How to Apply for NSFAS Appeal through myNSFAS Account?

By Staff Reporter

Summary. This article answers the following questions:

• Who can submit a NSFAS appeal?
• Who cannot submit a NSFAS appeal?
• Where do I submit a NSFAS appeal?
• How do I apply for a NSFAS appeal through myNSFAS account?
• What are the reasons for a NSFAS appeal?
• What documents are needed for a NSFAS appeal?

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The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) appeal gives students, whose initial applications were not accepted, a chance for NSFAS to re-evaluate their applications.

Appeals are submitted within 30 days after the appearance of the ‘unsuccessful status’ in the student’s myNSFAS account. It is done with the necessary information and supporting document(s).

The account further indicates the reason(s) why an application was declined. Applications are declined due to various reasons, such as one submitting personal documents that could not be validated by the Department of Home Affairs. 

Who can submit a NSFAS appeal?

• Students who automatically have access to submit an appeal as their applications have been assessed as unsuccessful and indicated by the ‘unsuccessful status’ in the students’ myNSFAS account.
• New applicants are permitted to appeal if rejected based on (1) insufficient information provided, (2) financial ineligibility, and (3) academic ineligibility.
• Gap year students need to re-apply for NSFAS funding.
• Continuing students are permitted to appeal if rejected based on (1) financial ineligibility and (2) academic ineligibility.

Who cannot submit a NSFAS appeal?

• Students who have reached N+2 (or N+3 in the case of a student living with a disability).
• They are registered for qualifications that NSFAS does not fund.
• The details of the appeals indicate that the students are disclosing different parental or legal guardian information to those in their applications.
• Students with information in the appeal stating that they are independent while the application provides different details.
• Gap year students who NSFAS previously declined to provide them with financial aid because they did not meet the academic eligibility criteria.

Where do I submit a NSFAS appeal?

• If an appeal is submitted using email, it will not be accepted.
• Online appeals are only for applicants who applied for the first time during the previous year.
• For those who were funded by the scheme in the past year but did not qualify for assistance in the current year, the appeals need to be submitted at their respective institutions’ financial aid offices or student support services.

How do I apply for a NSFAS appeal through myNSFAS account?

• Log onto my.nsfas.org.za and select the “Login” option.
• Login by (1) typing your ID number and password, (2) clicking on the “I am not a robot” area to complete the relevant puzzle, and (3) clicking on the “Login” button.
• Once you have logged in, click the ‘Track Funding Progress’ option of your myNSFAS account.
• Check the application progress tab.
• If your application status reflects an unsuccessful message, submit an appeal by clicking on the ‘Submit appeal’ button.
• Once you are on the ‘Application appeal’ page, see the reason(s) for your unsuccessful application status.
• Motivate in writing reason(s) for appealing your application status (motivation must not exceed 1,000 characters, which include words and spaces).
• Upload certified supporting documents (maximum of five documents).
• Click ‘Submit appeal’.
• Track the progress of your appeal on your myNSFAS account.

What are the reasons for a NSFAS appeal? What documents are needed for a NSFAS appeal?

The appeal reason is essentially what caused your application to be declined and the reason(s) may vary from one applicant to another. When appealing, you are required to upload clear, valid and certified copies of the relevant, supporting document(s).

An affidavit will not be considered as a supporting document and applications without supporting documents will not be processed. Any outstanding documentation must be submitted within 14 days; if not, the appeal application will be automatically closed by NSFAS.

Here are some of the documents: Non-SASSA Declaration Form, Vulnerable Child Declaration and Consent Form, Human Support Claim Form, and Disability Annexure A. Download, fill in, and submit the relevant document(s) on time.

Questions you may have about NSFAS appeal

Q: I need to know my application results as I want to register, what should I do?
A: Log onto your myNSFAS account via my.nsfas.org.za to check your results.

Q: When is the closing date for NSFAS appeals?
A: A student must appeal within 30 days of receiving an unsuccessful funding status.

Q: My Application was unsuccessful, yet there is no appeal tab available on the myNSFAS account, what should I do?
A: If the appeal tab is not visible, it means that a student cannot appeal the funding decision.

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Feature image is a screenshot of a previous myNSFAS student portal’s log-in page.

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