NSFAS Appeal Process | Closing Date & FAQs Answered

Have you applied for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) but were unfortunately rejected? If so, don’t fret because NSFAS has a new appeal feature that allows you to submit an appeal.

This article will discuss everything you need to know about NSFAS appeal, its eligibility criteria, and its process; therefore, keep reading.

Let’s discuss what an appeal is, who is eligible to appeal their NSFAS applications and the appeal process.

Brief Overview

NSFAS appeal is a form of an official request to re-evaluate the decision and the rejected application of students who applied for the funds. By sending an appeal, you can still have the opportunity to receive the funds.

The basis for an appeal could be:

• Students provided incorrect data.
• Changes in the condition or affairs of students (loss of guardian, income, etc.).
• They did not fulfill the academic criteria.

Moreover, not everyone can have the chance to submit an appeal, so let’s look at the students who are eligible to appeal their NSFAS application.

Who can appeal for NSFAS?

The following students can apply for it:

• An appeal can be lodged by a student whose application is rejected.
• The financial support for the continuing student is withdrawn.
• Furthermore, only those students who have applied to NSFAS for funds can appeal.

Who are Not Eligible?

The students can not appeal if :

• The student is enrolled in courses that NSFAS does not support.
• They are a GAP year student (you must re-apply for NSFAS ).
• They reached N+2 or N+3 regarding students with disability. Hence if you exceed the N+ rule, you won’t be able to appeal.

NSFAS Appeal For N+ Rule Students

The N+ rule refers to the number of years a student is allowed to receive the funds. The N donates the minimum duration required to achieve a certain qualification, whereas +1 refers to additional years added to complete that certain qualification.

If students do not complete the degree or qualification within the assigned number of years, they will stop receiving funds from NSFAS. Hence if students exceed N+2 (additional two years) or N+3, they will not be eligible to appeal for an NSFAS application.

How to Reapply for NSFAS Application?

For NSFAS appeal for returning students, 2023 closing date is within 30 days of being evaluated as “unsuccessful.”

Furthermore, the important required documents for appeal must be delivered within 14 days. Hence, your appeal will not be considered if you fail to deliver the documents within the appropriate date.

Now, let’s focus on the step-by-step guide on submitting an appeal.

Step 1: Visit The NSFAS Official Website And Log In

First, navigate to the website nsfas.org.za and click on “myNSFAS,” present at the top right corner of the screen. Then enter your login credentials and log into your account.

Step 2: Open Application Portal

After logging in, you will see the option “Track Application Progress” Select it. Now check your application status; if it shows “un-successful,” you can submit your appeal by clicking the “appeal” option.

Step 3: Select a Suitable Reason

They will ask about the reason and motivation behind this decision, hence give a suitable reason.

Step 4: Upload Required Documents

You need to provide the following documents and details:

• Your medical certificate.
• The guardian’s death certificate.
• Proof of income or your financial situation.
• Academic transcripts and more depending upon the reason behind your application rejection.

Upload these authentic documents and click submit to deliver your appeal.

Step 5: You will receive an SMS

You will receive an automated message from the NSFAS system indicating the successful completion of your appeal, along with a reference number. Therefore, your application status will be updated to the appeal received.

How You Can Make Your Appeal Letter More Impactful?

To make an impactful appeal letter, you should include the following details:

• You should include details about your institution and year of enrolment.
• Highlight the impact of the funding on your education.
• Provide a valid and concrete reason as to why you need NSFAS funding.
• In the letter, display your enthusiasm for learning and pursuing further education.

There are various sample letters that you can read to create an impactful and better appeal letter.

The NSFAS Appeal Statuses Explained

Let me give you a brief description of the different appeal statuses:

• Submitted: It means your appeal was successfully submitted but still needs to be evaluated.
• Appeal In Progress: Your appeal letter is still being assessed.
• Appeal Approved: This implies your appeal has been assessed, so if your status shows “approved,” you are provisionally approved for funding. And your funding is currently awaiting final approval.
• Appeal Pending Outstanding Documents: The applicants need to submit additional required documents.
• Appeal Withdrawn: It means the student has withdrawn the appeal.

Solution for SASSA “NSFAS Registered” Status

Millions of people have made an attempt to apply for Social Relief of Distress (SRD), but not everyone has been successful. There might be various reasons, but one of the reasons could be that an applicant was “NSFAS Registered,” meaning that the applicants are the recipient of NSFAS.

Therefore, if your status shows “NSFAS Registered,” it implies you are not eligible to apply for SRD or any other bursary programs.

If you find yourself in this dilemma, you can take the following steps:

1. Open SASSA’s website https://srd.sassa.gov.za/.
2. Navigate to the “application reconsideration” option and click it.
3. Enter your authentic and valid South African ID and registered phone number.
4. You will be presented with options “reason for decline” and “reason for reconsideration”; select the latter.
5. A list will pop up; among the options, click on “Not NSFAS registered.”
6. And lastly, follow the instructions to appeal for reconsideration of your application successfully. The appeal evaluation may take some time; therefore, be patient.

FAQs

To Sum it Up

To conclude, the NSFAS appeal is a request to reconsider the decision of not granting financial assistance to students. Hence you now have a second opportunity to receive the funds. The NSFAS appeal process is easy and simple; you can do it online through the NSFAS official website.

Furthermore, remember that you must file an appeal within 30 days of receiving an unsuccessful assessment. And upload the important documents within 14 days. Therefore keep these days in mind to not lose the opportunity to file an appeal.