The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) board has extended the deadline for applications for the student financial aid to Friday, January 21, 2022.

NSFAS spokesperson, Kagisho Mamabolo, said that since the application process opened in November last year, the scheme has received more than 600 000 applications.

“Potential applicants are urged to make use of the opportunity as there will be no further extension on the application deadline,” Mamabolo said.

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“NSFAS Chairperson, Ernest Khosa, briefed the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande, on the assessment done on the number of applications received to date. In this application cycle, NSFAS enhanced its application portal such that first-time applicants, who are SASSA beneficiaries, will receive a real-time response after submitting their application.”

To qualify for NSFAS funding you must be:

• A South African citizen.
• SASSA grant recipients (the SASSA Covid-19 grant does not count);
• Persons whose combined household income is not more than R350 000 per year.
• Persons living with disabilities with a combined household income not more than R600 000 per annum.
• A permanent resident or an individual who is in possession of a valid Permanent Residency Permit that was issued by the Department of Home Affairs in South Africa.

NSFAS applications can be submitted online through the myNSFAS portal at www.nsfas.org.za.