What does NSFAS Exceeded N+ Rule Enrollment means? Are you a student whose NSFAS application status shows that you’ve exceeded N+ rule enrollment? Do you want to understand what NSFAS exceeded n+ rule enrollment means?
Are trying to appeal to NSFAS but your status shows that you’ve exceeded the N+1 rule or N+2 rule?
Well then, you’re on the right page for the full explanation of what exceeded n+ rule enrollment means of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) funding eligibility.
We’ll also look at other frequently asked questions about the rule. So, let’s get started.
What Does NSFAS Exceeded N+ Rule Enrollment Means?
When your NSFAS status shows “Exceeded N+ Rule Enrollment”, it means that according to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, you have been studying longer than the expected time for you to complete your qualification as well as the extra one-year N+1 or the extra two years, N+2 years that NSFAS gives you in order to complete your qualification.
This means if you have studied more than the minimum years allocated for you to complete your qualification and also the additional 2 years that NSFAS funds you to help you to complete in case you could not finish your qualification at the expected time.
For example, if you registered for a 3-year degree from 2018, the minimum time allocated for you to complete your qualification is 2020 but, for whatever reason, you could not complete the qualification in 2020.
In such a case, if you’re funded by NSFAS, they will apply the N+2 years to help you with extra 2 years of funding in order to complete your qualification in 2022.
Again, if you could not complete your qualification in 2022, then NSFAS will revoke its funding and shows you the Exceeded N+ Rule Enrollment status.
At this point, NSFAS is telling you that you do not qualify for additional funding for your tertiary education henceforth, you’ll either fund yourself or seek another bursary to assist you with funding to complete your qualification.
Now that you have a fair knowledge of what is the meaning of NSFAS exceeded N+ rule enrollment, let’s look at some of the frequently asked questions (FAQs) about it.
Can I Apply For NSFAS With Exceeded N+ Rule Enrollment Status?
No, you cannot apply for NSFAS funding if your MyNSFAS Status Check shows that you’ve exceeded the N+ rule enrollment.
Even if you’re able to submit an application during the application period, NSFAS will not approve your application to fund you as long as you’ve exceeded the N+ rule enrollment.
Can I Appeal To NSFAS With Exceeded N+ Rule Enrollment Status?
No, you cannot appeal your application to NSFAS if your status shows that you’ve exceeded the N+ rule enrollment.
NSFAS has tried to prevent students who have exceeded the N+ rules from appealing hence, they have removed the appeal tab from the MyNSFAS Account of students affected by the rule.
This clearly indicates that NSFAS does not want students who have exceeded the N+ rule to appeal.
We do recommend that you read Who Cannot Appeal To NSFAS for the detailed information on students who are not allowed to appeal their application to NSFAS.
Why Does My NSFAS Status Show Exceeded N+ Rule Enrollment?
Your NSFAS application status shows exceeded N+ rule enrollment because you have studied more than the allocated minimum years to complete your qualification plus the extra years of NSFAS funding.
Therefore, you cannot receive funding from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme again for your tertiary education.
Why Does MyNSFAS Status Show Exceeded N+ Rule Enrollment When I Have Been Funded For Less Than 4 Years?
When NSFAS is applying the N+ rules, they count your eligible years of funding from the first year you registered at an institution and not from when you started to receive NSFAS funding.
This means the NSFAS N+ rule affects from the very first year you registered in either a university or TVET college even if at that time you were not funded by NSFAS.
For example, you registered in 2018 for a 4-year qualification but you got approved for NSFAS funding in 2020. In this scenario, the minimum number of years you’re expected to complete your qualification will be in 2021.
If you could not compete in 2021, NSFAS will apply the N+2 rule to help you with extra 2 years of funding.
However, the maximum number of years that NSFAS funds students are 5. So, if you’re unable to complete your qualification in 2022, it means you’ve exceeded the N+ rules which is your original allocated 4 years plus the 1 extra year adding up to the maximum 5 years of NSFAS funding.
You should read the NSFAS N+1 Rule and the NSFAS N+2 Rule for the full explanation.
www.nsfas.org.za is the webpage of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS)
We do hope this article on what is NSFAS exceeded n+ rule was helpful?
You can ask your questions in the comment.
24 comments
Good Day
I applied and studied Higher certificate in Law at Unisa 2022 which is a 1-year qualification.
I paid for my studies last year. This year I applied for a diploma in Correctional Management, which is a 3-year qualification. I was rejected by Nsfas because of N-rule exceeded. I checked my portal.
and I am automatically on appeal. I do not know how this work and if there are documents I needed to submit together with the appeal which is already in progress.
First, you should not have been affected by the N+ rule if you had only studied for 1 year unless you studied other qualifications before your 1 year of Law at UNISA.
