Does NSFAS Pay Registration Fee at UNISA? How Simple To Registration Process in 2024?

Q: What Is UNISA?

UNISA(University of South Africa) is an Open and Distance Learning(ODL) that uses the online medium of education to pursue degrees, diplomas, and certificates. UNISA also gives the study material.

Does NSFAS pay registration fee at UNISA? If you have the intention to get admission at UNISA purely rely on NSFAS funding. Then this question is important for you and many other prospective students who wish to enroll at the University of South Africa (UNISA). It’s pertinent to mention here that NSFAS covers the registration fee of UNISA.

NSFAS pays the registration fee at UNISA under special conditions. The popularity of NSFAS is to support eligible students by providing financial assistance to cover their tuition fees and other miscellaneous study expenses. Luckily, NSFAS covers the registration fees for qualifying students at UNISA to alleviate the economic costs that start from the course.

This scheme is a ray of hope for disadvantaged backgrounds and needy students who wish to pursue higher education. Let’s explore it in this article.

Does NSFAS Cover the Registration Fee at UNISA?

If you apply and NSFAS approves your funding for UNISA, they will cover both your registration fee and tuition fees. This support alleviates a significant portion of the major expenses for qualified students, allowing them to focus on their education.

What Is the NSFAS Registration Process at UNISA?

NSFAS Application Approval: If your application at NSFAS is approved provisionally according to the UNISA academic criteria, then no need to pay the minimum registration fee for activating your studies.
Confirmation from NSFAS: Now, UNISA will confirm from NSFAS in connection with funding status.
Automatic Activation: Based on this confirmation from NSFAS, UNISA will activate your registration automatically without any demand for payment from you.
Notification: UNISA will send an SMS of confirmation after your successful registration.

Conditions and Limitations

First-Year Students: Its application is only for the students who are the first qualified for the first years.
Postgraduate and Second Qualifications: It’s worth mentioning that NSFAS funding does not entertain registration fees for postgraduate studies or second qualification.

What Fees Does NSFAS Cover at UNISA?

Besides the registration fee, NSFAS funding at UNISA generally covers the following:

Tuition Fees: Tuition fees are given only for your registered modules.
Living Allowance: The living allowance is to help with accommodation and other essential living expenses for the students(amounts may vary based on individual circumstances).
Personal Care Allowance: In exceptional cases, a personal care allowance for incidental expenses may be provided.

NSFAS Does Not Cover

NSFAS generally does not cover the following things:

Application fees for NSFAS or UNISA
Additional course materials, such as prescribed textbooks
Late registration fees or penalties
Examination fees, including re-examinations and remarking
Accommodation or transport costs beyond the living allowance

How to Confirm NSFAS Payment of Registration Fee at UNISA?

These are the following ways to confirm if NSFAS has settled your registration fee at UNISA.

Track Your NSFAS Application Status: You can check the NSFAS online portal; it shows updates on your application at UNISA, including the registration confirmation with UNISA.
Check Your Unisa Student Account: You can also check it by logging into your myUNISA account; it will show now outstanding balance for the registration fee.
SMS Notification: A confirmation message will be sent by UNISA after successful registration activation.

What if You Pay the Registration Fee Before NSFAS Confirmation?

If you paid the registration fee before receiving NSFAS funding confirmation, you are eligible for a refund. Here’s what you need to do:

Wait for NSFAS Confirmation: You should wait for the confirmation of NSFAS with regard to your funding status.
Contact Unisa Finance Department: Once confirmed, get in touch with the UNISA finance department with your student number and the required documents that verify your NSFAS funding and registration fee payment.
Process Refund Request: The Finance department of UNISA will process the refund request.

Advice

Waiting for NSFAS confirmation before making any upfront payments is recommended to prevent unnecessary delays with refunds.

What if Your NSFAS Application Is Still Pending When Registration Opens?

