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Rules of the
National Student Financial Aid Scheme
as administered by the University of
Johannesburg (UJ)
FA1.
General
FA1.1
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has appointed the
University of Johannesburg to administer funds on its behalf. The UJ is
therefore obliged to adhere to all requirements set by NSFAS.
FA1.2
NSFAS loans may be granted to students who are considered to be both
financially needy and academically deserving. The means test, as required by
NSFAS, will be used to establish financial need.
FA1.3
The fact that a NSFAS loan has been granted once does not oblige the NSFAS
or the UJ to grant any further loans later.
FA1.4
The NSFAS funds can only be allocated according to availability and the UJ
will apply the set academic and financial criteria in every allocation period.
FA1.5
The NSFAS sets the minimum and maximum loan amounts yearly, and the UJ
is legally obliged to adhere to these limits.
FA1.6
A NSFAS loan covers only:
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Tuition fees
UJ residence fees;.
selected outside accommodation;
Books
Equipment (only if arrangements can be made with outside suppliers)
Note: All funds are allocated within the parameters of the individual award
(see FA2.10)
FA1.7
A NSFAS loan does not cover:
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cancelled subjects;
excursions or tours;
interest on overdue accounts;
late-registration fees;
meals;
registration fees
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FA1.8
residence deposits;
subjects added to students’ registration at a later stage.
traveling allowances;
uniforms;
Since the NSFAS requires that students or their families must make an own
contribution towards paying the total costs of studies, students must pay the
prescribed registration fee with every registration. A portion of the fees as
determined by the means test, may also be payable.
NSFAS AWARD = Actual Costs– Bursaries/payments – Expected family contribution.
FA1.9
Interest on NSFAS loans will be calculated according to the NSFAS guidelines.
FA1.10
If a student performs academically well according to the NSFAS guidelines, up
to 40% of the loan may be converted into a bursary.
FA1.11
Students must start repaying the loan once their annual earnings exceed a set
yearly amount as determined by the NSFAS.
FA1.12
Any credit balances on accounts will be sent to the NSFAS as a first loan
repayment. NO credit balance will be paid out to a NSFAS student.
FA1.13
Payment of outstanding balances will only be considered once all existing
contracts have been finalised.
FA1.14
Students must notify the Bursary & Loan Division if they receive other
bursaries or loans.
FA1.15
Student accounts are at all times students’ personal responsibility, and not that
of the NSFAS or the UJ. Students must verify their accounts regularly to make
certain that the account has been paid on behalf of the NSFAS.
FA1.16
Any exceptions are based on merit and may not be seen as creating a precedent.
FA1.17
Second contracts may be considered if funds are available at the end of the
allocation period.
FA2
Qualifying for a NSFAS loan
FA2.1
Students must apply for a NSFAS loan on the prescribed form and comply with
the following requirements:
FA2.1.1 The application form must be completed in full and the information provided
must be accurate and the most recent. The application will be turned down if it
does not comply with these stipulations.
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FA2.1.2 Students who claim to receive no financial support from their families must
produce proof of this statement before their NSFAS applications will be
considered. Where applicable, the relevant parent, must complete a statement
giving his reason for withholding financial support from the applicant.
FA2.1.3 Students must submit death certificates if one or both of their parents are
deceased.
FA2.1.4 Students must submit proof of unemployment in the form of an affidavit if one
or both of their parents are unemployed.
FA2.1.5 If parents are unemployed, students must submit proof of what the family is
living on.
FA2.1.6 If students’ parents were never married, students must submit an affidavit from
the parent with whom they are living.
FA2.1.7 If students’ parents are self-employed in the informal sector as hawkers, for
example, or if they work from home, the parents must submit an affidavit on the
amount that they earn.
FA2.1.8 Only students who are over 23 years old and living away from home
permanently will be regarded as self-supporting.
FA2.1.9 Students must provide their most current pay slips and applicable
documentation where necessary.
FA2.1.10 No faxed copies of documents will be accepted.
FA2.2
The following stipulations apply to every year and every period of registration
for NSFAS loan applications:
FA2.2.1 Year and first-semester students must apply before 1 November of the
current year for a loan to be granted the following year.
FA2.2.2 Students registering for the second-semester must apply before 15 May of
the current year for a loan to be granted in the second half of that year.
FA2.2.5 No late applications will be considered.
FA2.2.6 A loan is granted for one year or semester only (depending on the registration).
FA2.3
Applicants must be South African citizens. Permanent residents who are not
South African citizens do not qualify.
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FA2.4
Applicants must already have been accepted as registered full-time students
before a loan may be considered.
FA2.5
Loans are only available for a first tertiary educational qualification (full time
National Diploma programme, or undergraduate Baccalareus degree such as
BCom, BA, BSc). A BTech programme is regarded as a second qualification,
and the NSFAS will not assist students unless the BTech concerned is essential
for practising in a chosen profession (e.g. Chiropractic or Homoeopathy). Loans
are not granted for Access, Career orientated foundation, Pre-Tech, Certificate
or any other “short” vocational courses.
