In light of the national developments around fees at universities in 2015, the NWU would like to inform you about arrangements for student registration in 2016.

1. Students with bursaries

Students who have been granted bursaries (other than NSFAS bursaries) must submit written proof of the bursary during registration. Where an outstanding balance is payable for the previous year, students will be allowed to register if the bursary providers have undertaken in writing to pay for the outstanding amount as well.

2. Students with bank loans and Eduloan

Written proof of the student loans must be submitted during registration. Students will also be allowed to register in cases where an outstanding balance is payable for the previous year and the loan makes provision to pay for that.

Several financial institutions, including Absa, First National Bank, Nedbank and Standard Bank, will be present on campus to assist students during the registration period.

This is not a guarantee that all students will automatically receive loans. In order to qualify for loans, applicants must meet the lenders’ requirements.

3. Realpay instalment option for students

The Realpay instalment option will be available as an alternative method to pay the fees by means of a signed debit order over a period of time. Please note that terms and conditions are applicable.

4. Individual student cases

Individual student cases will be considered on merit. The assessment will include consideration of the academic performance of the student and cases where a few modules are still outstanding for completion of a qualification.

When a student qualifies for a merit bursary for an amount that will cover at least the first payment, that student will be allowed to register.

Management, together with the campus student representative councils (CSRCs), will consider each case on merit, taking into account the availability of funds. The aim is to enable as many academically deserving and financially needy students as possible to register in 2016.

To this end there will be formal structures, such as the newly established registration committee, on each of the NWU’s three campuses (on which the CSRC will also be represented) to decide about individual cases. Only students who have not been able to register will be referred to these structures. Strict criteria will be used to determine if - in individual cases - the students will be able to register.

5. NSFAS students

A list concerning the registration of NSFAS students will be made available prior to registration - not during registration.

Specific communication will be sent out to those NSFAS students with outstanding balances.

6. Outstanding fees

The NWU makes a serious appeal to parents and students to make urgent arrangements for the payment of all outstanding fees. This is to ensure that students can continue their studies and receive their degrees at completion.

It will not be possible for all students to register, notwithstanding all the resources and processes mentioned above. Students who go through the whole process without finding solutions may still not be able to register, despite best effort to resolve their issues.

For any further enquiries, please contact Financial Administration on your respective campus.

Kind regards

Elmarie de Beer
Executive Director: Finance and Facilities