FUNDER RELATIONS MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME
BACKGROUND AND MANDATE
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) provides financial aid to South African students using funds provided mainly by the government. The NSFAS Act No. 56 of 1999, section 14 (1) (b) and (e) refers to Funds of NSFAS; the funds of the NSFAS consist of (b) donations or contributions and (e) any other income received by the NSFAS.NSFAS FUNDER RELATIONS MISSION
The NSFAS Funder Relations Management Programme was established to manage bursary programmes on behalf of funding entities through the execution of the NSFAS mandate incorporating the increased funding amounts obtained from current funding entities in the form of Sector Education and Training Authority’s (SETA) national and provincial government departments.THE STRATEGY
The Funder Relations Management Programme strategy recognises the fact that since competition and demand for funding of socio-economic conditions of many people has remained and high and stiff in the country; NSFAS therefore must position itself competitively within the fundraising and funding management environment as an entity aligned to objectives helping students from poor financial backgrounds access tertiary education.The Funder Management Programme’s four pillars strategy include:
- Broadening the resource channels
- Framework of dialogue with funders
- Increasing capacity for fundraising
- Planning, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation
PARTNERSHIP BENEFITS
- Maximise the funds managed by NSFAS through the funding capabilities created through partnerships.
- Maximise value for the donor/funder through expert stakeholder engagement.
- Provide the growth required to supplement the income decline due to NSFAS business model.
- Offer comparative advantage and leverage on strengths as well as areas of interest to address funding challenges.
- Provide room to come up with ideas, take them to scale and come up with solutions.
- Encourage collaboration based on common interest.
COLLABORATE WITH NSFAS
HOW CAN YOU PARTNER WITH NSFAS?
NSFAS has over the years established and developed relationships with various industry stakeholders. These relationships must be cultivated, and new partnerships/relationships created to be leveraged and utilised for new funding.PARTNER WITH US
Let us know which services you are most interested in by sending an email to FunderRelationsTeam@nsfas.org.za and we will get in touch with you.OUR CURRENT FUNDING PARTNERS
Department of Basic Education DBE’s Funza Lushaka
The 2015 Centre for Development and Enterprise [CDE] report noted one of the greatest challenges facing the South African education system as the production of enough competent teachers who can provide quality teaching for all school subject phases.
Attracting young educators into the system has become a necessity in realisation of the aging teacher profile. The Funza Lushaka bursary programme seeks, in line with goal 14 of the action plan to 2030, to identify and recruit youth from all provinces to increase the supply of young teachers in the education system. For this reason, the strategic objective of the department through the Funza Lushaka bursary programme is to attract a new group of young, motivated, and appropriately trained teachers to the teaching profession every year. Therefore, the Funza Lushaka bursary programme will target students who are below 30 years of age to be considered for funding.
The merit-based criteria for awarding the bursary have contributed to a higher calibre of students entering initial teacher education programmes.
Courses covered
Two types of qualifications are be funded through the bursary:
1. A 4-year Bachelor of Education degree (B Ed), Specialising in Foundation Phase (FP) (Grade R – 3), Intermediate Phase (IP) (Grade 4 – 6), Senior Phase (SP) (Grade 7 – 9) and Further Education and Training (FET) Phase (Grade 10-12).
2. One-year Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) in SP/FET Phase teaching for graduates.
Requirements
Selection criteria include the following:
• The Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme will target students who are below 30 years of age to be considered for funding.
• Allocation of Funza Lushaka bursaries to Higher Education Institution employees, their spouse and their dependents/children is not permissible.
• The Funza Lushaka bursary is a prestigious bursary aimed at attracting high quality students to become teachers. Thus, it does not
fund an extended programme.
• Students will need to meet the legal and institutional entrance requirements and be accepted into a study programme before they can
apply for the bursary.
• Bursaries can only be provided for students who are registered for initial teacher education programmes offered at a Public Higher
Education Institution, which are on the institution’s programme-qualification mix (PQM), are accredited by the CHE, and are recognized for employment in education by the Department of Basic Education.
• The bursary is only awarded to South African citizens with a valid South African ID number.
• The applicant should demonstrate good academic ability.
• Students must meet the minimum academic criteria for award of the bursary.
• It is expected that a student specializing in SP/FET should take either at least two FET subjects or one FET and one SP.
• Students studying towards a Postgraduate Certificate in Education – (PGCE), Further Education and Training(/FET) may either take two FET subjects; one FET subject and one Specialization (SP) subject.
