Lo: career choices

• All South Africans have the right to a basic education, including adult basic education and further education
• According to the Bill of Rights in the Constitution, the state has an obligation, through reasonable measures, to progressively make this education available and accessible
• South Africa's National Qualifications Framework (NQF) recognises THREE broad bands of education


  • General Education and Training
  • Further Education and Training
  • Higher Education and Training
• General Education and Training (GET)

  Grade R-9
• Further Education and Training (FET)

  Grade 10-12
• Higher Education and Training

  Post Matric Qualifications
• Grade R-9


  1. Primary School

  2. First two years of High School
• Grade 10-12


  1. Matric is a THREE year qualification

  2. Each year builds on the next
• Post Matric


  Once the National Senior Certificate has been obtained, students can then study at tertiary institutions depending on the pass that was achieved
• National Senior Certificate (NSC)

  High school qualification, commonly known as the matriculation (matric) certificate, the school-leaving certificate in South Africa
• Further Education and Training (FET)


  Education and training provided from Grades 10 to 12, including career-oriented education and training offered in TVET, community colleges and private colleges
• Higher Education


  Studies undertaken after you have successfully written the NSC, qualifying you for further studies
• Tertiary Studies


  Also known as tertiary education, refers to all formal post-secondary education, including public and private universities, colleges, technical training institutes, and vocational schools
• Postgraduate


  People studying towards an additional degree (Honours, Masters, PHD or Doctorates) once they have completed a degree
• Matric pass levels


  • Bachelor's Degree Pass
  • Diploma Pass
  • Higher Certificate Pass
  • National Senior Certificate Pass
• Bachelor's Degree Pass


  Allows you to study at any tertiary institution, as long as you meet the requirements for your chosen field of study. It is the highest Matric pass.
• Requirements for Bachelor's Degree Pass

  • Get 40% for Home Language
  • Get 50% for four other Higher Credit subjects
  • Get 30% for one other subject for the Senior Certificate (Amended)/ Obtain 30% for two other subjects for the National Senior Certificate
• Diploma Pass


  Allows you to study at a tertiary institution towards a diploma qualification
• Requirements for Diploma Pass

  • Get 40% for Home Language
  • Get 40% for four other Higher Credit subjects
  • Get 30% for two other subjects for the National Senior Certificate
• Higher Certificate Pass


  The third highest pass, allows students to study for a Higher Certificate at a college or distance learning institution
• Requirements for Higher Certificate Pass

  • Get 40% in Home Language
  • Get 40% in two other subjects
  • Get 30% for three other subjects for the National Senior Certificate
  • One of your Home Languages must be English or Afrikaans
• National Senior Certificate Pass

  The minimum requirements to get this certificate
• Requirements for National Senior Certificate Pass

  • Pass at least 3 subjects with 40%, one of these should be an official Home Language
  • Pass at least 2 subjects with 30%, one of these should be a First Additional Language or Home Language
  • You are allowed to fail 1 subject, minimum 20%
• The National Qualifications Framework (NQF) is responsible for providing the guidelines which higher education systems make use of
• Higher education qualifications


  • Level 5: Higher Certificates and Advanced National (Vocational) Certificate
  • Level 6: National Diploma and Advanced Certificates
  • Level 7: Bachelor's Degree, Advanced Diplomas
  • Level 8: Honours Degree, Postgraduate Diploma, and Professional Qualifications
  • Level 9: Master's Degree
  • Level 10: Doctor's Degree
• Higher Certificate


  A skills-based, vocational qualification which means the focus is on how skills are applied. Students choose a specific field of work and focus on achieving a set of skills required in that field. The course material is usually industry orientated. Allows enrolment for higher qualifications.
• Advanced Certificate


  Equips students with extensive understanding of the field they are studying. This level of certification is specialised which can improve a student's job opportunities.
• National Diploma


  Programmes equip students with the needed practical skills in their chosen industry. Students acquire technical skills needed in a specific area.
• National N Diploma


  Obtained after a student successfully completes N4, N5 and N6 qualifications together with 18 months of practical work.
• Advanced Diploma


  Obtained in preparation for professional work. Can be taken by a graduate of a bachelor's degree to study a field related to their previous level of study. Can increase the marketability or attractiveness to potential employers.
• Bachelor's Degree


  Long-term learning programmes which may take 3 to 5 years to complete. Enables graduates to demonstrate knowledge and skills required for opportunities in the job market, further education and training, postgraduate studies, or expert practice in a wide range of career fields. Students progress from this degree to master's and doctoral programs.
• Postgraduate Diploma


  Usually completed after a bachelor's program, can be helpful for students who may need specialised skills for the workplace in the career field they have chosen.
• Bachelor Honours Degree


  Follows an undergraduate Bachelor's degree, provides students with a deeper understanding of their field and helps them prepare for research and postgraduate studies.
• Master's Degree


  Usually takes two years to complete, involves a combination of coursework and research dissertations. Students usually engage in advanced research and independent study.
• Doctoral Degree


  Usually called a PhD, can take 2 to 3 years to complete. Indicates that a student has achieved the highest level of study in a certain field and involves a lot of research work. Students write a thesis on a particular topic under the guidance of a supervisor.
• Admission Point Score (APS)

  A score calculated from an individual's Matric Results, used by universities and other tertiary institutions in the application process as an entry requirement
• The better the marks, the better the APS score
• Each university has a different way of determining the APS score, and each tertiary institution has different pre-requisites and admission requirements
• Why APS score is important


  • It is an initial screening method used by almost all universities
  • Helps determine whether a matriculant will be considered for university admission (minimum requirement)
• How to calculate APS Score

  1. Take your top high-school subjects and your examination certificate

  2. APS is based on a points system to help work out scores per subject