If your application for NSFAS is still under review while UNISA registration opens, you should not panic. Here are your possible options:

Contact NSFAS: You should inquire about the estimation of the processing timeline for your application.
Contact UNISA: Inform the UNISA finance department of your situation. They might offer temporary registration options or payment plans while you await NSFAS confirmation, though late registration fees may apply. You should explain your query to the Finance Department of UNISA. The staff may offer the options of temporary registration or payment plans while you wait for the confirmation of NSFAS.

What If Your NSFAS Application Is Declined?

Please remember that if your NSFAS application is declined, you will need to settle the registration fee at UNISA as well as any other outstanding fees before you can proceed with your studies. There are various payment options, including the installments.

Which NSFAS Allowances Do UNISA Students Get?

The students of UNISA receive NSFAS funding allowances for learning materials and a living allowance at the following rate:

Learning Material Allowance: The calculation is based on the number of registered modules. The students of UNISA get R700 per module for the first four modules and a once-off amount of R5,460 for five or more modules.
Living Allowance: The living allowance is given to students who are registered for ten or more modules. Unfortunately, UNISA students do not qualify for the accommodation allowance.

Personal Care Allowance

The registered students at UNISA for ten or more modules are eligible for a personal care/ incidental allowance of R304.50 per month for 10 months, starting from February to November each year.

How UNISA Registration Works for NSFAS-Funded Students?

First-Time NSFAS Applicants

It’s a point to remember that you’re temporarily registered during UNISA’s registration period till the confirmation of NSFAS funding. Unfortunately, your application with NSFAS is declined or delayed by the close of the registration period; you’ve to arrange funding from alternate sources before your registration is activated.

Returning NSFAS Students

Previous Funding: You should make sure that you’re temporarily registered till the confirmation of your funding.
Appealed Decision: If you’ve declined NSFAS funding for the next year and have submitted an appeal, you have to pay the minimum registration fee till the decision of the NSFAS appeal.

NSFAS Direct Payment System

NSFAS makes payments of student allowances by using the NSFAS direct payment system. If your application with NSFAS has been approved provisionally, then no need to pay the minimum registration fee. On the basis of the NSFAS funding confirmation received by UNISA, your registration will be activated automatically.

You May Like Also This Article: NSFAS Login

Conclusion- Does NSFAS Pay Registration Fee at UNISA?

In this article, I hope you have learned “how does NSFAS pay registration fee at UNISA” in detail. NSFAS focuses on people with low incomes and working-class South African students. With NSFAS funding, students have the opportunity to get a degree, certificate, or diploma at UNISA.

The NSFAS funding covers registration fees for qualifying students to minimize their financial responsibilities. This support enables them to focus on their education.

FAQs

UNISA(University of South Africa) is an Open and Distance Learning(ODL) that uses the online medium of education to pursue degrees, diplomas, and certificates. UNISA also gives the study material.

The NSFAS supports bursaries to students who attend public universities and colleges. This funding is intended for students from poor and working-class backgrounds.

NSFAS funds students at UNISA. The allocation mechanism for NSFAS allowances with UNISA students is different due to the nature of UNISA’s online distance learning courses.

Apply for NSFAS funds to support your studies at UNISA requires a few clear steps. First, you need to apply before the deadline, which for 2024 funding is January 31. You can do this by creating a profile on myNSFAS or by using the NSFAS App.

Make sure you have your cellphone number and email handy as you’ll need them during the process. Once you activate your profile with the OTP pin sent to you, NSFAS can start communicating with you.

To be eligible, you must be a South African citizen or permanent resident, or an SASSA grant recipient, with a household income below certain thresholds. You’ll need to provide your valid South African ID, and income information, and complete additional forms if applicable.

If approved, NSFAS will disburse allowances for things like learning materials and incidentals, starting around February or March and continuing monthly until November. It’s important to accurately input your banking details in myUnisa for timely payments.

You’ll receive confirmation emails and pieces of advice before the allowances are paid into your account. Keep an eye on your myLife email for any updates or instructions from NSFAS.

Does NSFAS Pay Registration Fee at UNISA? How Simple To Registration Process in 2024?

Does NSFAS Cover the Registration Fee at UNISA?