• The applicant must show commitment to a teaching career, which includes interest in working with young people; enthusiasm for a
professional career in teaching; readiness to face and surmount difficult challenges and personal integrity.
• The applicant must be committed to teach in any school to which a student may be placed by a Provincial Education Department (PED).
Repayment
Recipients of these bursaries will be required to teach at a public school for the same number of years that they used the bursary. No repayment will have to be made unless the bursary holders’ defaults on the conditions of the bursary contract. In such cases, the amount that is repayable is the full amount of the bursary received under the programme, less than a year's funding for every year spent teaching at a public school. Interest will be charged at the rate determined by NSFAS.
What does the bursary cover?
1. Funza Lushaka bursaries cover most of the recipient’s essential expenses inclusive of tuition, accommodation including meals, books and learning materials, and if possible, a small allowance for monthly living expenses. The allocation to any individual student is capped at a specific value. Where the university charges more than the capped value the bursars will have to top up from own funds. Universities have different cost structures, so the total value of a bursary differs from institution to institution.
2. The bursary is awarded for one academic year at a time. It is not automatically re-awarded. Re-award will depend on academic success. There is no automatic promise of support for 4 years plus 1 more year. On evidence of academic success, and pending the availability of funds, the bursary may be renewed each year until the recipient of the bursary has qualified as a teacher.
NSFAS partnership since inception
NSFAS has been appointed to financially administer the Funza Lushaka bursary funding and has been administering the funds on behalf of the department since 2007. NSFAS’ roles and responsibilities are set out in an approved Memorandum of agreement (MOA)that was signed on December 14, 2018. 147164 Funza Lushaka bursaries have been awarded between 2007 and 2019 at a cost of R 9,6 billion.
For more information on the Funza Lushaka bursary programme please visit: www.education.gov.za or www.funzalushaka.doe.gov.za
National Skills Fund (NSF)
The NSF is a Schedule 3A public entity under the responsibility of the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET). A formal partnership agreement between NSFAS and the NSF (as a public entity) was signed in 2012, though the funding partnership has been in place since the NSF was still managed through the Department of Labour.
The aim of this programme is to provide bursary funding for academically deserving undergraduate students (both first-time enrolling and continuing), from poor families, studying in specific scarce and critical skills fields and in line with equity targets as identified by the Skills Development Act of 1998 and any amendments as determined from time to time.
Courses covered
• Accounting
• Financial Management
• Actuarial Studies
• Auditing
• Business Management
• Economics
• Financial Accounting
• Biotechnology
• Engineering
• Physics
• Computer Science
• Chemistry
• Geology
• Agriculture
• Information Systems
• Mathematical Sciences
• Statistics
Requirements
NSFAS requirements applicable:
• Candidates must have a grade 12 level of education
• Candidates must be a South African citizen
• Candidates must possess a valid South African IDs
• Candidates must provide proof of the need for financial need
Repayment
This is a full cost bursary; beneficiaries are not required to repay the funds either through money or stipulated services.
What does the bursary cover?
• Tuition fees
• Residence fees
• Books and learning materials
• Travelling costs (depending on requirements)
• Allowance (depending on requirements)
NSFAS partnership
NSFAS has been appointed to financially administer the National Skills Fund (NSF) and has had long standing partnership. On January 09, 2019, the partnership was renewed with NSFAS’ roles and responsibilities set out in an approved MOA.
For more information on the NSF bursary programme please visit: httpss://www.dhet.gov.za/NSF/
Department of Employment and Labour (COID)
Targeted Students:
The Compensation Fund is inviting unemployed persons who suffered occupational injuries or diseases and, as a result, acquired a permanent disablement, dependants of COID Persons with Disabilities and dependants of fatally injured workers to apply for the Compensation Fund Bursary opportunity. This fund also funds general youth who are enrolled at public universities for courses directly related to the COID Mandate.