So, just appeal. NSFAS will email you to inform you of the documents you must provide. You will know the documents they require from your appeal to send them to NSFAS.
good afternoon, i started using NSFAS at TVET for one year then moved to University in extended program from 2019 that is 4 years degree but my status is on rejected, with my counting I haven’t exceeded N+2 but the appeal button is not showing up. my status says “academic ineligibility as result of N+ rule”. I passed my modules with 60%.
According to NSFAS, the maximum funding years of each student is 5 years. And since you received funding from 2019, your 5-year funding eligibility is 2023. That is why they claim you’ve exceeded N+2 rule. You should contact NSFAS to make an inquiry.
Good day
How does it work when changing degrees in your first year? Does the first year count part of the N+1 rule, even though you’re not studying it anymore? At Tukkies
Yes, your years count from the very first year you started receiving NSFAS funding.
My status says exceeded N+ rule enrollment, is appealing still open?
NSFAS Appeals are currently closed.
Hi I’m in the situation of exceeded enrollment n+ this year and I left with 1 module in my higher certificate of which I have to pay it for myself,is it possible to apply nsfas next year to complete my course?
Once you have exceeded your eligible funding years and the N+ rule is taken effect, it’s difficult to get funding. However, let’s hope NSFAS makes changes in its rules for next year.
Hi
I am doing my 3rd year at TUT since 2020, before that I was doing a 6 months short programme at Unisa 2019 which I payed for myself, This is supposed to be my last year but won’t be since I failed two modules that I’m gonna have to repeat next year first semester, will The N+ rule affect me because of the programme that I did at Unisa?
Although NSFAS does not fund short courses, however, when NSFAS is counting your eligible years of funding, they include the first year you registered at an institution, in your case UNISA in 2019. So yes, you may get affected by the N+2 rule.
Hi. i was registered in TUT in 2015 and was funded by NSFAS then on 2016 i lost it due to poor performance and i couldnt appeal, so i was almost done with my qualification in 2021 but i had financial difficulties so i went home because i couldnt register so 2022 i registered with another institution and my status was unsuccessful, the reason was outstanding documents so an appeal option was there and i appealed, it got approved. now my status havent changed and the reason is that i have exceeded but i was only funded for 1 year in 2015 only
First, when NSFAS is applying the N+ rule, they count you eligible years of funding from the first year you registered into an institution, in your case 2015. The NSFAS N+ rule does not consider when you started receiving funding or how many years have you been funded.
However, if your appeal was approved and later canceled, you should try to make an inquiry from the Financial Aid Office of your institution or contact NSFAS to get to know the actual status.
NSFAS updated its website and system this year and many students have been experiencing lots of mistakes in their applications.
I was enrolled in 2018 for an extended program but my status says exceeded N+ rule enrollment, I never appealed before and I don’t have an appeal button.what do I do?
NSFAS is telling you that you’ve exceeded the eligible years of funding which is actually not true because you registered in 2018 and that makes you qualify for 2022 funding. You’ll be affected by the N+ rule if you have registered earlier than 2018.
With the missing appeal button, according to NSFAS, they have intentionally removed it from all students who are affected by the N+ rule to prevent them from appealing. So we advise you to make inquiries from the financial aid office in your institution and seek assistance.
Good day,
I completed my maþric 2018 and had no luck of space for 2 years. 2021 I registered at a college and received my allowance. 2022 I applied again for nsfas and I mentioned that I will study at a college instead I am registered at a varsity at the moment. My status says I have exceeded n+rule
You should appeal if the appeal tap appears in your MyNSFAS account because you still qualify for NSFAS if you registered at a college in 2018. However, you only have 2022 to get funded if your appeal is approved. This is because NSFAS uses the year you first registered at an institution when applying the N+ rules and not when you started to receive NSFAS funding.
how to appeal if the appeal tab is not visible on mynsfas portal
You can send your appeal to NSFAS via the email address applicationreview@nsfas.org.za
Good morning ,my daughter been taken at university but the problem is enesfas fid not respond yet so what must i do ,this is her first year please i need help
Now that the application is closed. The best options are to either to wait for her status or try to use the appeal tab and check if it will work for her to appeal.
Good day
I enrolled at a public university in 2014 for a three year degree had issues along the way and left end of that year. Came back in 2019 with no funding from nsfas. I re-applied for funding that year to get it in 2020 of which I did and in 2021. I did not pass 3 of my modules with online learning so now I’m 2022 nsfas is saying I have “exceeded n+ enrollment rule”. Could this be really be the case? I mean I have 2014,2019,2020 and 2021 on their system and on my institutions system. How could I have exceeded the n+ enrollment rule? Wasn’t this supposed to be my last year of funding?
You should therefore try to appeal.