Many students are patiently waiting for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) to open up applications for 2022, and today the organisation has provided an update on the process but no date has been provided just yet.

In an announcement NSFAS has stated that it is preparing to open the 2022 applications “soon” but it has provided no dates just yet.

“(NSFAS) has welcomed the green light by the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande to open the online applications for 2022. The online applications for 2022 are for applicants who would need government bursaries to further their studies at any of the 25 public universities or 50 TVET Colleges including students who previously studied without NSFAS,” the announcement reads.

As we reported on earlier this month NSFAS was working on upgrading its online applications systems to ensure a smooth process for students seeking funding. It is this upgraded system that Nzimande.

“On Tuesday, October 26, Minister Nzimande visited the NSFAS Head Quarters in Cape Town to assess the state of readiness for the 2022 online applications system process for first time students and the returning students who previously studied without NSFAS,” the announcement adds.

Apparently the Minister was confident in the system improvements which has given NSFAS the impetus to move towards opening applications.

While it’s appreciated that upgrades need to be made and oversight from higherups must happen, the applications being closed as lead to problems outside of students getting their funding later than they’d like.

NSFAS has had to continually warn its students about scammers and other bad actors trying to take advantage of them with false claims of early registration, so the sooner it’s open the better.

“Minister Nzimande is expected to brief the nation on the opening date of the 2022 online application soon. More details on the system improvements, and application processes will be made available on the date of the briefing,” NSFAS concludes.

NSFAS PREPARES TO OPEN THE 2022 APPLICATIONS FOR STUDENT FUNDING pic.twitter.com/ItMxov6ZgV

— NSFAS (@myNSFAS) October 26, 2021