Universities, TVET, CET, AET, private institutions, distance learning, learnerships, gap year. Compare every legitimate route, plus the bursaries, tests and open days you need to know about.
South Africa has nine main after school routes. 26 public universities run Bachelor's degrees through to PhDs, and 6 Universities of Technology run industry-aligned diplomas. 50 public TVET colleges deliver vocational training and trades, while 9 provincial CET colleges serve adults and second chance learners through AET.
DHET registered private colleges offer accredited degrees and diplomas, and distance learning (UNISA, Lyceum) suits working students. Learnerships and apprenticeships through SETAs let you earn while you learn, and a structured gap year is also a valid choice.
Funding (NSFAS, Funza Lushaka, SETA bursaries) and admission tests (NBT) sit on top of all of these.
Each route is regulated, accredited and leads to a recognised qualification.
26 public universities (incl. 6 universities of technology). Bachelor's, diplomas, postgraduate. Quality assured by the Council on Higher Education (CHE).
Six public UoTs offering practical, industry-aligned diplomas, advanced diplomas and degrees. Strong focus on workplace-integrated learning.
50 public TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) colleges across SA, offering NCV (National Certificate Vocational), NATED N1 to N6, and Occupational Programmes. Funded by NSFAS.
Nine public CET colleges offering second chance learning for adults and out of school youth. Programmes include AET (Adult Education and Training, formerly ABET), General Education and Training Certificate (GETC), and skills programmes.
DHET registered private colleges and universities offering accredited qualifications equivalent to public ones. Check the official DHET register for exact details before paying any fee.
UNISA is the largest open distance e-learning university in Africa. Several private institutions also offer fully online degrees and diplomas. Useful if you work, can't relocate, or need a flexible schedule.
Earn while you learn. Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) facilitate learnerships (combine theory + workplace) and apprenticeships (artisan trades). Trade test conducted by the National Artisan Moderation Body (NAMB).
A structured gap year can sharpen your direction. Options include local volunteer programmes, au-pair work, internships, or a year abroad. Many universities accept deferred entry.
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Three things narrow the field fast: your APS, your subject mix and where you want to live.
APS thresholds are the most common gatekeeper. Each university uses its own formula, so the same matric profile produces different APS numbers. Use NavyBlue's APS Calculator to get your score at every SA university, or browse courses by APS to see what each band typically unlocks.
Pure Mathematics (not Maths Literacy) is required for most BSc, BEng, BCom Accounting Sciences and Health Sciences degrees. English (Home or First Additional) at Level 4 or 5 is usually compulsory. Physical Sciences gates Engineering and Health Sciences. Life Orientation rarely counts but always has to be passed.
The National Career Advice Portal (Khetha) at ncap.careerhelp.org.za is a free DHET tool that matches your interests to careers and study pathways. Your school's Life Orientation teacher and provincial Department of Education guidance counsellors are also free resources.
Open days are your best chance to see campuses, meet faculties and ask questions. Most run between March and May. Dates below are pulled from each university's official site. Last verified .
| University | 2027 open day | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| University of Cape Town | Saturday 25 April 2026Verified | On-campus, 10:00 to 15:00. |
| Stellenbosch University | Saturday 18 April 2026Verified | On-campus undergrad open day, 08:00 to 15:00. Tickets via Quicket. |
| University of KwaZulu-Natal | 7 March 2026 (Westville), 14 March 2026 (Pietermaritzburg)Verified | Campus open days, 09:00 to 14:00. |
| North-West University | 9 May (Potchefstroom), 16 May (Vanderbijlpark), 23 May (Mahikeng) 2026Verified | Three separate per-campus open days. |
| University of Pretoria | 7 March 2026 (NextGen, Nat & Agric Sciences)Verified | Faculty-specific. Main UP open day date not yet confirmed. |
| University of the Witwatersrand | Check the official Wits site | Wits runs a school-liaison programme and faculty events rather than a single open day. |
| University of Johannesburg | Check the official UJ site | Confirm on the UJ events page for the latest date. |
| University of the Free State | Check the official UFS site | Confirm on the UFS events calendar for the latest date. |
| Rhodes University | Check the official Rhodes site | Confirm on the Rhodes Open Day page for the latest date. |
| Nelson Mandela University | Check the official Mandela site | Confirm on MyFuture@Mandela for the latest date. |
Don't let cost stop you applying. Several routes exist, and they often stack with each other.
