What Can I Study With Grade 11?

If you have only completed school up to Grade 11, you have study options available to you. Here are your options with a Grade 11 Certificate:

ICB courses
CIMA courses
Short courses
Adult Matric

All of these courses require below Matric to apply, such as Grade 11 or Grade 10.

Can I Go To College Without Matric?

Yes, you can study at many reputable colleges without Matric. The above-mentioned courses are offered through some excellent distance learning colleges, such as:

Bellview Institute of Distance Learning
Matric College
Skills Academy
Ember Academy
Learning Group

ICB Courses

The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB) offers a range of accredited courses through reputable distance learning colleges. Their courses are accredited by the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO), which means they are recognised as formal qualifications in South Africa.

ICB courses begin at a range of different levels, and none require Matric to be able to apply. There are three ICB streams of study:

ICB Study Stream	Entry Requirement	Accepted Equivalent Examples
Business Management	Grade 11 or equivalent	National Certificate (Vocational) at NQF Level 3 ICB National Certificate in Bookkeeping
Financial Accounting	Grade 10 or equivalent	National Certificate (Vocational) at NQF Level 2
Office Administration	Matric or equivalent	National Certificate (Vocational) at NQF Level 4 ICB National Certificate in Small Business Financial Management ICB FET Certificate in Bookkeeping

Each of these courses goes up to a Diploma level. ICB qualifications are also recognised internationally, so you can apply for work all over the world with an ICB qualification.

These are the only three streams of study in ICB courses, but each of them offers a wide range of job opportunities. Also, each level is a qualification, so you can begin working after just your first year of studying.

Business Management

National Certificate: Small Business Financial Management
Qualification	National Certificate
NQF Level	4
Accredited by	ICB & QCTO
SAQA ID Number	48736
Credits	120
Entry Requirements	Grade 11 or Equivalent Certificate (Bookkeeping: ICB FET Certificate)
Subjects	Business Management 1 (BMT1) Bookkeeping to Trial Balance (BKTB) Business Literacy (BUSL)
Career Options	Junior Researcher Junior Analyst Sales Assistant

Higher Certificate: Office Administration
Qualification	Higher Certificate
NQF Level	5
Accredited by	ICB & QCTO
SAQA ID Number	23619
Credits	240
Entry Requirements	National Certificate: Small Business Financial Management
Subjects	Office and Legal Practice (OLPR) Business Management 2 (BMT2) Marketing Management and Public Relations (MMPR) Financial Statements (FNST) Human Resources Management and Labour Relations (HRLR)
Career Options	Senior Office Administrator General Office Manager Customer Service Manager

National Diploma: Financial Accounting
Qualification	National Diploma
NQF Level	6
Accredited by	ICB & QCTO
SAQA ID Number	20366
Credits	280
Entry Requirements	ICB Higher Certificate: Office Administration
Subjects	Business Management 3 (BMT3) Financial Management and Control (FMCL) Financial Reporting and Regulatory Frameworks (FRRF) Research Theory and Practice (by short dissertation, topic: Business Management) (RTAP)
Career Options	Accounting Officer Business Manager Business Advisor

Financial Accounting

National Certificate: Bookkeeping
Qualification	National Certificate
NQF Level	3
Accredited by	ICB & QCTO
SAQA ID Number	58375
Credits	120
Entry Requirements	Grade 10 or Equivalent Certificate
Subjects	Bookkeeping to Trial Balance (BKTB) Payroll and Monthly SARS Returns (PMSR) Computerised Bookkeeping (CPBK) Business Literacy (BUSL)
Career Options	Junior Bookkeeper Accounts Clerk Payroll Clerk

Further Education And Training Certificate: Bookkeeping
Qualification	FET Certificate
NQF Level	4
Accredited by	ICB & QCTO
SAQA ID Number	58376
Credits	130
Entry Requirements	ICB National Certificate: Bookkeeping
Subjects	Financial Statements (FNST) Cost and Management Accounting (CMGT)
Career Options	Senior Bookkeeper Junior Accountant Assistant Accountant

National Diploma: Technical Financial Accounting
Qualification	National Diploma
NQF Level	5
Accredited by	ICB & QCTO
SAQA ID Number	36213
Credits	251
Entry Requirements	ICB Further Education And Training Certificate: Bookkeeping
Subjects	Income Tax Returns (ITRT) Business Law and Accounting Control (BLAC)
Career Options	Technical Financial Accountant Accounting Technician Tax Technician

National Diploma: Financial Accounting
Qualification	National Diploma
NQF Level	6
Accredited by	ICB & QCTO
SAQA ID Number	20366
Credits	280
Entry Requirements	ICB National Diploma: Technical Financial Accounting
Subjects	Corporate Strategy (CRPS) Management Accounting Control Systems (MACS) Financial Reporting and Regulatory Frameworks (FRRF) Research Theory and Practice (by short dissertation; topic: Financial Accounting) (RTAP)
Career Options	Financial Accountant Tax Practitioner Tax Consultant

Office Administration

National Certificate: Office Administration
Qualification	National Certificate
NQF Level	5
Accredited by	ICB & QCTO
SAQA ID Number	23618
Credits	120
Entry Requirements	Matric or Matric Equivalent (Small Business Financial Management: ICB National Certificate or Bookkeeping: ICB National Certificate)
Subjects	Business and Office Administration 1 (BOA1) Bookkeeping to Trial Balance (BKTB) Business Literacy (BUSL) Marketing Management and Public Relations (MMPR) Business Law and Administrative Practice (BLAP) Cost and Management Accounting (CMGT)
Career Options	Junior Office Administrator Receptionist Office Assistant

