NSFAS Student Portal

The NSFAS Student Portal is one of the greatest initiatives of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme which help students navigate the everyday processing of NSFAS activities.

Managing the NSFAS funding has never been an easy task. Before, you would have to go through several phases to make this a possibility, but in recent times, everything can be achieved all in one place. In this article, we are going to learn all about the NSFAS student portal and how beneficial it is. Continue reading to find out more in the proceeding paragraphs.

Purpose Of The NSFAS Student Portal

There are several reasons why the NSFAS student Portal was introduced and has thus become a go-to portal for students who are beneficiaries of the scheme. Here are a few of the purposes that the NSFAS student portal serves;

With the help of the NSFAS student portal, students will be able to apply for funding online in a fast, easy and quick way without having to go to the office. Just by staying in the comfort of wherever they are, they will be able to apply.
The NSFAS student portal also makes it easy for students to track their application online. By logging into the portal, students who have applied will be able to see the status of their application.
Again, the portal makes it easier for students to update or make corrections to their personal details.
The student portal can also be used to upload all supporting documents. The applicant will only have to log in with their personal details, and they will be able to make all of these changes.
With the portal, applicants will be able to view funding decisions and allowance payments.

These are just a few of the purpose that the NSFAS student portal serve.

How To Register On The NSFAS Student Portal

Registering on the NSFAS portal is simple. The process is seamless, and anyone can do it as it requires no special skill. Before we get into the process, let’s talk about some of the things you would need to register for the NSFAS portal.

You will need your South African ID card, but if you are a non-South African, then your passport will be needed for this process.
You will also need your full name. This name should be the same as it is on your ID card.
You will also need a valid email address, as this will be used for communication
Your cellphone number will also be needed. Make sure it is active, though
Last but not least, you will need a smart device and a secure password. You will also need an active internet service as this process is purely online.

Now that that is out of the way, let’s continue with how to register on the NSFAS student portal.

Here is how to go about it;

The first thing you have to do is to visit the NSFAS website here www.nsfas.org.za
Once there, you have to click on myNSFAS to start the registration process.
When there, click on register
You will be asked to enter some personal information, including your name, telephone number, etc.
Make sure you have entered everything correctly. You will be asked to choose a username and a unique password.
Once that is done, an OTP will be sent to your phone. The reason why you have to enter the details correctly.
Enter the OTP to verify your account. Note that the OTP expires, so make it quick.
When that is done, your account is ready for you to access. Go back to the homepage and access your account by logging in with your username and unique password.

Logging Into The NSFAS Student Portal

Logging into the NSFAS student portal is signing into your page after you have registered on the portal. Here is how to go about it;

Visit the official NSFAS student portal and make sure you have internet connectivity
Type your email address or ID number that you used to register. Then enter your password
Continue by tapping on the sign-in button to log in
Once you have logged in, you will have access to the following;

Track your funding application status.
Update personal or contact details.
Submit documents if requested.
View allowances and funding decisions.

How To Apply For NSFAS Funding Through The Portal

Applying for the NSFAS funding has never been easier, especially since the inception of the Portal. With this, the applicant can have a seamless application process. Here is how to go about it;

As always, you have to first log in to the portal with your email address or username and your unique password.
If you don’t have an account, you have to register on the portal. You can do this by referring to the process in the previous subheading.
When you are done, start the application process by clicking on Apply on the dashboard.
Fill in the application form with your details, including your name, age, date of birth, and all other household information.
The next stage is for you to upload all of your documents, including supporting documents. These include, but are not limited to, the following;

Certified copy of your ID or birth certificate
Parent/guardian’s ID copies
Proof of income (if applicable)
Your latest academic results

You have to make sure all the documents are in the correct format, which is either JPEG or PDF
The next thing is to review your application. When you are confident that everything is done, you can go ahead to submit.
After submission, you will receive either an email or an SMS that your application has been received.
You can track the status of your application by signing into your portal and clicking on Track Your Application.

Checking NSFAS Application Status

When an applicant has gone through the NSFAS application process, they would want to know the status of their application. This is simple. Here is how to check your NSFAS application process;

Visit the official NSFAS student portal and make sure you have internet connectivity
Type your email address or ID number that you used to register. Then enter your password
Continue by tapping on the sign-in button to log in
Navigate to the application status
You can now see your application status, which is the stage your application is in.

