals -watches, TV screens) of solid matter to fluids, are measured.
  • Nuclear-magnetic resonance (NMR: Bruker 600 MHz; R12 million, one of the most advanced systems in Africa). A NMR apparatus is closely linked with the apparatus for magnetic resonance imaging, which is commonly used in hospitals. NMR is also used to determine the structure of unknown compounds, as well as the purity of the sample. Important structural characteristics of molecules can also be identified, which is extremely important if this molecule is to be used as medication, as well as to predict any possible side effects of it.
  • High-performance Computing Centre (HPC, R5 million). The UFS’ HPC consists of approximately 900 computer cores (equal to 900 ordinary personal computers) encapsulated in one compact system handling calculations at a billion-datapoint level It is used to calculate the geometry and spatial arrangements, energy and characteristics of molecules. The bigger the molecule that is worked with, the more powerful the computers must be doing the calculations. Computing chemistry is particularly useful to calculate molecular characteristics in the absence of X-ray crystallographic or other structural information. Some reactions are so quick that the intermediary products cannot be characterised and computing chemistry is of invaluable value in that case.
  • Catalytic and high-pressure equipment (R6 million; some of the most advanced equipment in the world). The pressures reached (in comparison with those in car tyres) are in gases (100 times bigger) and in fluids (1 500 times) in order to study very special reactions. The research is undertaken, some of which are in collaboration with Sasol, to develop new petrol and petrol additives and add value to local chemicals.
  • Reaction speed equipment (Kinetics: R5 million; some of the most advanced equipment in the world). The tempo and reactions can be studied in the ultraviolet, visible and infrared area at millisecond level; if combined with the NMR, up to a microsecond level (one millionth of a second.

Typical reactions are, for example, the human respiratory system, the absorption of agents in the brain, decomposition of nanomaterials and protein, acid and basis polymerisation reactions (shaping of water-bottle plastic) and many more.

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