Higher Certificate: Office Administration
Qualification	Higher Certificate
NQF Level	5
Accredited by	ICB & QCTO
SAQA ID Number	23619
Credits	240
Entry Requirements	ICB National Certificate: Office Administration
Subjects	Business and Office Administration 2 (BOA2) Human Resources Management and Labour Relations (HRLR) Economics (ECON)
Career Options	Senior Office Administrator General Office Manager Labour Relations Administrator

Diploma: Office Administration
Qualification	National Diploma
NQF Level	6
Accredited by	ICB & QCTO
SAQA ID Number	35958
Credits	360
Entry Requirements	ICB Higher Certificate: Office Administration
Subjects	Business and Office Administration 3 (BOA3) Financial Statements (FNST) Management (MGMT)
Career Options	Office Manager Public Relations Manager Administrative Manager

Where Can I Study ICB Courses?

There are many places where you can study ICB courses. Some reputable distance learning colleges that offer these ICB courses are:

CIMA Courses

The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) also offers accredited courses through reputable distance learning colleges. This course goes up to the Degree level, and CIMA courses are also recognised internationally.

There are four levels of CIMA courses:

Business Accounting: CIMA Certificate Level
Business Accounting: CIMA Operational Level
Business Accounting: CIMA Managerial Level
Business Accounting: CIMA Strategic Level

Business Accounting: CIMA Certificate Level
Qualification	National Certificate
NQF Level	5
Accredited by	The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants
SAQA ID Number	24418
Credits	120
Entry Requirements	Be 16 years or older Have had pure maths as a school subject Be able to read and write in English
Subjects	Fundamentals of Business Economics Fundamentals of Management Accounting Fundamentals of Financial Accounting Fundamentals of Ethics, Corporate Governance, and Business Law
Career Options	Business Manager Management Accountant Business Analyst

Business Accounting: CIMA Operational Level
Qualification	National Diploma
NQF Level	6
Accredited by	The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants
SAQA ID Number	24406
Credits	240
Entry Requirements	Business Accounting: CIMA Certificate Level
Subjects	Managing Finance in a Digital World Financial Reporting Management Accounting Operational Case Study Operational Gateway
Career Options	Accountant Bookkeeper Financial Manager

Business Accounting: CIMA Managerial Level
Qualification	Advanced Diploma
NQF Level	6
Accredited by	The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants
SAQA ID Number	24406
Credits	240
Entry Requirements	Business Accounting: CIMA Operational Level
Subjects	Managing Performance Advanced Financial Reporting Advanced Management Accounting Management Case Study Managerial Gateway
Career Options	Business Analyst Management Accountant Accounts Assistant

Business Accounting: CIMA Strategic Level
Qualification	Professional Qualification: Chartered Management Accountant
NQF Level	7
Accredited by	The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants
SAQA ID Number	20400
Credits	390
Entry Requirements	Business Accounting: CIMA Managerial Level
Subjects	Strategic Management Financial Strategy Risk Management Strategic Case Study Strategic Gateway
Career Options	Debtors Clerk Business Manager Chief Financial Officer

Where Can I Study CIMA Courses?

Many distance learning colleges offer CIMA courses, such as:

Short Courses

Short courses are designed to efficiently teach you the necessary industry skills you will need to begin your career journey. The short courses our partner colleges offer are all open-access. This means the only two entry requirements you must meet are:

You must be over the age of 16
You must be able to understand, read and write in English
You must be comfortable studying through distance learning

Each college offers a different set of study streams in short courses.

Short Courses At Matric College

Short Courses At Skills Academy

Short Courses At Ember Academy

Short Courses At Learning Group

Adult Matric

Adult Matric is an option available to those over the age of 21 who did not get to complete their high school education. The only requirement for this is that you have completed up to Grade 9 or equivalent.

Doing your Adult Matric will equip you with a Senior Certificate (Amended). This will function exactly the same way as a National Senior Certificate (NSC), also known as a school Matric. You can use your Adult Matric to apply for work, or to further your studies.

Where Can I Study Adult Matric?

There are many reputable distance learning colleges that offer Matric programmes, including Adult Matric, such as:

Can I Go To University With Grade 11?

No, you cannot attend university with only Grade 11. All universities require you to have Matric (school Matric or Adult Matric) to be able to apply. However, some universities will allow you to apply early using your Grade 11 marks.

This is to help universities streamline the application process. Universities may grant you provisional entry based on your Grade 11 marks. Then, once your Matric marks have been released, you will submit them to the university.

The university will then make a final decision about your admission. Note that all universities reserve the right to accept or reject your application as they see fit.

Can I Get NSFAS Without Matric?

You can, however, this depends on what you are studying. NSFAS funds very specific courses without Matric, and they are:

ABET levels
NC (V) levels

If you are not studying ABET levels or NC (V) levels, NSFAS will not grant you funding. You must also meet all other NSFAS requirements. NSFAS reserves the right to grant funding or not, as they see fit.

What Have We Learned?

You can go to college without Matric
There is a variety of courses you can study without Matric
You cannot go to university without Matric
You can use your Grade 11 marks to apply early to universities, but the final decision about your admission will be made based on your Matric marks
You can only get NSFAS funding without Matric for very specific courses

Author: Chloe Bydawell
Editor: Razeen Dollie
Date: July 7, 2022