Sesona Ngqakamba Share The Department of Higher Education says it will assist students still in need of places. The department has also extended the registration period for first year students due to delays in NSFAS concluding their funding eligibility. Higher education and training institutions have received thousands of applications, in excess of the available spaces for various programmes. Universities across the country are gearing up for the 2021 academic year following a challenging 2020 amid Covid-19. On Monday, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Blade Nzimande announced that registration for first-time students would be extended by two weeks due to delays in the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) confirming funding eligibility.