Ministry of Education Details Eligibility for Subsidised Tertiary Education

Staff Reporter ELIGIBILITY for subsidised tertiary education will be guided by the Namibia Student Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF), as recently highlighted by the Ministry of Education. To provide further clarity on the eligibility criteria, the Ministry of Education has released a full list of requirements. The requirements are outlined in full below, as provided by the Ministry: 1. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR FUNDING a. All undergraduate students (pursuing first primary qualification at NQF Level 5 up to Level 8, including Honours degrees) at public and private Higher Education Institutions, receive 100% tuition and registration fee subsidy. b. All trainees for the first primary trade (NQF Levels 1 up to Level 6) at TVET centres, will be accorded 100% tuition and registration fee subsidy. A first primary qualification is defined as the first qualification attained by a student at NQF levels 1 to 6 for those pursuing Technical Vocational and Training (TVET) education, or for those pursuing higher education NQF levels 5 to 8, including Honours degrees. c. Students pursuing courses abroad in priority fields of study, where such courses are not offered by any tertiary education institutions in Namibia or where students could not be admitted due to lack of space in the course. 2. EXCLUSION CRITERIA FOR FUNDING The following categories of students shall not be eligible for funding: a. Students pursuing second or more qualifications at the same or lower NQF level. b. Funding shall be provided only once for any academic year. Students repeating an academic year will be required to pay for the repeated year. c. Students must only register at one Tertiary Institution (dual or multiple registrations not allowed). d. Non-Namibian citizens. e. Students who do not meet the requirements of the Namibia Student Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF). f. Students enrolled at Institutions not accredited by the Namibia Qualifications Authority (NQA), and/or the Namibia Training Authority (NTA). g. Students pursuing priority fields of study courses abroad where such courses are available at tertiary education institutions in Namibia. h. Applicants pursuing non-priority fields of studies admitted through Mature Age Entry and Recognition of Prior Learning. i. Postgraduate studies, excluding existing NSFAF beneficiaries. 3. FUNDING REQUIREMENTS-BASED SELECTION CRITERIA 3.1 Funding Requirements for Undergraduate Studies 3.1.1 Undergraduate Studies at NQF Level 5 (a) An applicant should have obtained a minimum of twenty (20) points at NSSCO/H/AS level or equivalent (foreign school leaving certificate), in five (5) subjects, including English with a minimum of F symbol. (b) An applicant with a completed relevant qualification registered at NQF Level 4 3.1.2 Undergraduate Studies at NQF Level 6- Local Institution (a) An applicant should have obtained a minimum of twenty-two (22) points at NSSCO/H/AS level or equivalent (foreign school leaving certificate), in five (5) subjects including English with a minimum of F symbol (b) An applicant with an existing (NQF Level 5) should have obtained twenty (20) points at NSSCO/H/AS level or equivalent (foreign school leaving certificate), in five (5) subjects including English with a minimum of F symbol. (c) An applicant with a completed relevant qualification registered at NQF Level 5. 3.1.3 Undergraduate Studies at NQF Level 7-8 (a) An applicant studying at a local institution should have obtained a minimum of twenty-five (25) points at NSSCO/H/AS level or equivalent (foreign school leaving certificate), in five (5) subjects including English with a minimum of E symbol; or (b) An applicant studying at a local institution should have obtained twenty-two (22) points at NSSCO/H/AS level or equivalent (foreign school leaving certificate), in five (5) subjects including English, with a minimum of F symbol; in additional qualification at NQF Level 6 or higher; or (c) An applicant studying at a local institution should have obtained twenty (20) points at NSSCO/H/AS level or equivalent (foreign school leaving certificate), in five (5) subjects including English, with a minimum of F symbol; in addition to having both qualification at NQF Level 5 and Level 6. (d) An applicant studying at a local institution who wishes to study medicine including dentistry should have obtained a minimum of thirty-five (35) points at NSSCO/H/AS level or equivalent (foreign school leaving certificate), in five (5) subjects including English with a minimum of E symbol, if studying; or (e) An applicant who wishes to study engineering or medicine outside Namibia should have obtained a minimum of thirty-five (35) points at NSSCO/H/AS level or equivalent (foreign school leaving certificate), in five (5) subjects including English which shall have a minimum of E symbol. (f) An applicant who wishes to study any other course outside Namibia should have obtained a minimum of thirty (30) points at NSSCO/H/AS level or equivalent (foreign school leaving certificate), in five (5) subjects including English, which shall have a minimum of E symbol. (g) An applicant who completed a Bridging course at UNAM or NUST should have obtained a minimum of twenty-two (22) points at NSSCO/H/AS level or equivalent (foreign school leaving certificate), in five (5) subjects including English, which shall have a minimum of F symbol, in addition to the completion of the bridging course. (h) An applicant should have NSSCO/H/AS level or equivalent (foreign school leaving certificate), be 25 years of age or older, and have a minimum of three years working experience; in addition to admitted through Mature Age and have passed. This is only applicable at Public Tertiary Institution An applicant who does not have NSSCO/H/AS level or equivalent (foreign school leaving certificate), be 23 years of age or older, be admitted through Recognition of Prior Learning at Public IHL. 3.2 Funding Requirements at Vocational NQF Level 1-6 (a) An applicant who wishes to study at public Vocational Training Centre(s) (VTC) should have been accepted by the public VTC to qualify for funding. (b) An applicant who wishes to study at private VTC(s) should have obtained twenty (20) points at NSSCO/H/AS level or equivalent (foreign school leaving certificate), in six (6) subjects, or (c) An applicant with a completed relevant qualification registered at NQF Level 2 for progression up to level 5. (d) An applicant who wishes to study outside Namibia should have obtained twenty-five (25) points at NSSCO/H/AS level or equivalent (foreign school leaving certificate), in five (5) subjects. FUNDING REQUIREMENTS: NSFAF requirements for Subsidised Tertiary Education. Photos:NSFAF.