The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (Nsfas) has revealed that students who submitted bursary applications for the 2023 academic year will receive their funding decisions starting Monday, 6 February 2023. The funding list for Non-SASSA applicants and returning students will also be released to institutions by the 6th of February.

According to Nsfas, students who are beneficiaries of grants distributed by the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) have already received their funding decisions. Nsfas was able to provisionally approve these applications because they meet the financial eligibility required for Nsfas funding. However, their funding will be confirmed once their registration at an institution is finalized.

If a student is funded by Nsfas, they receive a comprehensive bursary that covers the costs of their studies, including tuition and accommodation fees and several allowances. However, students who receive an unsuccessful Nsfas application status can appeal the decision made by Nsfas before the 20 February 2023 deadline.

Nsfas explained that funding applications from non-SASSA applicants and returning students require financial and/or academic eligibility verification, which they complete with the help of third-party entities such as institutions and banks.

Overall, Nsfas’s announcement of the 2023 bursary application status is welcome news for students as they will soon know if they will be funded for the current academic year.