FA2.6
Senior students must have passed at least 60% of the registered subjects or
modules in the previous year.
FA2.7
First-year students must comply with the minimum entrance requirements for
the particular qualification as set out in the respective UJ Faculty regulations
brochures. Only first semester fees will be paid for these students. Second
semester fees will only be paid if students pass 60% of the number of registered
subjects for the first semester.
FA2.8
Students must be enrolled for not less than 50% of a full programme load in any
year or semester. Since this can only be determined after registration, a NSFAS
loan may be withdrawn if it is found that students do not comply with this
requirement. This requirement also comes into effect if the cancellation of a
subject causes the full programme load to drop below 50%. An exception to this
rule will only be made once for final-year students who have one or two
subjects outstanding to complete their qualification, on condition that they
qualify for a NSFAS loan, including the minimum amount requirement.
FA2.9
Students will only be assisted with a NSFAS loan for up to five years for the
first qualification. (refer to FA2.5)
FA2.10
Students’ financial neediness will be determined by the NSFAS means test: It is
a test used by all institutions and makes it possible to determine the exact value
of the NSFAS loan and the expected family contribution.
FA2.10.1 They must be members of families who cannot afford to pay for the programme.
FA2.10.2 They may not already have been awarded any other bursary or scholarship that
covers the full cost of studies.
FA2.10.3 They must be unable to provide acceptable guarantees to obtain a loan from a
commercial bank.
FA2.10.4 They must be unable to finance their studies without a NSFAS loan.
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FA2.11
It is compulsory for students to register:
FA2.11.1 with the prescribed minimum registration fee;
FA2.11.2 within the officially published UJ registration period.
FA2.12
Students must correctly complete a NSFAS contract (loan agreement form)
within two weeks after every registration period. An appointment to hand in this
loan agreement form must be made during registration and it must be handed in
at the Bursary & Loan Division with:
FA2.12.1 a certified copy of the student’s identity document;
FA2.12.2 an account statement signed by the student to confirm the correctness of the
account;
FA2.12.3 two signed invoices if the student makes use of outside accommodation.
FA2.13
According to the National Credit Act a quotation and questionnaire, supplied by
the UJ must be signed by the student.
FA2.14
Students will forfeit the loan if they do not hand in a contract within the
stipulated period.
FA2.15
The UJ reserves the right to withdraw a loan if students receive a full bursary
elsewhere.
FA3.
Communication with students
FA3.1
Although the Bursary & Loan Division will communicate with students via
notices or flyers on Campus, students are personally responsible for making
sure that they are informed about closing dates and other requirements.
FA3.2
The results of the applications will be published on UJ notice boards 10 days
after the official publication of examination marks. Any other methods can only
be regarded as additional efforts to bring the outcome to the attention of
students. Students are therefore personally responsible for consulting the
noticeboards to determine the outcome of the NSFAS applications.
FA4.
Outside accommodation
FA4.1
Students can only apply for outside accommodation after the official
notification from Student Accommodation has been received to confirm that no
UJ accommodation is available.
FA4.2
Students must hand in:
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FA4.2.1 two copies of a pro-forma invoice (a preliminary invoice) from the
establishment concerned;
FA4.3
The amount made available for outside accommodation will not exceed the
amount made available for UJ residence accommodation.
FA4.4
Students are at all times personally responsible for the account, including the
outstanding balance.
FA4.5
Outside accommodation will be paid on a monthly basis through the Eduloan
Wizzit card.
FA4.6
Students who enter into a contract with outside accommodation establishments
do so in their private capacity. The UJ will not be held responsible for any
outstanding balances, additional costs, damage to personal property and
personal harm that may arise from students’ taking up outside accommodation.
FA5.
Eduloan Wizzit Cards
FA5.1
If a student qualifies for a book allowance, an amount for books will be
transferred to an Eduloan Wizzit card.
FA5.2
Books may be bought at the allocated bookstores until the end of September of
each year.
FA5.3
Students may not buy computers, printers or digital equipment with money
allocated to books
FA5.4
Students may not buy books for other students in exchange for cash.
FA5.5
Unutilized credit will be transferred back to the student account. (see also
FA1.12)
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FA6.
Appeal Committee
FA6.1
Students with exceptional circumstances, wishing to appeal financial aid
decisions may hand in appeal forms at the Financial Aid Office on Campus.
Official appeal forms must be handed in before/on the closing dates and should
include the required documents and motivations.
The decision of the Financial Aid Appeal Committee is based on merit without
creating a precedent. Decisions made by the Financial Aid Appeal Committee
are final.
FA6.2
FA6.3
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BURSARIES ADMINISTERED THROUGH NSFAS
FA7.1
NSFAS administers some bursaries on behalf of bursary schemes. All
requirements are set by the bursary scheme and will be published separately.
These include:
Department of Labour (DOL) bursary programme for students with disabilities
Fundza Lushaka bursary programme
Nedbank bursary programme
Social Development bursary programme
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