Applications for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) have been formally opened for students from needy and working-class backgrounds with a household income of not more than R350 000 per year.

NSFAS is a public entity that reports to the Department of Higher Education and Training. The entity provides financial assistance in the form of a study bursary to qualifying students who wish to study or are already studying at universities and public TVET colleges.  South African citizens who plan to study in 2021 or are already studying at a university or TVET college qualify for a NSFAS bursary if they meet the following requirements:

• SASSA grant recipients.
• Your combined household income is not more than R350 000 per year.
• A person with a disability with a combined household income of not more than R600 000 per year or
• A student who begun their university studies before 2018 and their household income is not more than R122 000 per year.

Applicants who are approved for NSFAS funding are covered for the following:

• Registration
• Tuition

Allowances for:

• Food
• Accommodation or transport
• Learning material
• Personal care

NSFAS may need more information from you to process your application. Check what supporting documents are required and ensure that you have all the relevant information:

• Your own cellphone number and email address
• Copy of your ID or birth certificate
• ID copies of parents, guardian or spouse
• Your proof of income or one year’s IRP5 (if applicable)
• Your parents, guardian or spouse’s proof of income

Certified documents are not a requirement due to COVID-19 restrictions. If you are a SASSA grant recipient, no proof of income will be required. Applicants with a disability must submit a completed and signed Disability (Annexure A) Form, click here to download.  You can apply online using a cell phone, tablet, or computer. Follow the simple steps to apply on www.nsfas.org.za. Applications close on 30 November 2020.

Contact NSFAS via the NSFAS virtual contact centre:

NSFAS Connect: www.nsfas.org.za and log into your myNSFAS account

Facebook: National Student Financial Aid Scheme

Twitter page: @myNSFAS

Instagram: @myNSFAS

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Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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The Advancement Department raised R111 million in bursaries in 2019, which benefitted over 3000 underprivileged students.

“We are grateful to our donors who heeded to our request for funding and helped in the fulfilment of our underprivileged students’ dreams,” says Calvin Maseko, Director of the Advancement Department.

This is a significant increase considering that in 2018 the Department secured R71 million.

Maseko adds that the extra working hours put in by the department’s staff paid off. He also expressed a word of appreciation to staff members from other departments who enabled this huge success.

“The bursary application process is too admin intensive, and as a result some students helped out in the processes. I am humbled by this behaviour as they did us proud,” he said.

Maseko had a few words of advice for students whose sponsors have not yet paid out their tuition fees.

“Over 400 students are still waiting for their fees to be paid by their bursary sponsors. For those who experienced delays, the office of the Vice-Chancellor has authorised that they be unblocked and enabled to register in 2020 if they intend to continue their studies at CPUT,” he says. “The department is following up on the outstanding payments and extends its gratitude to students that have been patiently waiting.”

Written by Kwanele Butana
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At the age of 17, Anne-lie Lombard raised just over R10 000 and used the funds to purchase a meal for 1 200 students at her high school.

Her goal was simple. It was to show her fellow classmates that someone cared about them.

Several years later, this CPUT student’s passion to help others and to make an impact in her community has earned her an Abe Bailey Travel Bursary, a coveted scholarship that will see 18 of South Africa’s young leaders embark on an educational and cultural tour of Britain.

The bursary was established in terms of the will of the late Abe Bailey, who was a mining magnate and politician in South Africa, and is awarded annually to outstanding students and academics (under the age of 25) that have shown exceptional leadership qualities at their universities and within their communities.

Anne-lie, who is the Chairperson of the Wellington Campus Student Representative Council (SRC), says she never imagined that her application would be a success.

“As part of the application I had to attend an interview and it was very intense. They asked questions on how I felt about various issues. I had no idea what the outcome would be,” she says.

In her final year of her teaching qualification, Anne-lie says she is looking forward to spending three weeks with other young leaders, as well as the opportunity to learn from them.

Leadership is Anne-lie’s passion, and over the past few years she has held numerous leadership positions at CPUT and in her community has participated in and driven several community projects, from reading awareness campaigns to mentor initiatives.

“There is nothing more fulfilling than identifying a need and then taking initiative to provide, care and unite. This has been the main reason that I challenged myself to be a leader: to support students, change wrong mindsets and perspectives, and to help other students and leaders to achieve their full potential.”

CONGRATULATIONS: Members of the CPUT Executive Management team congratulate Anne-lie on her achievement

Written by Candes Keating
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