Returning students who applied for, and qualified for, funding through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) in the 2017 academic year do not need to reapply for NSFAS funding in 2018. Students are not required to provide proof of family income annually. Once they have been selected for funding they will be supported to complete their qualification provided they continue to meet the academic requirements, i.e. have passed 50% of their courses and are on track to complete in n+2 years.
The increase in percentage of combined household income to qualify for full support from NSFAS has been adjusted by 186.8% from R122 000 per annum in 2017 to R350 000 in 2018. This is the first time that the threshold in household income has been adjusted since the inception of NSFAS.