Which Postgraduate Courses Will The NSFAS Loan Cover? Full List of South African Postgraduate Courses Funded by NSFAS from South African Universities and TVET Colleges.
Does NSFAS Fund Postgraduate?
NSFAS provides fully subsidised free higher education and training for poor and working class South Africans. Here are the postgraduate qualifications they will fund.
NSFAS does not provide funding for any postgraduate qualification. They will only cover undergraduate courses.
Which Postgrad Courses Will The NSFAS Loan Cover?
Strategic Enablement Executive at NSFAS, Vuyokazi Mafilika that the NSFAS loans will cover all-encompassing postgraduate qualifications.
NSFAS missing middle loans will have a particular emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) programmes, constituting 70% of beneficiaries. The remaining 30% will be allocated to Humanities and social science programmes.
She continued to explains:
There are concerns around funding for postgraduate research-based qualifications. As part of strengthening the policy document, we are expanding provisions for postgraduate funding and the requirements thereof.
Requirements for student loans
- Students who apply for the new scheme must meet the following criteria:
- Annual household income between R350,001 and R600,000
- Studying at a public university
- Must achieve average of 60% in their course work to continue funding
If students achieve more than 70%, and finish within prescribed time of course, they can have 50% of the loan written off, on application.
70% of the NSFAS loans being made available will be to fund qualifications within the science, technology, engineering and mathematical fields. The remaining 30% I’ll be geared towards humanities and social Sciences qualifications.
Nzimande revealed that NSFAS is currently in the process of formulating eligibility criteria and funding conditions for the loan scheme,
Students who are Sassa beneficiaries won’t need to apply for a NSFAS loan as they would receive a NSFAS bursary.
Should applicants receive a NSFAS rejection, they can submit a NSFAS appeal. Students who are Sassa beneficiaries won’t need to submit a NSFAS appeal as they are immediately approved for NSFAS funding.
Loan Forgiveness and Distinctions
A notable distinction between NSFAS student loans and traditional student loans is that students achieving over 70% and completing their courses within the prescribed timeframe can apply to have 50% of the loan forgiven. This emphasizes academic excellence as a pathway to easing the financial burden of education.
