Training Young Minds Student Accommodation Support

Welcome to the accreditation process. To ensure your application is processed without delays, please follow these steps carefully:

1. Start Your Application on the Portal
Complete your property profile accurately (address, bed count, room details, amenities, and contact person).

2. Upload Mandatory Documents (Compliance First)
Before an inspection can be scheduled, upload all required documents listed in the Accreditation Bible. Incomplete submissions remain on hold.

3. Prepare for Inspection
Ensure the property is inspection-ready (basic safety, hygiene, access control, and operational readiness). Inspections are scheduled based on accreditor availability.

4. Respond to Findings Promptly
If findings are issued, correct them and upload evidence to the portal. Where required, request a billable re-inspection.

5. Await Outcome & System Activation
Once approved, you will receive an offer letter and the property will be activated for placement of NSFAS-funded students.

Tip: Keep your portal profile updated at all times — outdated details or missing documents can delay accreditation, placements, and payments.

Accreditation confirms that a property meets the required norms, standards, and governance controls for student accommodation. Only accredited properties may be activated on the system for placement of NSFAS-funded students, ensuring student safety, service quality, compliance, and audit readiness.

Your property must meet the minimum norms and standards for student accommodation, including health and safety, space requirements, basic amenities, security measures, hygiene standards, and property management obligations.
📄 Download the official Norms & Standards (PDF)

Accreditation is completed through the portal and includes:
1. Portal Application – submit an online application
2. Document Upload – upload all mandatory compliance documents
3. Desktop Review – documents assessed for completeness and validity
4. Property Inspection – onsite inspection conducted by the accreditor
5. Evaluation & Grading – findings reviewed and aligned to standards
6. Outcome Issued – offer letter issued (approved) or decline notice (not approved)

The student accommodation accreditation process involves multiple role players, each with clearly defined responsibilities to ensure transparency, compliance, and governance integrity:

Accommodation Provider (Landlord) The Accommodation Provider is responsible for submitting a property for accreditation by completing the application on the portal and providing all required information and documentation. The provider must ensure that the property meets the minimum norms and standards prior to inspection.

Accommodation Accreditor (AA) The Accommodation Accreditor is responsible for reviewing all compliance documents submitted by the Accommodation Provider, conducting the physical accreditation site inspection, compiling an accreditation assessment report, and making a recommendation for approval or rejection based on compliance with required standards. The Accreditor does not issue offer letters or make final approval decisions.

NSFAS NSFAS is responsible for reviewing the Accommodation Accreditor’s accreditation report and making the final decision to approve or decline a property for NSFAS-funded student accommodation. NSFAS is the only authority that issues an official accreditation offer letter.

Training Young Minds (TYM) Training Young Minds (TYM) provides and manages the accreditation platform through which applications are submitted, documents are uploaded, inspections are coordinated, and accreditation outcomes are communicated. TYM does not approve or decline properties but facilitates the end-to-end process in line with governance and system controls.

All required documents are listed in the Accreditation Requirements Guide (“Accreditation Bible”) on the portal. Applications will not proceed to inspection unless mandatory documentation is submitted and meets minimum validity requirements.

Download Compliance Bible (PDF)

Offer letters are issued only once the property has:
1. Passed the inspection requirements,
2. Met all minimum compliance requirements, and
3. Completed internal approval checks.

Offer letters are shared through official channels and/or uploaded to the portal once issued.

You may withdraw by submitting a formal request through the portal. Once withdrawal is processed, your application will be closed and no further assessment will continue.

You may only accommodate NSFAS-funded students under the programme once your property is:
1. Approved, and
2. Issued a formal offer letter, and
3. Activated on the system.

Accommodation provided before approval and system activation is at the provider’s own risk and is not eligible for payment.

Accreditation fees are non-refundable, with limited exceptions as defined in the official refund policy. Fees cover administrative processing, reviews, inspection coordination, and evaluation activities.

Yes. Re-inspections are conducted only once inspection findings have been corrected, evidence has been uploaded on the portal, and the re-inspection request is approved. Re-inspections are billable in line with the official fee schedule.

No. Payments are processed only for NSFAS-funded students accommodated in approved and activated properties with a valid offer letter in place. Accommodation provided before approval and system activation is at the provider’s own risk and is not eligible for payment.

