Applications will close on 4 August instead of 31 July, as previously stated.

NSFAS spokesperson, Kagisho Mamabolo, says students who qualify should collect application forms at the financial aid offices at their respective colleges.

He says this window period will allow students, who are only coming back for the second semester but did not apply for financial aid at the beginning of the year, an opportunity to do so.

"It is to ensure that NSFAS will accommodate financially and academically needy students who have not applied for financial assistance or who actually need to complete their second semester only in order to complete their academic qualifications."

Mamabolo says NSFAS now uses a centralised system which means that students who have applied for financial aid would not have to go through the reapplication process.

He says this application process also allows students that are not in the system to get registered.

He added that applications for funding for 2018 will open in early August.

OFM News