University of Pretoria Loans (NSFAS and other)

University of Pretoria Loans (NSFAS and other)

Prospective students
Students who want to apply for UP loans or UP funding:

• must first apply for admission to study at the University and wait to receive a student  number;
• must apply for funding as soon as the University has sent them a student number, even before they have been notified of whether their study application was successful or not should not wait for their final school-year end examination results before applying for funding;
• must apply for UP funding between 4 August and 30 November of the year preceding the commencement of studies;
• must apply on the University of Pretoria website at www.up.ac.za/feesfunding; and
• students should regularly follow-up their applications on the UP Portal “Student Centre”

If you are a first time user of the UP Portal, go to https:http://www.up.ac.za/portal click on “New User” and enter your student number (u00000000) as username. Type in your ID/passport number and click on Proceed.
Available loans

• The following loans are available: NSFAS, Tsenang, University loans, Edu-Loans and private banks’ study loans.
• All applications for funding require the submission of various documents to prove the award or financial need. Such documents are referred to as “supporting documents”. Outstanding supporting documents or information will delay the processing of an application for funding.

 
National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS

Note: NSFAS IS NOT  a bursary scheme.  It is a study loan from government of which a portion may be converted to a bursary based on excellent academic achievement. See detail about this loan under LOANS section above.
If you are:

• still at school and figuring out how to fund further studies, or
• currently studying and needing funds to further your studies, then you need to apply for a NSFAS loan on their website, www.nsfas.org.za before 30 November 2024.

• NSFAS is a government loan scheme to assist financially needy, but academically deserving students. These loans are available for all fields of study at a low interest rate.
• Loans are available to South African citizens who are engaged in full-time undergraduate study to obtain a first tertiary educational qualification, who meet the criteria as determined by NSFAS.
• Loans are not guaranteed and are awarded subject to the availability of funds.
• The loan does not accrue interest during your period of study. The loans are only repaid after studies have been completed or discontinued.

 
 
University managed loans

• The University manages various loan funds on behalf of various donors. Awarding of study loans is subject to registered students being financially needy.
• These study loans are primarily approved for the payment of tuition fees and will be administered accordingly.
• The loan amounts vary from R500 to R20 000 and are repayable at an interest rate of prime -1%. (Prime as on 1 January of the year in which the loan was issued.)
• Loan re-payment commences once the student completes the study programme. Interest is payable during the year in which the loan is granted.
• To be considered for a UP managed loan, applicants must provide two guarantors who comply with the conditions as determined by the University.
• UP managed loans are not guaranteed and are subject to availability of funds.

Edu-Loan

Edu-Loan is a private leading provider of study loans in South Africa. They provide study loans for:

• registered students whose parents have been employed permanently for longer than one year; or
• registered students who themselves have been employed permanently for longer than one year.