On What Grounds Does NSFAS Approve Appeals? (2023) – Easy Guide

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Last updated on September 29th, 2022 at 10:06 am

Many students who want to appeal NSFAS decision on rejecting their application for funding will want to know on what grounds does NSFAS approve appeals?

Do you want to appeal to NSFAS to consider your NFAS Online Application and approve you for NSFAS funding?

Was your previous NSFAS application for funding unsuccessful and do you want to appeal but don’t know if NFAS will accept and approve your appeal?

Well then, that is what this post is about.

In this article, we’re taking you through the grounds on which you can appeal to NSFAS in order to get your appeal for funding approved.

We’ll also look at other related questions that are frequently asked about NSFAS appeal approvals.

So, let’s jump to the topics.

On What Grounds Does NSFAS Approve Appeals?

There are two major grounds NSFAS approves an appeal to be accepted and approved for funding. These factors include:

1. Qualifying for NSFAS funding
2. Meeting NSFAS appeal requirements

These are the two major factors that students must base their grounds on when appealing to NSFAS for funding.

Now that we know the grounds NSFAS approves appeals, let’s dive into each factor.

Qualifying For NSFAS Funding?

In order to appeal the decision taken against your application for funding by NSFAS, you must be a student who qualifies for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) funding.

Students who apply for NSFAS are demanded to meet the Requirements For NSFAS Funding otherwise, you cannot appeal to NSFAS for funding.

Students must be eligible for NSFAS funding before they can appeal their unsuccessful application.

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NSFAS qualifications are grouped into two. Thus new students applicants who qualify for funding and returning students who qualify for NSFAS funding.

We do recommend that you read Who Qualifies For NSFAS Funding? for the detailed information to know if you qualify to apply and appeal to NSFAS.

Grounds On Which NSFAS Approves Appeal

These are the grounds on which you can appeal to NSFAS if your application for funding was unsuccessful.

Failure To Meet Academic Performance Requirements

This ground can be used only by returning students. Returning students who have lost their NSFAS funding because they failed to meet the academic performance requirements can appeal to NSFAS.

According to the requirements, to maintain your funding, students are expected to pass at least 50% of their modules.

Therefore, if you fail to meet the academic performance requirements by not passing at least 50% of your modules, NSFAS will cancel your funding.

So, in order to get the funding back, you’re eligible to appeal and this can be a valid ground to appeal to NSFAS.

Taking A Gap Year

One of the grounds NSFAS approves appeals is when a student takes a gap year. When you take a gap year, NSFAS automatically cancels your funding and you lose all benefits of NSFAS.

Nonetheless, this ground makes you eligible to appeal to NSFAS to restore your funding when you return to continue your qualification.

You’ll have to apply if you need NSFAS funding after taking a gap year.

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Change In Combine Household Income

Students whose NSFAS application was unsuccessful because they didn’t meet the combined household income benchmark have the ground to appeal to NSFAS when there is a change in their household income.

According to NSFAS, students who qualify for NSFAS funding must have a combined household income not exceeding R350 000. per annum.

Also, a person with a disability household income must not exceed R600 000 per annum in order to get NSFAS funding.

NSFAS will not fund you if your combined household income is more than the stated amounts.

This means, if your previous application was rejected because your household income was more than the required amount, you can appeal for funding when there is a change in your income.

Lose of Employment

one of the grounds on which you can appeal to NSFAS for funding is when you lose your employment or your parents or legal guardian loses his or her job.

This means you automatically fall under the required combined household income and you can therefore appeal to NSFAS to fund you.

Stoping School On Medical Reasons

In a situation where you take a gap year base on medical reasons is a strong ground to appeal to NSFAS when you return to continue your education.

Also, when you fail to pass the 50% academic performance requirements because of health-related issues and lose your funding in the end, you can appeal to NSFAS.

Becoming A South African Citizen Or Permanent Residents

Another ground on which NSFAS approves appeal is when a student becomes a South African or gets a permanent resident’s permit.

Students who can be funded by NSFAS must be South African citizens. Therefore, once you become a citizen of South Africa, or get a permanent resident in South Africa, you can apply or appeal to NSFAS funding.

Students appeals to NSFAS for funding must base on at least one of the bove mentioned grounds.

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Now, let’s look at some of the frequently asked questions about on what grounds does NSFAS approves appeals?

How Long Does NSFAS Take To Approve Appeals?

There are hundreds of thousands of appeal letters that NSFAS works on once they open for students to submit their appeal motivational letters.

Despite the huge number, NSFAS manages to approve appeals as fast as they can. You should read How Long Does NSFAS Take To Respond To Appeal? to get the in-depth appeal approval process that NSFAS uses to decide to approve your appeal to get funded.

Will NSFAS Accept Your Appeal?

Well, lots of students who appeal to NSFAS end up getting their appeals accepted and approved for funding.

However, a lot goes on in the decision-making of whether your appeal should be accepted and approved for funding or not.

We do recommend that you read the article Will NSFAS Accept Your Appeal? for in-depth information.

How Do You Start An Appeal Letter?

You’ll need to write an appeal motivational letter through your MyNSFAS Account on the NSFAS website.

Again, you can Download NSFAS Appeal Forms to write your appeal letter.

That is why we have a full article on the guide to writing an NSFAS appeal letter successfully. You should read How To Write NSFAS Appeal Motivational Letter to write your appeal.

Note that www.nsfas.org.za is the webpage of NSFAS.

We do hope this article about on what grounds does NSFAS approves appeals was helpful.

You can ask your questions in the comment.