The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is a government-funded organization that provides financial assistance to students in South Africa.
NSFAS aims to support students from disadvantaged backgrounds, enabling them to access higher education and achieve their academic goals.
What to Do If NSFAS Defunds You
What is an Appeal?
An appeal is a formal request to NSFAS to reconsider its decision not to award funding.
Students have 30 days to submit an appeal after receiving their application results.
Who Can Appeal?
- Students whose financial aid applications are rejected
- Continuing students whose financial aid is withdrawn
Who Cannot Appeal?
- Students registered for qualifications not funded by NSFAS
- Students who have reached N+2 (or N+3 for students with disabilities)
- Gap year students previously denied funding due to academic eligibility
Submitting an Appeal
To submit an appeal, students must:
- Log in to their myNSFAS profile
- Provide required information
- Submit the appeal within 30 days of receiving application results
Grounds for Appeal
- Exceeding income threshold due to changed financial circumstances
- Incapacitation or death of a household income contributor
- Court-declared independence from biological parents
- Child-headed household with social worker substantiation
- Divorced parents with court-determined maintenance responsibility
Failed to Meet Academic Eligibility
Appeals will be considered if:
- Continuing students with severe ill health, family death, or violent crime
- Students with disabilities and medical reports confirming qualification completion within an additional academic term
- Evidence of incorrect academic results
Reasons for Appeals and Rejection
Financial Eligibility
- Income exceeding R350,000 or R600,000 for disabled students
- Unsuccessful applications based on SARS data, credit bureau data, or declared income
Continuing Students
- Appeals for students who failed to meet academic eligibility due to circumstances such as illness, family death, or violent crime
NSFAS Contact
For more information or to submit an appeal, contact NSFAS:
Call Centre: 0800 067 327
Email: info@nsfas.org.za
WhatsApp: +27 63 093 5671
Office Address: The Halyard, 4 Christiaan Barnard St, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town, 8001