TVET students get direct access to National Student Financial Aid Scheme
The online bursary application for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College students has kicked-off for the 2017 academic year as part of the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET)’s new central application model.
Prospective students who want to further their studies at TVET Colleges in the new-year will no longer be required to submit their bursary applications manually to Colleges. Instead, all applications will be submitted electronically and processed directly by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).
The new system being implemented is designed to improve on application quality, data time capturing, feedback, and response times to inquiries as well as updating of student personal details.
Previously, students submitted their bursary applications manually to Colleges for enrolment; and this has caused inordinate processing delays with adverse effect on students’ access to financial assistance.
In 2014 NSFAS introduced a new student centred application system in order to improve on the administration of the bursary scheme and also ensured adherence to bursary applications rules and guidelines.
The Department is appealing to Grade 12 learners and those who intend to enrol at Colleges to lodge their online applications with NSFAS for the 2017 academic year before closing date on 30 November 2016.
Direct online applications can be submitted by visiting the NSFAS website on www.nsfas.org.za. Alternatively, students who do not have access to internet are advised to apply at the nearest TVET College or the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) offices.
The new application system does not require existing NSFAS beneficiaries to reapply afresh. Instead data of existing students already funded by NSFAS would be managed through automatic migration of data from institutions to the scheme’s central database.