Applications for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) are now open for those who missed the deadline last year.

Those hoping to study at public universities have until 20 January to apply for financial aid.

For potential students of technical and vocational education and training(T-VET) colleges 14 February is D-Day.

The NSFAS came under fire last year after it was accused of not catering to the so-called missing middle, students from households whose incomes are not low enough to qualify for funding but too low to cover fees.

The Student Forum 4 Service Delivery (SF4SD) said on Monday that the NSFAS applications process should not have closing dates but be open throughout the year.

Students convener Katlego Motlagodisa said the application process should be opened throughout the year in order to attract more applicants.

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

The first chance to apply closed on 1 November last year.

The NSFAS  encouraged universities and TVET colleges to help students submit applications online,  to speed up the evaluation and funding to students.

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

“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 funds from Sector Education Training Authority (SETA) should be used by indigent matriculants wanting to pursue higher education.