The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is a public entity report to the Department of Higher Education and Training. NSFAS provides academic bursaries to South African citizens plan to study at any of the 26 public universities and 50 public TVET colleges throughout the country. NSFAS exists to provide financial aid to eligible students at TVET colleges and public universities; NSFAS identifies eligible students, provides bursaries and collects past student loan repayments to replenish the funds available for future generations of students; and, NSFAS supports access to, and success in, higher education and training for students from poor and working-class families who otherwise could not afford to study.