Eligibility Requirements :
• Unemployed Persons who have acquired permanent disablement due to occupational injuries / diseases, dependents of COID persons with disabilities/ COID / dependents of fatally injured workers
• South African citizens
• Unemployed Persons who have acquired permanent disablement due to occupational injuries / diseases, dependents of COID persons with disabilities/ COID / dependents of fatally injured workers
• South African citizens
• Fully completed application form and Proof of residence
• COID Claim number AND Certified copies of Identity document of the applicant, parent(s) or guardians’ Identity document / death certificate (COID Persons with Disabilities)
• Grade 12 June results/ highest school grade or qualification
• Proof of acceptance from public Post School Education and Training (PSET)
• Students must be enrolled to study on a full-time basis, and only under exceptional circumstances students with disabilities shall be allowed to study part-time
• Proof of unemployment letter from Department of Employment and Labour / or Affidavit
• Certification and verification of physical disability by a Health Care Professional or Disability Support Office / WCL forms (Final medical report)
• Applicants may be subjected to a psychometric assessment
Funding
The bursary covers tuition fees, prescribed learning material, accommodation, stipends where applicable. Funding for the duration of qualification is dependant on the progression criteria which is reviewed annually.
Bursary Advert
Compensation Fund Bursary Scheme 2022/23 Academic Year – Click here to download the PDF
Application form
Compensation Fund External Bursary Application Form Academic Year 2022 & 2023 – Click here to download the PDF
Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) – DHET reparations
Department of Justice (DoJ) regulations regarding the assistance of victims were promulgated into an Act of Parliament; the Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act 1995. Victims: relatives of victims and dependants of victims as classified by the TRC are selected through the DoJ bursary office. In 2017, through a Gazette of Parliament, amendments were implemented which resulted in additional benefits to TRC victims, making the bursary programme more attractive.
Courses covered
• National Certificate Vocational (NCV) exit qualification offered by a college on a full-time basis for a period not exceeding five years or on part-time basis or through distance learning
• National Diploma (ND) in business studies for a period not exceeding 30 months offered by a college on a full-time basis
• ND in business studies offered by a college on a part time basis or through distance learning
• ND in engineering studies for a period not exceeding 18 months or for a period not exceeding three years
Requirements (including approval process)
To qualify for higher education and training assistance, the applicant must fulfill the conditions listed below:
(a) The combined household income of an applicant must be less than R290 927,00 per year.
(b) The applicant must be a member of a vulnerable household defined as a household consisting of four or more members where:
• Majority of members are over the age of 65 years.
• Majority of members are receiving social assistance.
• One member must be physically or mentally disabled.
• One member must be working yet under 18 years of age
• Only one member must be gainfully employed.
(b) Applicants needing assistance must be enrolled in a public university or TVET college for an undergraduate qualification only.
Repayment
This is a full cost bursary; beneficiaries are not required to repay the funds either through money or stipulated services.
NSFAS partnership
NSFAS has been appointed to financially administer the DoJ&CD and its responsibilities are set out in an approved MOA. For the 2020 academic year, the total number of funded students is 585 – this fund is approved in 5-year intervals by the President of the country.
For more information on the DSD bursary programme please visit: httpss://www.justice.gov.za/trc
Department of Military Veterans (DMV)
The Department of Military Veterans (DMV) core purpose is to support military veterans and dependence thereof for their contribution to South Africa. DMV seeks to provide educational support to financially eligible military veterans and dependents registered on the DMV Database through bursary funding who meets the requirement.
The bursary covers full cost of study to students registered in institutions across the country in various fields of study.
Courses covered
• In general, a student is eligible for support towards any single undergraduate qualification.
• Post graduate qualifications:
The DMV no longer supports post graduate studies.
Requirements
• The applicant must be registered in the National Military Veterans database.
• The applicant must be formally registered to study for an approved funded programme at a public institution and meet the financial qualification criteria, before education support award will be confirmed.
What does the bursary cover?
The bursary covers the maximum prescribed benefit for tertiary education support for each qualified student, per academic year, subject to the annual maximum threshold (R88 600) and covers the following:
• Registration and tuition costs (subject to maximum benefit).
• Prescribed books/electronic material or prescribed course equipment and material, including stationary subject to the maximum benefit.
• Laptops/Notebooks limited to 1 (one) for the duration of study registered for as a once off only subject to a maximum benefit.
• Accommodation at a cost not exceeding R3 500 per month for 10 months per annum, for students residing beyond a 50km radius from the institution of study (subject to maximum benefit NB This is applicable to students studying full time only. (No distance learning and/or online students).
• Distance learning student shall not qualify for accommodation or meal allowances, (e.g. UNISA Students) only tuition, books, stationery, laptop and living allowance of R2 750 as a once off for an academic year.
• Transport allowance provided to fulltime students who are not provided with accommodation or accommodation allowance or are living at home at a cost not exceeding R7 500per annum as determined by the institution.
