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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

Stem cell research and human cloning: legal and ethical focal points
2004-07-29

   

(Summary of the inaugural lecture of Prof Hennie Oosthuizen, from the Department of Criminal and Medical Law at the Faculty of Law of the University of the Free State.)

 

In the light of stem cell research, research on embryo’s and human cloning it will be fatal for legal advisors and researchers in South Africa to ignore the benefits that new bio-medical development, through research, contain for this country.

Legal advisors across the world have various views on stem cell research and human cloning. In the USA there is no legislation that regulates stem cell research but a number of States adopted legislation that approves stem cell research. The British Parlement gave permission for research on embryonic stem cells, but determined that it must be monitored closely and the European Union is of the opinion that it will open a door for race purification and commercial exploitation of human beings.

In South Africa the Bill on National Health makes provision for therapeutical and non therapeutical research. It also makes provision for therapeutical embryonical stem cell research on fetuses, which is not older than 14 days, as well as for therapeutical cloning under certain circumstances subject to the approval of the Minister. The Bill prohibits reproductive cloning.

Research on human embrio’s is a very controversial issue, here and in the rest of the world.

Researchers believe that the use of stem cell therapy could help to side-step the rejection of newly transplanted organs and tissue and if a bank for stem cell could be built, the shortage of organs for transplants would become something of the past. Stem cells could also be used for healing of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and spinal injuries.

Sources from which stem cells are obtained could also lead to further ethical issues. Stem cells are harvested from mature human cells and embryonic stem cells. Another source to be utilised is to take egg cells from the ovaries of aborted fetuses. This will be morally unacceptable for those against abortions. Linking a financial incentive to that could become more of a controversial issue because the woman’s decision to abort could be influenced. The ideal would be to rather use human fetus tissue from spontaneous abortions or extra-uterine pregnancies than induced abortions.

The potential to obtain stem cells from the blood of the umbilical cord, bone-marrow and fetus tissue and for these cells to arrange themselves is known for quite some time. Blood from the umbilical cord contains many stem cells, which is the origin of the body’s immune and blood system. It is beneficial to bank the blood of a newborn baby’s umbilical cord. Through stem cell transplants the baby or another family member’s life could be saved from future illnesses such as anemia, leukemia and metabolic storing disabilities as well as certain generic immuno disabilities.

The possibility to withdraw stem cells from human embrio’s and to grow them is more useable because it has more treatment possibilities.

With the birth of Dolly the sheep, communities strongly expressed their concern about the possibility that a new cloning technique such as the replacement of the core of a cell will be used in human reproduction. Embryonic splitting and core replacement are two well known techniques that are associated with the cloning process.

I differentiate between reproductive cloning – to create a cloned human embryo with the aim to bring about a pregnancy of a child that is identical to another individual – and therapeutically cloning – to create a cloned human embryo for research purposes and for healing human illnesses.

Worldwide people are debating whether to proceed with therapeutical cloning. There are people for and against it. The biggest ethical objection against therapeutical cloning is the termination of the development of a potential human being.

Children born from cloning will differ from each other. Factors such as the uterus environment and the environment in which the child is growing up will play a role. Cloning create unique children that will grow up to be unique individuals, just like me and you that will develop into a person, just like you and me. If we understand this scientific fact, most arguments against human cloning will disappear.

Infertility can be treated through in vitro conception. This process does not work for everyone. For some cloning is a revolutionary treatment method because it is the only method that does not require patients to produce sperm and egg cells. The same arguments that were used against in vitro conception in the past are now being used against cloning. It is years later and in vitro cloning is generally applied and accepted by society. I am of the opinion that the same will happen with regard to human cloning.

There is an argument that cloning must be prohibited because it is unsafe. Distorted ideas in this regard were proven wrong. Are these distorted ideas justified to question the safety of cloning and the cloning process you may ask. The answer, according to me, is a definite no. Human cloning does have many advantages. That includes assistance with infertility, prevention of Down Syndrome and recovery from leukemia.

 

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