The National Student Financial Aid Scheme, or NSFAS, supports South African students from low-income families to pursue higher education at public universities or TVET colleges. For parents of students with disabilities, including visual impairments, NSFAS offers tailored benefits to make education accessible. Families with a student who has a disability can earn up to six hundred thousand rand annually—about fifty thousand rand a month—and still qualify, compared to the standard three hundred fifty-thousand-rand income threshold. For students with visual impairments, like those with retinal conditions, a formal diagnosis is essential to access these benefits.

NSFAS covers tuition, accommodation, books, and transport for studies at universities or TVET colleges. Students with disabilities can also receive assistive devices to support their learning, paving the way for academic success. Backed by the Department of Higher Education and Training, NSFAS ensures financial barriers don’t stop young people with visual impairments from achieving their goals at public universities or TVET colleges.

Parents, if your child has a retinal condition, secure a formal diagnosis to unlock this support. Apply via the NSFAS website or your institution’s Financial Aid Office. Education opens doors, and NSFAS helps students with disabilities step through them.