• Meal allowance not exceeding R15 000 for 10 months per year provided to full time students who are supported with accommodation with self-catering service.
Medical sciences
Students who are pursuing their studies in the medical sciences field: Biomedicine, MBCHB, Veterinary Sciences etc, many apply to be funded above threshold. The DMV will reserve the right to approve this application based on availability of funds.
Repayment
This is a full cost bursary; beneficiaries are not required to repay the funds either through money or stipulated services.
It should be noted that as per Education Support Agreement, the student is given only one (1) chance to repeat if the learner failed during the duration of the studies, failing which the Education support will be terminated.
As such, the education support award is not intended to enhance any existing financial support provided by other organisations.
Students who are funded by other organisations are urged to withdraw from the DMV support by signing a withdrawal form available with NSFAS funder relations.
Should that be known the support will be terminated immediately.
NSFAS partnership
NSFAS has been appointed to financially administer the DMV bursary funding, since 2013 and its roles and responsibilities are set out in an approved MOA that was signed on 01 October 2020. To date, the DMV has funded more than 500 graduates through this partnership.
For more information on the DMV bursary programme please visit: https://www.dmv.gov.za
Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD)
The DALRRD introduced the external bursary scheme in 2004 as a measure of recruiting young people to follow a career in agriculture, forestry and fisheries to mitigate the acute lack of skills in the sector. The scheme is governed by the external bursary policy as approved and ratified by Executive Committee (EXCO) in 2003. DALRRD intends to award comprehensive bursaries to qualifying applicants pursuing and/or intending to further their studies in identified careers in the agricultural, forestry and fisheries sectors.
Courses covered
1. B.Sc. Bioresource Engineering (Agricultural Engineering)
2. Bachelor of Veterinary Science (B.V.Sc.)
3. B.Sc. Animal Sciencey
4. B.Sc. Entomology
5. B.Sc. Food Science
6. B.Sc. Pasture Science
7. B.Sc. Plant Pathology
8. B.Sc. Viticulture and Oenology
9. National Diploma: Food Technology
10. B.Sc. Land Surveying/Geomatics
11. B.Sc. Town/Urban and Regional Planning
12. B.Sc./BA Geo-Informatics/Geographic Information Science
13. National Diploma/B Degree in Geomatics/Land Surveying/GIS
14. National Diploma/B Degree in Town/Urban and Regional Planning
15. Postgraduate studies (Adv Dip/B.Tech, B.Sc. Hons, M.Sc., D.Tech. and Ph.D.) in Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development priority research projects
Requirements including approval process:
• Applicants must be South African citizens
• Applicants must complete the relevant bursary application forms available on the DALRRD website
• Applicants must apply for fields of study listed on the website
What does the bursary cover?
• Registrations
• Tuition,
• accommodation,
• Meals allowances and
• Books allowances (at a rate determined by DALRRD based on their Budget)
• Stipend (Depending on the budget) this is not an entitlement
Repayment
This is a full cost bursary; beneficiaries are not required to repay the funds either through money or stipulated services
NSFAS partnership
The NSFAS has been appointed to financially administer the DALRRD bursary funding and has had long standing partnership. On December 06, 2022, the partnership was renewed with the roles and responsibilities of the NSFAS set out in an approved MOA.
For more information on the DALRRD bursary programme please visit: www.dalrrd.gov.za/ for more information.
The Rural Education Access Programme (REAP)
About REAP
REAP is a Non-Profit Organisation (NGO) established in 2000 to enable young people from marginalised rural communities in South Africa to access tertiary education. The partnership between NSFAS and REAP enables the scheme to meet its mandate of supporting access to, and success in, higher education and training for students from poor and working-class families who would otherwise not be able to afford to study at tertiary level.
REAP specifically administers funding received in a form of allocations from NSF funding and provides the following crucial support to students:
o Assist successful applicants in securing enrolment at relevant institutions. NSFAS assists these applicants access bursary funds to cover their tuition, accommodation expenses, study and living expenses.
o Provision of regular structured personal support and guidance to address various challenges students may face to maximise their chances of graduation and employment on completion of their courses.
Courses covered
Scarce skills programmes are covered; these include but are not limited to the following:
• Health
• Software development
• Network and information security
• Web development
• Management skills
• Sales
• Financial skills
• Engineering
• Education and training professionals
• Artisans
Requirements
REAP’s criteria to be considered for support incorporates the following:
• The applicant must be a South African citizen
• The applicant must come from a rural area and have attended a rural school
• The applicant must have written the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations at a rural school within the previous two years.
