FAQ

Financial Aid Process

What is NSFAS DHET Bursary Scheme?

  • Financial aid programme that provides fully-subsidized funding for poor and working class students at public universities. “Poor and working class” means that the prospective student comes from a family with a gross household income of up to R350 000 per annum.

What will be covered by the NSFAS bursary?

  • All eligible students will be provided with a bursary that covers the Actual cost of study, Accommodation and/or Accredited Private Boarding. Plus, a NSFAS determined allowance:

Books                                                  R5 200 (once off) Living allowance (Meal)                   R15 000pa (applicable to all residence and non- residence students) Transport                                           R7 500pa (only applicable to non-residence students) How to upload your bank details? We request that you kindly provide new bank account number linked to your id number by following the below link and ensure accuracy when capturing eg no spaces between account number and branch code: https://opa.cput.ac.za/index.php/upload-bank-details It is your responsibility to ensure that your bank account is correct and remains active as changes with regards to your banking details can negatively affect the processing of further allowances. As a NSFAS qualifying continuing / returning student, do I have to pay a registration/upfront fee to the university?

  • You do not need to pay a registration/upfront fee. An arrangement has been made with universities to allow you to register. Your registration/upfront fee will be covered by your NSFAS.

I am a continuing/ returning student at a university and have applied to NSFAS for the first time in 2020. Will I be considered for financial aid for the 2021 academic year even though I am not a first time entrant?

  • Yes, you will be considered for NSFAS funding, provided you meet the pre2018 NSFAS’s academic and financial eligibility requirements. As a continuing student your combined household income threshold will be assessed in terms of the 2017 NSFAS DHET general fund criteria (i.e. up to R122 000 per annum)

I come from a family with a gross annual household income below R122 000. I was registered in a previous academic year at a university and dropped out due to financial constraints. Will I qualify for funding to return to university to complete my qualification?

  • Yes, you will qualify to be funded, provided you meet the NSFAS academic progression criteria, have applied to NSFAS for funding before 30 November 2020, and come from a family with a gross annual income of up to R122 000.

My NSFAS funding has been declined because I have exceeded years of study, however, I was not fully funded by NSFAS? Pre 2018 exceeded years of study = N +2 and 2018 Conditions exceeded years of study = N +1; represents the number of years that have you been enrolling at a University; not how many times you were funded by NSFAS.  N is Minimum qualification completion time specified by the University and 2 is additional two years NSFAS permits to complete qualification

    • Mainstream N=3 years (N+2)
    • Extended Curriculum: N= 4 years (N+2)

What is NSFAS Academic progression criteria?

  • All returning students funded on the pre-2018 criteria, who are on NSFAS grant funding, the criteria of 50% courses passed annually within the N+2 rule will continue to apply
  • The 2018 students on the DHET Bursary Scheme will receive a maximum of N+1 years of funding from NSFAS

What is a first time entrant (FTEN) into the university system?

  • An FTEN is a student who has never been registered at any university in the system before, and is entering the university at an undergraduate level for the first time and for their first undergraduate qualification. The student may have studied at a TVET college and been supported for that qualification before.

I have applied during the NSFAS 2021 application cycle that closed on 30 November 2020, what is my status? You may Log into your “MyNSFAS” account on www.nsfas.org.za

  • Click the ‘Track Funding Progress’ option.
  • Check the application progress tabs
  • Check at your nearest Financial Aid Office: Helpdesk

I have applied during the NSFAS 2021 application cycle that closed on November 30,2020 and my application was unsuccessful?

  • NSFAS has opened the appeals process on the January 2021, to allow new and continuing students whose applications were unsuccessful an opportunity to appeal these funding decisions. This process should ONLY be followed by applicants who applied during the NSFAS 2021 applications cycle that closed 30 November 2020 (online).
  • Students whose 2021 applications for NSFAS funding were unsuccessful should submit their appeals directly to NSFAS through the “MyNSFAS” account on nsfas.org.za

I was funded by NSFAS in the past, but dropped out in 2019 due to not meeting the academic requirements. I returned to the university in 2020 and paid my own fees through financial assistance from other sources. I meet the academic requirements to continue in 2021. Will I be funded by NSFAS?