In general, no. Compliance documents must be uploaded before the inspection phase to support fair and accurate assessment. Where limited exceptions apply, these are handled strictly by the programme rules and recorded on the system for audit purposes.

Yes. Bed capacity changes must be requested through the portal and are subject to review. Depending on the nature of the change, you may be required to submit updated documentation and/or undergo re-inspection.

Yes. You may request a grading review via the portal. Approval is subject to meeting the higher standard requirements and may include re-inspection or additional evidence.

Inspections are scheduled once your application is complete and your mandatory documents are uploaded. Inspection timing remains dependent on accreditor availability and scheduling capacity. Notifications are communicated through the portal and official channels.

Re-inspections are conducted only once:
1. Inspection findings have been corrected,
2. Evidence has been uploaded on the portal, and
3. The re-inspection request is approved.

Re-inspections are billable in line with the official fee schedule.

Payments to Accommodation Providers are processed only after:
1. The student is formally placed and approved by the institution on the system,
2. A valid lease is signed by both the student and the AP, and
3. Funding confirmation is received for the relevant period.

Payment timelines are dependent on receipt of verified payment files and the funding release cycle.

Accommodation Providers are included in the invoicing process automatically once:
- The property is accredited and activated,
- Students are correctly placed on the system, and
- All required lease and compliance information is complete.

Invoices are generated based on system data, not manual submissions.

Payments to Accommodation Providers follow a controlled, system-driven process to ensure accuracy, compliance, and audit integrity:

1. Lease Completion & Verification
Only fully signed leases (student and Accommodation Provider) are automatically consolidated from the system.
2. Invoice Generation
Invoices are generated exclusively from completed leases recorded on the system. Manual or off-system invoices are not accepted.
3. Submission to NSFAS
The consolidated invoice file is securely submitted to NSFAS via an approved SFTP process.
4. Funding Assessment & Release
NSFAS reviews the submitted data and, once approved, releases accommodation funds in line with its funding cycles.
5. Payment to Accommodation Providers
Upon receipt of funds from NSFAS, Training Young Minds (TYM) processes and releases payments to Accommodation Providers, per the payment file received.

Important: TYM can only release funds that have been received from NSFAS. Payments cannot be made in advance of, or independently from, NSFAS funding releases.

Invoices may be delayed or excluded due to one or more reasons from the NSFAS exclusion reasons file. An in-depth analysis will have to be conducted to determine the specific cause.

No. Accommodation provided before formal system placement, approval, and lease signing is done at the Accommodation Provider’s own risk and is not eligible for payment.

Log a ticket on the portal for the quickest and most efficient response. Alternatively, contact the IBS at the institution for guidance.

A verification check must first be conducted to confirm the account details. Once verified, the Support team can assist in unblocking the student account so that access is restored.

A “Pending” status means that the student’s booking has been submitted but is awaiting acceptance by the Accommodation Provider (AP). The student must wait for the AP to review and accept the booking before it can be confirmed.

A student can submit an accommodation request by:

Logging into the NSFAS Student Accommodation Portal to book their accommodation online, or

Visiting the campus to get assistance from an IBS (Institutional Booking Support) officer.

To cancel a student’s lease, follow these steps:
1.Log a ticket to initiate the cancellation request.
2.Investigate the reason for the student’s move.
3.Contact the Accommodation Provider (AP) if necessary to confirm details.
4.Verify if the AP has received payment for the student.
5.Submit the cancellation request to the authorized person for approval.

TYM does not pay student allowances directly. We only disburse funds to NSFAS-accredited Accommodation Providers (APs) for accommodation purposes. Any issues regarding a student allowance should be directed to NSFAS or the relevant institution.

A student’s booking may be cancelled on the system for the following reasons:

Eligibility Declined – The student does not meet the funding or placement eligibility requirements.

Application In Progress – The student’s booking application is still being processed, and a cancellation may occur if it is not completed or approved in time.

Students requesting a move to transport accommodation must contact their institution directly, as TYM only handles student accommodation bookings. We do not manage transport-related requests.

If a student’s lease shows as “Declined,” it means that the Accommodation Provider (AP) has rejected the lease application. The student will need to contact the AP or choose another accommodation option.

System issues or technical errors should be reported through the TYM Support Desk. Please log a ticket by providing your property details, a clear description of the issue, and any supporting screenshots. The Support team will assess the problem and provide feedback or escalate it to the relevant technical team for resolution.