Do you know your NSFAS application status? This simple guide will help you check the status of your application as well as give you some information about what you should take note of.
Are you eager to find out the status of your NSFAS (National Student Financial Aid Scheme) application?
I understand how important this information is to you, so I have created this simple guide to help you check your NSFAS application status with ease.
Before we go through the entire process, take your time to check the table of contents below. It shows the overview of every topic treated on this page. If you see any topic that interests you, simply click on the link to jump to the particular section.
Table of Contents
Catch up
To be able to understand the entire process, you must understand some of the very useful information I provided about this topic earlier. Check the list below to catch up.
- I wrote about 10 bursary application tips for South Africans where I explained everything you must know about a bursary as well as a list of some of the bursaries for South African students.
- Again, I wrote the Ultimate Guide to NSFAS online application. In this guide, you will find the step-by-step NSFAS application process with photos to help make it easier for you to file your application.
- There is also the Ultimate Guide to NSFAS Appeal Procedures. Here, you will find all the information you need should your application get rejected. You can easily follow the procedures in this guide to file for an appeal.
These are some of the earlier topics I wrote about concerning NSFAS. In the current article, let us look at how to check the NSFAS application status. It is one of the key things you must know.
How to check NSFAS application status
Checking the NSFAS application status is a straightforward procedure. Follow the procedure below vividly so you do not miss out on anything.
The first step in checking your NSFAS application status is to visit the official NSFAS website. You can do this by typing “www.nsfas.org.za” into your web browser’s address bar and pressing “Enter.” This will take you to the NSFAS homepage. It should be similar to the one in the screenshot below.
Once you’re on the NSFAS homepage, look for the “MyNSFAS” tab which is at the top right corner of the page during the time of this article. Click on it to access the MyNSFAS portal, where you can check your application status. Right after clicking on it, you should land on the NSFAS login page which is similar to the one in the screenshot below.
To log in, you’ll need your MyNSFAS registered ID number and password. If you haven’t registered for a MyNSFAS account yet, you can do so by clicking on the “Register” or “Sign Up” option and following the on-screen instructions. There is also a full guide on the NSFAS online application. You can also read that for more insights. Remember to have your South African ID number or passport number handy during registration.
Once you are logged in, select “Track Funding Progress” from the menu items. This will open your NSFAS application status dashboard. There is one of two statuses you should see. “Funded” or “Unfunded“.
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Tracking Funding Progress
From the day you submit your application until it gets approved, the entire application goes through a process. All the stages of the process are indicated on your NSFAS status check dashboard. But what does each of the stages mean?
Read on while I explain all the individual stages of your application to you.
1. Application submitted
This is the very first stage of the application. It means you have successfully submitted your NSFAS application. It also means your application has been recently received but is not being worked on yet.
After this stage, your application will go the the next stage which is the Filtering stage.
2. Filtering
This is the stage where NSFAS starts working on your application. When your application gets to this stage, it means your information is being checked to make sure you are put into the right category.
Your information is checked and your application is sorted into completely new or returning applicant categories. There are so many other checks that are done during this stage that are not publicly disclosed.
From this stage, your application moves to the next stage.
3. Validation
This is the third stage. If your NSFAS application status indicates “Validation” it means your application is going through a validation process. The validation process includes third-party checks to confirm whether you have received other funding that makes you ineligible for NSFAS funding.
Your information is checked against SASSA funding and all others. Fortunately, if you have already received SASSA funding, you will still be eligible for NSFAS funding.
4. Evaluation
If your NSFAS application status progress indicates “Evaluation”, bravo!. You have passed the validation stage. During the Evaluation stage, your documents are checked.
Your documents are checked for accuracy, legality, and eligibility. If you have fully legal and accredited documents, this should be an easy test to pass.
5. Funding eligibility
One of the NSFAS application requirements is to provide information about your household income. During this stage of your NSFAS application status, the household income information you provided will be verified for eligibility.
If you pass this stage, your application will move to the sixth stage which is the “Awaiting results” stage.
6. Awaiting results
The “Awaiting results” stage only comes in when your school has not submitted your admission information to NSFAS.
If you have gained admission to the institution where you filed your NSFAS application, then the institution will have to provide your admission information to NSFAS. Is only when this is done before your application will pass the “Awaiting results” stage.
7. Awaiting registration
Awaiting registration is another stage of your NSFAS application status that is affected greatly by your institution. Your institution must submit registration information to the NSFAS before your application can pass this stage.
If you have been admitted to study at an NSFAS-supported institution, this should be easy.
8. Signing agreement
This is where your input is needed. When your application gets to this stage, you get notified to sign the bursary agreement. At this juncture, your application has been approved.
All that is left is for you to sign the agreement provided by the NSFAS and you are ready to receive your allowance. Make sure you read the agreement well before signing.
9. Payment
When your NSFAS status check progress indicates this, then it means you are finally ready to withdraw your allowance. This status means the funds have been released into your account.
You can withdraw your funds anytime you wish to do so.
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Other ways to check NSFAS application status
Apart from checking your application status through the NSFAS portal, there are other ways you can also check your status.
You can check your application status by monitoring your registered email inbox. Usually, NSFAS sends email notifications to your email notifying you of the account status.
You will also be receiving SMS notifications on your registered phone number alerting you of your application status.
FAQs
Here, I will answer all questions concerning the NSFAS status check procedures. If you have any question that has not been answered here, you can leave it in the comment section and I will reply as early as possible.
What should I do if my application is rejected?
When your NSFAS application gets rejected, you provide the reason why you got rejected. If you see the reason why you got rejected, you can fix your mistakes and file an appeal following the correct NSFAS appeal procedures I outlined earlier.
Can I call NSFAS to check my application status?
Of course, you can call NSFAS to check your application status. To do that, make sure you have your ID number ready since you will have to go through some verification.
If you have this information ready, call 08000 67327. Alternatively, you can also WhatsApp +27 78 519 8006 to get help.
Conclusion
Checking your NSFAS application status is a straightforward process that can be completed online through the MyNSFAS portal. By following these simple steps, you can stay informed about the status of your financial aid application and plan for your educational journey accordingly.
I hope this guide has been helpful in navigating the NSFAS application status check process. If you have any further questions or encounter any issues, don’t hesitate to reach out to NSFAS support through their official website or contact information.