You may be wondering what the NSFAS application status means. Each status has a meaning behind it. This is what it means;

Application Submitted: This means that your application has been received and is probably going through the review phase.
Filtering: This means that the NSFAS is checking to see if you meet the application requirements or if you are eligible.
Evaluation: This means that your documents and household documents are being reviewed by NSFAS.
Funding Eligibility: This means that the NSFAS is checking if you qualify for funding.
Awaiting Academic Results/Admission: NSFAS is waiting for your institution to provide your results or confirm your admission.
Provisionally Funded: You have been approved, but NSFAS is waiting for final confirmation from your institution.
Funded: This means that your funding has been approved, and you will be receiving your first allowance soon.
Application Unsuccessful: Your application was not approved. You may submit an appeal if you believe there was an error.

Updating Personal And Academic Information

Updating your Personal and academic information on the NSFAS student portal is simple; here is what to do;

Visit the official NSFAS student portal and make sure you have internet connectivity
Type your email address or ID number that you used to register. Then enter your password
Continue by tapping on the sign-in button to log in
Navigate to Personal details
Once you are here, you can go ahead and make all the changes you want.
When you are done, go over it to see if you have done the correct thing, then click on submit.

Uploading Required Documents

Visit the official NSFAS student portal and make sure you have internet connectivity
Type your email address or ID number that you used to register. Then enter your password
Continue by tapping on the sign-in button to log in
Follow this by going to upload documents and adding the document type.
Always make sure the document is in the right format.
Upload the files and click on submit.

Note the following;

Always use certified copies. The copies should not be more than three months old.
Make sure the documents are clear and not blurry.
Make sure you upload all documents at ago to avoid delays.
Save some of the copies on your device for future reference.

Understanding NSFAS Payment Schedules

When your NSFAS funding is approved, NSFAS will cover funding for your tuition and other allowances. Beneficiaries need to understand how this works. Here is a breakdown;

The NSFAS pays the allowance to students through the NSFAS wallet for TVET students and through the account numbers or the university’s financial aid office for university students.
The NSFAS pays the allowance every month. Living, transport, and personal care allowances are usually paid once per month.
The NSFAS does not pay in December and January.

Contacting NSFAS Support Through the Portal

You can contact the NSFAS through the help or support section on the portal.
You can also fill out the query form on the portal
The other way is to call their toll-free number or email them.

Common Issues and Troubleshooting

Login problems: You can solve this by using the forgotten password option to solve it.
Account locked: This can be solved by waiting a few hours before trying to log in again.
Application not showing: Make sure you have fully completed the application form and submitted it.
Error uploading documents: This happens when you do not use the correct format to upload documents. Make sure you are using the right format.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who Can Apply For NSFAS Funding?

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme is to support students who are not financially capable of supporting themselves. Whereas everyone can apply for this, the applicant needs to meet certain criteria.

They have to be South African
Their household income should not be more than R350,000
They should be a TVET or University student or have already applied.

When Is The NSFAS Application Period?

The NSFAS application is not open all year round. There are times in the year when the application window is closed. Here is the application period for NSFASA.

Opening Date: Typically in September or November.
Closing Date: Usually by the end of January in the new academic year.

This means that, application for this year will be opened soon.

How Long Does NSFAS Take To Process Applications?

The application goes through a myriad of phases before the NSFAS actually confirms funding. But typically, it takes 6 to 8 weeks. It must be noted that this may vary depending on the volume of applications that have been received. If you have not heard from NSFAS after eight weeks, you can go ahead and contact them.

Can I Edit My Application After I Submit It?

Yes, once you have submitted your application, you can edit it, but within a specified time frame. You have from the day you submitted your application to the closing date of applications to make your desired changes. Following this time frame, you will not be able to edit again.

What Happens If My Application Is Rejected?

Once your application is rejected, you can do a host of other things. The first thing you can do is to appeal. Go through the appeal website to log in and start your appeal process.

Conclusion

In all truth, the NSFAS student portal has come to made the application swift and stress-free. There is not much to do; you just have to register, and then you can transact a lot of NSFAS activities without the worry of having to go to the office. All you need is a smart device and an active internet connection.