How To Apply NSFAS At UNISA

By Klnam Kurt •  Updated: 01/11/25 •  6 min read

Are you planning on studying through UNISA and looking to secure funding from NSFAS? If you answered yes, then this article is for you.

Applying for funding from NSFAS can seem like an arduous task, but it doesn’t have to be. Below, we are going to look at the different ways that students can apply for NSFAS

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funding to study at UNISA and provide you with some additional need-to-know information to help you secure your funding as painlessly as possible, such as:

Let’s jump right in.

How To Apply NSFAS At UNISA

Before applying to NSFAS, first-time students are advised to have the following:

Once you have all of the above to hand, you can proceed to apply to NSFAS in one of the three following ways:

Online application:

  1. Visit www.nsfas.org.za and register on myNSFAS
  2. Click the “APPLY” button
  3. Complete all the sections of information required
  4. Upload ALL supporting documentation
  5. “Submit” your application

NSFAS application centres:

Students that are unable to access the internet to complete an online application can visit their nearest National Youth Development Agency Center, Thusong Center, or NSFAS walk-in centre, where they will receive in-person assistance from a qualified NSFAS representative.

Here’s what this method entails:

  1. Head to your closest walk-in centre
  2. A representative will provide you with an application form to complete and can also assist you with any additional questions you may have prior to completing the application.
  3. Use a black pen and complete the form in CAPITAL letters.
  4. Double-check the application to ensure that you have not missed any information and that you’ve signed in all the allocated spaces
  5. Hand in your application form and supporting documentation to the NSFAS representative
  6. Make sure that you receive a receipt card with a bar code attached.

At an on-campus Financial Aid office or computer lab

Students that are planning to study through UNISA have an additional method to apply to NSFAS via a UNISA on-campus Financial Aid Office or computer lab.

The process is almost exactly the same as if you were applying through a walk-in centre; therefore, students should ensure that they have all the relevant documentation to hand when heading to their nearest institution.

How Much Is NSFAS UNISA

The allowances provided by NSFAS for UNISA students work slightly differently from other traditional universities since UNISA offers a different type of instruction than other institutions.

NSFAS-funded students of UNISA receive the following allowances: 

Who Qualifies For NSFAS At UNISA

Below are NSFAS’s application eligibility criteria for UNISA students:

You will NOT qualify for funding if:

NSFAS does not provide funding for postgraduate courses; however, a few courses receive exceptions. These include several BTech Qualifications, Postgraduate Certificates in Education, Postgraduate Diplomas in Accounting, and LLB qualifications.

List Of Courses Funded By NSFAS

Only first undergraduate qualifications are funded by NSFAS and include full-time and online courses by public universities and TVET colleges. Part-time and short courses are ineligible for funding by NSFAS.

Here is the full, updated list of courses funded by NSFAS:

UNISA NSFAS Application Opening Date

Applications were open from 7th November to 7th January. Second-semester applications were open from 4th July to 22nd July.

NSFAS applications are scheduled to open on 2nd November and close on 21st January.

Conclusion

Students that intend to study through UNISA on NSFAS funding will also be required to register for their course of choice on the UNISA official website in addition to applying to NSFAS. Students will also have to meet all the requirements of the university to pursue the course/s that they choose to be eligible for funding. Failure to meet the university minimum entry requirements will result in the application for funding being unsuccessful. 

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