The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) applications process should not have closing dates and be open through out the year, the Student Forum 4 Service Delivery (SF4SD) said on Monday.

Students convener, Katlego Motlagodisa, said the application process should be opened through out the year in order to attract more applicants who wished to study at universities and TVET Colleges.

“SF4SD again says NSFAS should consider offering indigent matriculants full bursaries, not loans,” he said.

On Monday, NSFAS re-opened for 2017 applications for all learners who had not applied during the August 1–November 30, 2016, window period.

Applications for students who wish to study at TVET colleges open from January 9 to February 14, while applications for students who wish to study at universities opened from January 6 and are set to close on January 20.

“Although NSFAS will accept paper applications, universities and TVET colleges are encouraged to assist students to submit online applications during these application periods. This will speed up the process of evaluation and funding to students,” NSFAS said in a statement.

“We are calling on all young people who missed the first application phase this year and need NSFAS financial support, to take advantage of this second opportunity and submit their applications for financial assistance as soon as possible.

“Online applications can be done on the NSFAS website, while manual applications can be sent via fax, post or email, as with the recent application phase. This is now time to start collating all your supporting documents so that the applications process is smoother.”

Motlagodisa said all funds from Sector Education Training Authority (SETA) should be utilised on all South African indigents matriculants when accessing higher education and training.