NSFAS provides bursaries to students who come from poor and working class backgrounds and they will pay for much more than just your fees.
If you’re a person with a disability, the criteria to be funded by NSFAS is as follows:
- Primary disability must be an impairment that is long term, recurring and substantially limiting
- Household income needs to be below R600 000 per year
- Must be a South African citizen
- Must be accepted or applying to a Public South African University
- SASSA grant recipients qualify immediately
NSFAS will cover your tuition and registration fees and you will also receive allowances such as living allowance, transport allowance, personal/incidental allowance and a learning materials/book allowance.
Extra support is provided to students living with disabilities, such as:
- Medical assessments
- The assessment is limited to one assessment for the duration of the qualification and on request by the Disability Unit/Student Support.
- R2000 once off
- Assistive devices
- Limited to one assistive device for the duration of the qualification.
- R50 000 once off
- Human support
- To cover for the cost of human support such as a caregiver, guide-dog, scribe, tutor, or sign language interpreter.
- R50 000 per year
Click here for more in-depth information on NSFAS funding for people with disabilities.
You can also head to the NSFAS website for more information on NSFAS.