Does NSFAS Fund Advanced Diploma? ANSWERED

NSFAS is a scheme that funds and sponsors students for their undergraduate education. It also facilitates students in the completion of various long courses.

Students mostly ask Does NSFAS fund advanced diplomas?

No, it does not fund advanced diplomas because NSFAS funds long courses only. Sometimes, students desire a fully funded advanced diploma, but since it is a short course, NSFAS does not provide funds for advanced diplomas.

Let’s look into further details regarding this query!

Does NSFAS Fund Advanced Diploma?

NSFAS only covers undergraduate courses. Unfortunately, NSFAS does not provide any help for a short course.

Being a short course, Advanced Diploma is not facilitated by NSFAS. NSFAS supports long and initial courses rather than short or advanced courses, including advanced diplomas.

What is an Advanced Diploma?

An advanced diploma is equivalent to a bachelor’s degree. The difference between a bachelor’s and an advanced diploma is the time duration of studying to learn more skills on an advanced level.

NSFAS considers the degrees of Bachelor of technician in Engineering, Clinical/Dental Technology, Architectural Technology, homeopathy, Nursing, forestry, and emergency medical care. NSFAS also gives funds to medical students in South Africa.

In contrast, the courses, including Masters’s, honors, and Ph.D. degrees, can be funded by NRF.

What is NRF?

NRF (National Research Foundation) acts as a bridge between various research communities working for the country’s development. It’s an another bursary like NSFAS. NRF provides scholarships for several postgraduate degrees.

Here are lists showing which courses are funded or not funded by NSFAS.

Courses Funded by NSFAS

• Public university courses
• Courses at TVET colleges
• Undergraduate qualification

Courses Not Funded by NSFAS

• Private university courses
• Short courses
• Part-time courses
• Secondary degrees (after completing a first degree)
• Postgraduate studies

Changing of Institution

Now, if someone wants to change their institution, will he or she be paid?

From Public to Private

In this case, if you are already receiving NSFAS funds while being in the public sector and now shifting to the private, then, you must notify the NSFAS about all the changes and migrations you made.

Method of Notifying NSFAS

To notify NSFAS about any changes, applicants have to log into their MyNSFAS account, and then applicants have to mention all their details and personal data in a complete way. The previous institution will help you in forwarding your details and registration information to NSFAS.

NSFAS will not know about your changing of the institution until documents are not sent by the institution you were studying at in the past.

From Private to Public

If someone changes institutions for the purpose of seeking funds and goes to the public sector from a private institution, then it would be a rare case to accomplish.

From Public to Public

In case one is shifting from one public sector to another then there is no need to apply or notify NSFAS about your changing of institution. Your funding will not be interrupted if you are already receiving it.

NSFAS is a government scheme which is why its funds are only reliable for public foundations or institutions rather than private or short courses institutions. So, unfortunately, it is not reliable to seek support for an advanced diploma.