NSFAS 2020 Appeal Checklist

Applications for NSFAS funding in 2022 closed on 21 January 2022, and applications for appeals opened on 24 January 2022. 

 

If you applied for NSFAS funding and were denied, you can appeal the decision. Applications for appeals will close on 23 February 2022, so be sure to submit your appeal before then. 

 

Once you have submitted your appeal, it can take up to 30 days for NSFAS to respond to your appeal with a final decision. 

 

Reasons eligible for appeal if your application for NSFAS was denied

Existing Qualification

NSFAS only provides funding for students applying for either a first-time undergraduate qualification. NSFAS does not provide funding to postgraduate (and further) qualifications.

 

Students looking to lodge an appeal need to submit proof that they’re studying an NSFAS-funded postgraduate qualification.

 

Income Before 2018

Some students failed to receive an NSFAS grant because their household income before 2018 was greater than the recommended amount (R122 000) per annum.

 

This is only a factor for students who applied before 2018. To resolve this, students need to provide the following documentation to lodge an appeal:

 

• Proof of current household income
• Retrenchment letter (if applicable)
• Divorce decree (if applicable)
• Termination letter (if applicable)
• Death certificate of your parent/guardian (if applicable)

Income Greater than R350 000

NSFAS is an organisation that provides student loans to students who cannot afford to go to college or university. The bar was set at R350 000 to avoid the risk of oversubscription of applications received.

 

Students who had their applications rejected because their income was greater than R350 000 need to appeal and submit the following documents for proof:

 

• Proof of current household income
• Retrenchment letter (if applicable)
• Divorce decree (if applicable)
• Termination letter (if applicable)
• Death certificate of your parent/guardian (if applicable)

 

Income Greater than R600 000 (disability)

Students with a disability and have a household income that’s greater than R600 000 will not be eligible to receive funding from NSFAS.

 

However, students who felt that they were wrongfully rejected can lodge an appeal to NSFAS, providing the following documents as proof:

 

• Proof of current household income
• Retrenchment letter (if applicable)
• Divorce decree (if applicable)
• Termination letter (if applicable)
• Death certificate of your parent/guardian (if applicable)

 

Exceeding the N+2 Rule

The N+2 refers to the length of time that it takes to complete a degree, plus an extra 2 years.

 

For example, a Bachelor of Laws degree at UNISA is a 4-year qualification. With the N+2 rule, NSFAS-funded students are able to receive funding for 6 years before funding is cut.

 

NSFAS-funded students who exceed the N+2 rule will need to lodge an appeal. The following documents are needed to lodge an appeal against the N+2 rule:

 

• The latest transcript of your academic record 
• Motivation and reason on why you should remain funded. The reason must be substantive, and relevant supporting documents must be provided

Failed Department of Home Affairs Validation

NSFAS funding is only available for South African citizens who are studying/planning to study at a South African university or TVET college. It is not available for foreign students studying in South Africa, or for South Africans wanting to study abroad. 

 

One way to make sure that NSFAS sticks to the rule is by providing an applicant’s details to the Department of Home Affairs. The DHA will then determine whether the applicant is a natural-born citizen, a naturalized citizen or a permanent resident.

 

The terms are distinguished by the following:

 

• A natural-born citizen is a citizen of a country that was born in the country
• A naturalized citizen is someone who was born as in a country other than South Africa but has become a citizen of the country
• A permanent resident is an individual who has lived in the country on a work permit for a minimum of 5 years

 

Students who had their NSFAS application rejected due to the name and/or surname of the applicant not corresponding with the DHA, will have to provide NSFAS with the following documents:

 

• A certified copy of your ID not older than 3 months
• A certified copy of your father and/or your mother’s ID, not older than 3 months

 

Academic Performance

Lastly, a major reason why students have their applications rejected is due to academic performance. When a student performs poorly academically, they lose funding from NSFAS.

 

However, this does not mean that there is no way forward. There are various factors that are taken into account when it comes to a drop in academic performance, namely:

 

• A medical condition and/or death in the family
• The student’s prior academic performance was satisfactory

 

Students will have to provide supporting documentation, information as well as reasoning why academic performance has dropped to lodge an appeal. 

 

Applicants have until 23 February 2022 to lodge an appeal towards NSFAS funding. It is important to submit your appeal as soon as possible once your initial application has been denied.

 

Applicants can submit their appeal form with supporting documents in any of the following ways:

• Email: [email protected] 
• Submit it to your educational institution’s Financial Aid Office.
• Online 

 

How to submit your appeal online 

• Log on to your MyNSFAS account 
• Click the ‘Track Funding Progress’ option
• Check the ‘Application Progress’ tabs
• If your application status reflects that it is unsuccessful, then you may submit an appeal by clicking on the ‘Submit Appeal’ tab
• Once you are on the ‘Application Appeal’ page, you’ll be able to see the reason for your unsuccessful application status
• Write a motivational letter stating the reasons why you are appealing your application status. Your motivational letter must not exceed 1 000 characters (words, including spaces)
• Upload certified supporting documents to support your motivation. A maximum of five documents
• Click ‘Submit Appeal’

 

There is no fee to appeal the decision. The appeal process can take as little as seven days before a result can be reached, however it is common for the process to take up to 30 days before a decision is made. 

 

The process differs for each applicant and students are encouraged to log onto their myNSFAS profile to view the appeal results. Applications with missing supporting documents will be left open for 14 days, after which the application will be closed and dismissed. 

 

If your application was denied for another reason, or if the reason for the decision was correct (such as household income being above the required threshold) then you will not be eligible to appeal the decision. 

If you have missed the application window, be sure to keep an eye on their website application page for when applications for funding in 2023 will open.

 

Updated: 18 February 2022