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21 April 2021 | Story Financial Aid

Dear Student

Please take note that the NSFAS appeals process is now open.

FIRST TIME AND NEW APPLICANTS

First time1 and new applicants2 for NSFAS funding for 2021 whose applications were rejected by NSFAS must submit their appeal electronically on the MyNSFAS portal. Financial Aid offices may not accept manual forms for this group of students and may not submit manual appeals for this group to NSFAS. You will be able to track your status on the MyNSFAS portal.

SENIOR RETURNING/CONTINUING STUDENTS

Please see appeal form attached.

The following process is ONLY applicable to NSFAS returning/continuing students and exclude first time
and new applicants for NSFAS funding in 2021.

The following documents must be submitted from your “ufs4life” email address for your appeal to be
considered:
  • 1. Completed and signed appeal form attached herewith.
  • 2. Ensure that the relevant box indicating the reason for your appeal is checked.
  • 3. Signed motivation
  • 4. Supporting documents (e.g. Medical certificates, death certificate etc.) Your appeal can
  • unfortunately not be considered in the absence of documentation in support of your reason and
  • motivation for the appeal.
Please note that NSFAS confirmed that you cannot appeal if you exceeded the N+ period. You can only
submit an appeal for one of the reasons provided on the appeal form.

Please submit the abovementioned required documents as one single combined attachment in legible 
PDF format to your campus specific e-mail address below:
Bloemfontein Campus – NSFASAppealsBfn@ufs.ac.za
Qwaqwa Campus – NSFASAppealsQQ@ufs.ac.za
The closing date for submission of appeals is 30 April 2021 at 16:00 and no appeals will be accepted after
this date.

Issued by

Financial Aid

 

News Archive

Quadriplegic doctor obtains degree against all odds
2016-11-25

Description: Dr Swartbooi CUADS Tags: Dr Swartbooi CUADS

Dr Swartbooi faces each day with vigour and
resilience. Dr Swartbooi analyses images on
a screen in the Clinical Imaging Laboratory
at Universitas Academic Hospital.

Photo: Oteng Mpete

Life’s defining moments are when perseverance is rewarded. It is not easy to swim against the tide. However, for Dr Ambrotius Swartbooi from the University of the Free State’s Department of Clinical Imaging Sciences, it became his moment of glory. In 2006, Dr Swartbooi suffered a spinal injury from a near-fatal car accident which left him paralysed and a quadriplegic.

The strength to carry on

“You have one of two choices:
to lie down and give up,
or to pick yourself up”
—Dr Swartbooi

Dr Swartbooi spent close to six months, recovering from his injuries. “You have one of two choices: to lie down and give up or to pick yourself up,” said Dr Swartbooi. He would inspire other patients with similar injuries to reintegrate into society despite their new-found circumstances.

Fortunately, not all was doom and gloom; in 2007 Dr Swartbooi got married, and his wife has supported and inspired him to continue pursuing his dreams. Dr Swartbooi completed his undergraduate medical degree at the UFS, and in 2014 decided it was time to complete his studies and pursued an MMed specialising in Diagnostic Radiology.

To treat or not treat: that is the question

After all his trials and tribulations, Dr Swartbooi will be receiving his MMed Diagnostic Radiology degree at the UFS Summer Graduation ceremony in December 2016. His research focuses on intracranial aneurysm size interventions. He discovered that there were discrepancies between international standards for intervention and African standards for intervention.

The research inspects what should be treated and how it should be treated. He found there was a gap in African literature into the size of aneurysms.

Champion of survival: Where to from here?

“That’s a good question,” said Dr Swartbooi. “Slowly from here. I still need to work on getting my full accreditation from the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA).” He plans to continue fuelling his passion for teaching. “There is no place better to teach than at an academic hospital.”

Dr Swartbooi commended the efforts of the Centre for Universal Access and Disability Support (CUADS), which assisted him in writing all his exams. “I want to be able to make a fulfilling and lasting impact on people but also to give the best medical service that I can,” concluded Dr Swartbooi.

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