• The applicant must not be older than 24 years.
• The applicant’s family/household income (including all grants and contributions) should not exceed R122 000 per year before any deductions.
• The applicant must produce proof of family/household income and social upon request.
• The applicant must have obtained more than 55% average for NSC examinations (minus Life Orientation marks when calculating the average).
• The applicant must have successfully applied for NSFAS funding and received formal confirmation.
• The applicant must be accepted into a residence or with a private accommodation provider accredited by NSFAS.
• Applicants must have been formally accepted to study at any one of REAP’s institutions.
What does the bursary cover?
• Tuition fees
• Residence fees
• Boks and study materials
• Travel (depending on requirements)
• Allowance (depending on requirements)
Repayment
This is a full cost bursary; beneficiaries are not required to repay the funds either through money or stipulated services.
NSFAS partnership
For more information on the REAP bursary programme please visit: https://www.reap.org.za/ for more information on the funding
SETA
The SETAs are an initiative of the National Skills Development Strategy (NSDS), established with the aim of facilitating training for out-of-school youth as well as anyone who needs additional skills and further training.
While NSFAS funds the poorest of the poor, SETAs prioritise the “missing middle”, a term used to refer to students who find it difficult to acquire funding for themselves but are deemed not poor enough to qualify for government funding.
Most of the SETAs have appointed NSFAS to administer part of the disbursement of levies collected from the employers through bursaries. Students undergo a means test to determine eligibility.
Requirements
Students undergo a means test to determine eligibility.
Courses offered
Various SETA’s have requirements and courses they fund. Please visit specific SETA websites for more information
The Wholesale and Retail (W&R) and SETA
The W&RSETA was established in 2000 in terms of the Skills Development Act (as amended). It is an entity of the Department of Higher Education and Training DHET. W&R SETA aims to facilitate the skills development needs of the W&R sector through the implementation of learning programmes, disbursement of grants and monitoring of education and training as outlined in the NSDS.
Courses offered
The selected qualification programme in terms of the sector skills plan includes:
• Retail management
• Credit management
• Purchasing management
• Logistic
• Accounting
• Marketing and sales
• Clothing technology
• Information technology
• Supply chain management
• Human resources management (specialising in industrial relations)
Requirements
The funding provides financial assistance to NSFAS qualifying students (beneficiaries), and or selected students approved by the SETA who are currently studying in skills shortages identified in the sector skills plan for W&R related qualifications at public universities and TVET colleges.
What does the bursary cover?
The full bursary covers all costs of:
• Registration
• Tuition
• Books and learning material
• Accommodation
• Maintenance/meals allowance
• Student funding is generally for one year and may not be renewed for the following year.
Repayment
This is a full cost bursary; beneficiaries are not required to repay the funds either through money or stipulated services.
NSFAS partnership
For more information on the WRSETA bursary programme please visit: www.wrseta.org.za for more information
The Fibre Processing and Manufacturing (FP&M) SETA
The FP&M SETA was established by the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Science and Innovation on April 01, 2011 after government took a decision to cluster sectors to strengthen value-chain linkages between related industries. This SETA is an entity of DHET.
It consists of 13 sub-sectors namely: clothing, footwear, forestry, furniture, general goods, leather, packaging, printing, print media, publishing, pulp and paper, textiles, and wood products sectors. Though classified individually, the sub-sectors are closely integrated. This SETA has over the years agreed on a partnership with NSFAS to fund qualifying students.
Courses covered
The selected qualification programme in terms of the sector skills plan includes:
• Production/ operations manager (manufacturing)
• Textile, clothing and footwear factory worker
• Multimedia designer
• Industrial engineer
• Editor
• Fitter and turner
Requirements
The funding provides financial assistance to NSFAS qualifying students (beneficiaries), and or selected students approved by the SETA who are currently studying in skills shortages identified in the sector skills plan for FP&M SETA related qualifications at public universities and TVET colleges.
What does the bursary cover?
• Tuition
• Registration
• Books
• Meals
• Accommodation
• Transportation
• A cost of study to a maximum of R70 000 for students for a year.
• Student funding is generally for 1 year and may not be renewed for the following year.
Repayment
This is a full cost bursary; beneficiaries are not required to repay the funds either through money or stipulated services.
NSFAS partnership
For more information on the FPMSETA bursary programme please visit: www.fpmseta.org.za for more information