R1.3 Billion Upfront Payments to Universities For Registration

by

R1.3 Billion Upfront Payments to Universities For Registration

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has paid R1, 3 billion to 26 public universities, a figure set aside to advance payment of registration fees for students from disadvantaged backgrounds so that they can be admitted for their studies.

This payment equates to at least 15% of total and final budget that each university may get for enrolling students, who are eligible for government funding when a final reconciliation of the numbers of enrolled students is confirmed at the end of the registration period.

NSFAS spokesperson, Kagisho Mamabolo says they expect universities to work with them to ensure that registration of funded students goes as smooth as possible because government has confirmed funding.

“All returning students, who were funded in 2016, should not panic as they will automatically be funded in 2025/2026 without having to apply for financial aid, provided they have signed the agreement form for financial assistance and they have passed at least 50% of their enrolled modules”.

Over 160 000 students have been approved for funding, and NSFAS is confident that there will not be any student turned away, who has secured space, because of lack of funding.

“We expect that our students will be treated fairly and not be discriminated against based on their backgrounds,” he said.

While there are still some students who have not received confirmatory SMSes from NSFAS, Mr Mamabolo has reassured the public, saying “the Scheme will continue to approve more students every day and is expected to finalise all applications by close of business on 27 January 2025/2026”.

Applications for funding for university students are now officially closed, and there will be no extension, while TVET college students still have until midnight 14 February 2025/2026 to submit their applications.

NSFAS management is expected to address the nation on the 2025/2026 financial aid statistics awarded to students at universities and TVET colleges, by next week.

Issued by

Marketing and Communications Department
23 January 2025/2026, Cape Town

Media Liaison Office:
Mr Tsepo Khanye, 079 348 0894 or 021 763 3200
Mr Siphe Matomela, 074 851 5277
Email: media@nsfas.org.za

Download this Release as a PDF–>

Did You Know : Top 15 Free Online Learning Platforms

  1. Free Online Education Degrees : Coursera:

    Coursera partners with universities and organizations worldwide to offer a wide range of courses. While many courses are free, a fee is often required for certification.

  2. Free Online Education Degrees: edX:

    Founded by MIT and Harvard, edX offers high-quality courses from top universities and institutions around the world. Certificates are available for a fee.

  3. Free Online Education Degrees : Khan Academy:

    Khan Academy provides free educational content in various subjects, especially mathematics and science, using instructional videos and practice exercises.

  4. Free Online Education Degrees : Udacity:

    Udacity focuses on tech-related courses and nanodegree programs, offering free content as well as more in-depth paid programs.

  5. Free Online Education Degrees : MIT OpenCourseWare (OCW):

    MIT OCW provides a vast array of MIT's course content for free, covering a wide range of disciplines.

  6. Free Online Education Degrees : Harvard Extension School:

    Harvard Extension School offers a selection of free online courses. While some courses are free, others may require payment for a certificate.

  7. Free Online Education Degrees: Stanford Online:

    Stanford Online offers a variety of free courses in different disciplines, including computer science, engineering, and business.

  8. Best Free Online Courses : Carnegie Mellon Open Learning Initiative (OLI):

    OLI offers free online courses and resources designed to improve learning outcomes through research-based methodologies.

  9. Best Free Online Courses : FutureLearn:

    FutureLearn partners with universities and institutions to offer a diverse range of free online courses. Certificates are available for a fee.

  10. Best Free Online Courses: Alison:

    Alison offers a wide range of free online courses, including diploma and certificate programs, covering various subjects.

  11. Best Free Online Courses: Open Yale Courses:

    Yale University provides free access to a selection of introductory courses through Open Yale Courses.

  12. Best Free Online Courses : UC Berkeley Online:

    UC Berkeley offers free online courses on a variety of subjects, ranging from computer science to humanities.

  13. Best Free Online Courses : Google Digital Garage:

    Google Digital Garage provides free courses on digital skills, including online marketing, data analysis, and more.

  14. Best Free Online Courses : Codecademy:

    Codecademy offers free coding courses, interactive exercises, and coding projects to help individuals learn programming languages.

  15. Best Free Online Courses : LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com):

    LinkedIn Learning provides a variety of video courses on professional development, technology, and creative skills. It offers a free trial period.

Related Posts: