Education is an investment in your child's future. Planning the costs early can help your family make choices you can afford, without confusing an application payment with the full cost of studying.

At Scenda, we help learners take the next step after school. Before you pay for support or an institution application, start with a simple family budget.

Separate the costs into three groups

Applying: Allow for any institution application fees, required tests, data, document preparation and optional support. Some institutions charge no application fee. Check each institution's current official information before paying.

Starting: Ask about registration payments, travel, moving costs, accommodation deposits and essential equipment. A place on a course does not automatically cover these costs.

Studying: Look beyond tuition. Consider transport, food, accommodation, books and data across the year. Ask what a funding offer actually covers and when that support becomes available.

Keep these groups separate. A low application fee does not mean the course itself will be affordable.

Build a budget you can update

Use a notebook or a phone note. For each course, write down:

  • The institution, course and study location.
  • The application fee, its official source and the date you checked it.
  • Other costs that apply to that choice.
  • The next payment deadline.
  • What your family can contribute and what still needs funding.

Mark an unknown amount as to confirm, rather than zero. Save receipts next to the relevant application. If a relative helps, agree whether the money covers an application, our support service or a study expense.

For example, if a family sets aside R500 and two hypothetical application fees total R300, R200 remains for other application costs. This is a budgeting example, not an institution quote or a Scenda package price.

Check free routes before choosing paid support

Applying directly to NSFAS is free. Any optional support you choose from Scenda is separate from NSFAS and must not be mistaken for an NSFAS application fee.

You can also apply directly through an institution's own process. If you choose our support, check our current package and pricing, what it includes and which institution fees are additional. Ask us about any amount that is still unclear before paying.

Compare value as well as price

Discuss the course content, entry requirements, location and study method with your child. Use our course catalogue to begin comparing options, then check the institution's official requirements. Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee a place.

For a private higher education option, check the institution's registration and the programme's accreditation. The Council on Higher Education explains where to verify these details.

Your next step

Choose three realistic study options together. Confirm their costs, record the funding gap and agree the next action for each. Education can open opportunities, but no course or application service can promise a job, admission or funding.

Start with our application guide, or contact us if you need clarity about Scenda's support.

Official reference: NSFAS application guidance. Institution fees and funding rules can change; check the relevant official source when making a payment.