Fully subsidised tuition + accommodation + living allowances for South African citizens at public universities and TVET colleges. Combined gross household income must be R350 000 or less per year. Applications usually open in September and close in January. See our full step by step NSFAS application guide for documents, deadlines and the rejection traps to avoid.
Apply or learn more →Full-cost bursary for BEd or PGCE students who commit to teach in a public school for the same number of years funded. Applicants must be under 30. Apply on www.eservices.gov.za. Applications open October, close early February.
Apply or learn more →Each of the 21 SETAs runs bursary, learnership and skills development programmes for fields they regulate. Worth checking the SETA aligned to your career area for opportunities.
Apply or learn more →Most universities run their own internal bursaries (academic merit, sport, leadership, financial need). UCT VC Scholarship, Wits Vice-Chancellor's Scholarship, UP Achievers' Bursary and Stellenbosch Merit Bursary are examples.
Eskom, Sasol, Standard Bank, Anglo American, Transnet, MTN and others run bursary schemes (typically with a service-back commitment). Apply early; many close in March or April for the following year.
See our verified bursaries hub for open/closed status, income thresholds and application links for NSFAS, Funza Lushaka, Sasol, Thuthuka (SAICA), Motsepe Foundation, Eskom and StudyTrust.
Apply or learn more →A small number of universities and programmes layer admissions tests on top of APS. Get them booked before deadlines.
Required by UCT, Wits Health Sciences, Stellenbosch (some faculties), Rhodes, Walter Sisulu, UFS Medicine and several professional programmes. Two papers: Academic and Quantitative Literacy (AQL) and Mathematics (MAT). Cost: R195 AQL only or R390 AQL + MAT (remark R250).
Book or learn more →Some programmes use additional tests: medicine interviews (UCT, Wits), portfolio reviews (architecture, fine art), auditions (drama, music) and aptitude tests (engineering at some UoTs).
You've got more paths than you think. The full list: 26 public universities, 50 public TVET colleges, 9 provincial CET colleges, AET (formerly ABET) centres, DHET registered private colleges, distance learning (UNISA leads the pack), learnerships through 21 SETAs, and apprenticeships in the artisan trades. Each route has a different APS threshold, fee structure and career outcome.
TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) colleges focus on practical, occupational training. They offer the National Certificate Vocational (NCV), NATED N1 to N6, and Occupational Programmes leading to artisan trades. Entry usually requires Grade 9, 10, 11 or 12 depending on the qualification. APS thresholds are far lower than universities. Funding through NSFAS is available.
AET (Adult Education and Training, formerly ABET) is the curriculum and qualification for adult basic education at NQF Levels 1 to 4. CET (Community Education and Training) colleges are the institutions that deliver AET, plus skills programmes and the GETC (General Education and Training Certificate). There are 9 public CET colleges in SA, one per province, with over 3 200 Community Learning Centres nationwide.
A legitimate PHEI ticks three boxes: DHET registration, CHE (Council on Higher Education) accreditation, and qualifications on the NQF via SAQA. Check the official DHET Register of Private Higher Education Institutions before you pay any fee.
Only some universities and programmes need it. UCT needs NBT for almost every programme. Wits needs it for Health Sciences. Stellenbosch, Rhodes, UFS Medicine, Walter Sisulu and Sefako Makgatho also use it. The cost is R195 (AQL only) or R390 (AQL + MAT). Check the specific programme for exact details.
You qualify if you're a South African citizen or permanent resident with a combined household income of R350 000 or less per year. NSFAS covers tuition, accommodation, transport, learning materials and a living allowance at public universities and TVET colleges. Apply at www.nsfas.org.za, usually between September and January.
Start in Grade 11. Universities open applications between March and May for the following year, and most close between June and September. Selection programmes (Medicine, Actuarial Sciences, BCom Accounting Sciences) close earliest. Open days run from March to May. Bursaries (NSFAS, Funza Lushaka, corporate) close at different times from March onward.
Plenty of paths still open. Higher Certificates (APS 18 to 22), Diplomas at Universities of Technology or TVET colleges (APS 20 to 27), the National Certificate Vocational at TVET (Grade 9 entry), or extended / foundation programmes at universities. Use NavyBlue's Courses by APS guide to map your score to realistic options.
Once you've picked your route, the next step is the application itself: documents, fees, the CAO vs direct application question, residence and bursary applications, and key dates per university.
Step 2: Applying to university →Advertisement
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