How to apply to a TVET college

South Africa has 50 public TVET (technical and vocational education and training) colleges. There is no central application system: you apply to the college of your choice, using its own website or at a campus. Each college’s details are on the DHET’s list of TVET colleges.

When to apply

Colleges take applications for the next academic year during the year before. The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) has urged students to apply then rather than wait until January, when places may be limited. Each college sets and publishes its own closing date. The DHET has said you can apply with your previous year’s results, so you don’t need to wait for new ones.

If you missed the closing date, contact the college directly and ask whether it still takes applications or has a waiting list.

Who can apply

The DHET’s admissions policy says you must be a South African citizen or have a valid study permit. Colleges may give preference to people who live in their area. Placement tests are compulsory, so the college may ask you to write one before it places you in a programme.

Which programmes take new students

• NC(V), the National Certificate (Vocational): Levels 2 to 4, for students who have passed Grade 9 or an equivalent qualification. Check with the college that your NC(V) programme still takes first-year students.
• Occupational programmes: skills programmes for specific jobs. They are replacing the old N programmes, and the DHET publishes which colleges offer which programmes. NSFAS can fund eligible students in them.
• Report 191 (N1 to N6): these are being phased out. N1 to N3 stopped taking new students at the end of 2023, and N4 to N6 are only being taught to students already enrolled. Don’t plan a new application around them.

Ask the college which programmes it offers for the year you want to start, and what you need for each.

What to take or upload

The admissions policy lists these for registration:

• your ID document, or a passport and study permit if you are not South African,
• your latest academic results, such as your Grade 9 report or matric certificate,
• your placement test results,
• proof of where you live,
• contact details and the ID of your parent, guardian or next of kin, and
• proof of your provisional NSFAS funding, if you applied for it.

The college may ask for more. Use clear copies.

Funding: apply to NSFAS separately

Applying to a college doesn’t apply for funding, and NSFAS funding doesn’t give you a place at a college. If you need help to pay, apply to NSFAS too. NSFAS takes applications once a year for the following academic year. See who qualifies for NSFAS and when to apply. If NSFAS turns down your application, see how to appeal an NSFAS decision.

Registration

The admissions policy says registration should close in the second week of January. Your college sets its own dates, so check them before the year starts.

Need help choosing?

Call the DHET career helpline on 086 999 0123, or the DHET call centre on 0800 87 2222. If you need better matric results for the programme you want, see how to rewrite matric. To see the pass type your matric marks give, use our APS and matric pass calculator. For workplace-based training with an allowance, see learnerships.

Stay safe

The DHET’s admissions policy says colleges may not charge any fee on top of tuition, whether it is called an application, registration or admission fee. Don’t pay anyone to “secure” a place for you, and apply only through the college’s own website or campus.