  • Yes, you will qualify to be funded, provided you meet the NSFAS academic progression criteria, have applied to NSFAS for funding before 30 November 2020

I am continuing/ returning student and I was funded by NSFAS in 2020 however I do not meet the academic to continue in 2021. How do I appeal to be funded by NSFAS?

  • Continuing/ returning students that were funded by NSFAS in 2020 and who did not meet 50% academic progression, will receive an email from Financial Aid, offering opportunity to apply to appeal. An appeal form will be emailed to declined students.  Please check your mycput email account.

What is the process of appeal for continuing/ returning students? The process will apply to students funded on the pre 2018 Grant as well as Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) Bursary Scheme students.

  • The Appeals Committee will conduct the first assessment to determine if a continuing /returning student’s appeal meets the criteria for funding.
  • In considering appeals, the Appeals Committee is bound by the grounds of appeal listed on the official NSFAS appeal form and may not approve any appeals that fall outside these parameters.

What is NSFAS Funding cap? The maximum award size for an annual award to continuing/returning university students who had entered the system prior to 2018, and is determined and set annually by NSFAS.  The 2021 cap is R98 700. What is the NBA? NSFAS Bursary Agreement (NBA) is the written agreement between the student and NSFAS. Student have to accept NBA online.  Please note no allowances will be disbursed if the NBA has not been accepted. My NSFAS status indicates that NSFAS is awaiting my registration template, how do I submit the registration template? Once the registration process is completed, Financial Aid will perform verification on the NSFAS funded report and submit registration data to NSFAS (Full cost of study, qualification code, and cell phone number) I am NSFAS qualifying student, I could not find accommodation on University owned residence and accredited private boarding, if I live in private accommodation can I qualify for NSFAS?

  • NSFAS qualifying University students living in accredited private accommodation will qualify for an accommodation allowance
  • NSFAS qualifying University students living in private accommodation can qualify for an accommodation allowance if they provide a signed lease agreement with a service provider / landlord. Financial Aid will be subjected to perform verification process before approving private accommodation.  The application form for private boarding will be issued via newsflash in due course.

NSFAS students are subject to the student residence and accommodation policies of the CPUT.  Can I have other full cost bursary if I am funded by NSFAS?

  • If a student receives a partial bursary from another source, a NSFAS bursary may be awarded, but the allocations must be reduced accordingly, so that the student is supported fully for their studies.
  • NSFAS may not pay for amounts already covered by another funder. Universities are obliged to report this information to NSFAS and to reduce the fee account accordingly.

Will I still receive my allowance in cash? All NSAFS allowance are disburse via cash (directly to a bank account) on a monthly basis.  2021 allowance process will be communicated in details via Newsflash in due course.

Financial Aid Online Student Query Application

Welcome to the Financial Aid Online Student Query System, this system has been developed to enable CPUT students to:

  • Submit new Financial Aid related queries
  • Track the progress of submitted queries

IMPORTANT:

  • Please make sure that you use of the mycput valid email address when completing your query. This email address will be used to primary communication method between Financial Aid and the student.
  • For additional security purposes, you will be required to enter your OPA Web Interface pin number. If you do not have a pin number, contact the CTS web interface and register to receive your pin.

Who can submit queries?   You can submit a query if you are a current registered CPUT student and Financial Aid holder What is Work-study programme

  • The work-study programme appoint student assistants in an academic and non-academic department at CPUT, in various job categories, eg. Tutors, Lab Assistants, Library Assistants and Administrative Assistants.
  • All CPUT registered students are eligible for selection.
  • All student assistants are subject to the 60/40% split on their claims. (60% of the claim amount, is credited to the student’s fee account to reduce the fees while 40% is paid directly to the student).

Need to know processes before registration

Bursary Students:

  • All students whose fees are paid by sponsors/employers will be allowed registration without the first minimum payment. On registration, they must contact FAO Bursaries.
  • written proof of the bursary awarded for the year of study will be required
  • Students will not be allowed to register if the previous year’s fees have not been paid in full.

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS):

We will send communication to all funded students to proceed with online registration once the list is finalised

  • 1st Year NSFAS students will not be required to pay the Minimum Payment
  • Senior Students will be required to follow the AOD (Acknowledgement of Debt) process prior to being unblocked to register