Step Three: Determine an Institution
You can either decide to go to a TVET college or university. TVET colleges are public colleges in South Africa. This is where you will find Nated courses (N1-N6), NCV level 1-3, diplomas and advanced diplomas. courses. Please note that different colleges offer different NCV courses and NATED courses.
It is best to consider studying in public institutions to avoid being scammed by private institutions that might not be accredited by the Department of Higher Education.
TVET COLLEGES
NATED COURSES (N1 - N6)
NATED courses are national qualifications that combine theoretical learning with practical work experience. They can help you gain the skills and qualifications you need to start a professional career. They can also help you gain practical experience in a relevant job environment. These are some of the NATED courses offered at TVET colleges:
ART & DESIGN
BOILER MAKING
BUILDING & CIVIL ENGINEERING
BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
CLOTHING PRODUCTION
COSMETOLOGY
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING (HEAVY CURRENT)
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING (LIGHT CURRENT)
FARMING MANAGEMENT
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
HAIRCARE
HOSPITALITY
HUMAN RESOURSE MANAGEMENT
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND COMPUTER SCIENCES
MARKETING MANAGEMENT
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
MOTOR TRADE ENGINEERING
MUSIC PERFORMANCE
PUBLIC MANAGEMENT
STUDIO WORK
TRAVEL & TOURISM
You get the chance to receive a quality education and practical experience. This means that your employment opportunities are broad. These courses are also skills-focused; therefore, you will know exactly what to do once you get into the workplace.
NCV COURSES
National Certificate: Vocational (NCV) courses are programs that provide students with practical skills and knowledge in a specific vocational field. NCV courses are offered at levels 2, 3, and 4 of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), which are equivalent to grades 10, 11, and 12. NCV courses cover a variety of subjects, including:
• BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
• COSMETOLOGY
• ENGINEERING & RELATED DESIGN – ELECTRICAL
• ENGINEERING & RELATED DESIGN – FITTING & TURNING
• ENGINEERING & RELATED DESIGN – MOTOR OR WELDING
• FINANCE, ECONOMICS, AND ACCOUNTING
• MARKETING MANAGEMENT
• OFFICE ADMINISTRATION
• INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND COMPUTER SCIENCE
• CIVIL ENGINEERING
• ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE CONSTRUCTION
• EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
• HOSPITALITY
• TRANSPORT AND LOGISTICS
• MECHANOTRONICS
• PRIMARY AGRICULTURE
• PRIMARY HEALTH CARE
Students who complete an NCV course can apply to universities or colleges to continue their studies, or look for a job. They may be able to apply for a Higher Certificate program at NQF Level 5, a National Diploma at NQF Level 6, or a Bachelor's Degree at NQF Level 7.
UNIVERSITIES
UNDERGRADUATE COURSES
Undergraduate courses are the first level of higher education and typically lead to a bachelor's degree. They cover foundational knowledge in a specific field. Undergrad courses are:
• Higher Certificates
• Advanced National Vocational Certificate
• National Diploma and Advanced Certificate
• Bachelor’s Degree
• Advanced Diplomas
It is not always easy to pass grade 12 and qualify to study a degree of your desire but there are ways that can help you study your desired degree. The first way is enrolling into an extended programme of the degree of your desire if that particular degree does have an extended programme offered in that particular university. For example, if you wanted to study Bachelor of Law (LLB) which has an APS of 30 at the University of Limpopo, and perhaps your APS is 27, you can enroll for Bachelor of Law (Extended Curriculum Programme) which requires minimum of 26 APS.
The second way you can study your desired degree without passing properly is to enroll for a bridging course so that you can bridge into your degree. A Higher Certificate and a Diploma are bridging courses into a degree. For example, in UNISA if you want to study teaching, you can apply for a Higher Certificate in Teaching then upon completing the certificate, you can use it to apply for a degree in Teaching.
Please note that not all universities offer bridging courses, so far these are the only public South African universities that I am aware of that offer bridging course:
• University of South Africa (Distance Learning)
• University of Johannesburg
• University of Free State
• University of Pretoria
• University of Cape Town
• All universities of Technology
POSTGRADUATE COURSE
These are courses that can be pursued upon completing your undergraduate courses. Courses include:
- Postgraduate Diploma
- Honours
- Masters
- PhD