What Can I Study Without Matric?

There are many options available for you to study even if you do not have Matric, such as:

Short courses
ICB courses
CIMA courses
Matric programmes
National Certificate (Vocational) courses

None of these courses require Matric for you to apply. You can study both accredited and non-accredited courses through reputable distance learning colleges. Distance learning allows you to work to earn an income while you are studying.

What Courses Do I Qualify For?

There are a wide range of courses available that cover a variety of interests. Some courses are accredited, and some are skills-based and are aimed to get you workplace-ready as soon as get your qualification.

Short Courses

Short courses are designed to upskill you and get you workplace-ready with the skills you need. These courses aim to help you begin your career journey sooner rather than later.

The short courses offered at our partner colleges are open-access, which means there are only two entry requirements you need to meet:

You must be over the age of 16
You must be able to understand, read and write in English

You will also need to be comfortable studying through distance learning, as all of our courses are fully online.

Each of our colleges offer a different selection of short courses you can choose from.

Short Courses At Matric College

Short Courses At Skills Academy

Short Courses At Ember Academy

Short Courses At Learning Group

ICB

Studying accredited ICB courses can open up a wide range of job opportunities for you in the Business or Finance industries. The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB) has courses accredited by the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations.

This means that ICB courses are recognised as formal qualifications in South Africa. ICB courses are also highly regarded in South Africa, because they teach scarce skills, which are in high demand in South Africa.

The ICB offers three study streams, all of which go up to the Diploma level:

Business Management
Financial Accounting
Office Administration

ICB Study Stream	Business Management	Financial Accounting	Office Administration
Entry Requirement	Grade 11 or Equivalent	Grade 10 or Equivalent	Matric or Equivalent
Examples of Equivalents	NC (V) at NQF level 3 ICB National Certificate in Bookkeeping	NC (V) at NQF level 2	NC (V) at NQF level 4 ICB FET Certificate in Bookkeeping ICB National Certificate in Small Business Financial Management
Starting NQF Level	4	3	5
Completion NQF Level	6	6	6
Subject Examples	Business Management 1 (BMT1) Marketing Management and Public Relations (MMPR) Financial Management and Control (FMCL)	Bookkeeping to Trial Balance (BKTB) Cost and Management Accounting (CMGT) Income Tax Returns (ITRT) Management Accounting Control Systems (MACS)	Business and Office Administration 1 (BOA1) Human Resources Management and Labour Relations (HRLR) Financial Statements (FNST)
Career Opportunities	Junior Analyst Senior Office Administrator Business Manager	Junior Bookkeeper Junior Accountant Technical Financial Accountant Financial Accountant	Office Assistant Labour Relations Administrator Office Manager

Where Can I Study ICB Courses?

Many distance learning colleges offer ICB courses. Some reputable ones are:

CIMA

The courses offered by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) through reputable distance learning colleges are fully accredited courses, and are recognised internationally. CIMA courses go up to the Degree level, and there are four levels:

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:

Matric Programmes

If you would like to get your Matric, there are options available for everyone. There are three Matric programmes:

Matric Rewrite – for students that are 21 and younger who would like to improve their Matric results
Matric Upgrade – for students that are 21 and older who would like to improve their Matric results
Adult Matric – for students that are 21 and older who were unable to complete their high school education and that were unable to write their Matric

Matric Rewrite

You can apply for a Matric Rewrite to improve the marks in four subjects or fewer. You may rewrite a maximum of four subjects. You cannot change subjects, you must rewrite subjects you wrote for your Matric final exams.

Matric Upgrade

You can apply for a Matric Upgrade if you are 21 and older, but would still like to improve your Matric marks. You may upgrade a maximum of four subjects. However, you may choose to change four subjects instead.

You may apply for a Matric Upgrade as early as 19. However, you must be over the age of 21 to write the exams. This is because you will write the Adult Matric exams.

Adult Matric

This option is for those who are over 21 and did not get to write their Matric. Once you have successfully completed your Adult Matric, you will receive your Senior certificate (Amended).

This certificate will function the same way as a National Senior Certificate, which is known as the school Matric. You can use your Senior Certificate (Amended) to apply for work, or to apply to further your studies, depending on how well you passed.

Where Can I Study Matric Programmes?

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

National Certificate (Vocational)

You can apply to study for your NC (V) levels at a TVET college. This means the entry requirement is that you have completed and passed Grade 9. The NC (V) levels are offered at NQF levels 2 to 4. This means that they are equivalent to Grades 10 to 12.

Can You Study Teaching Without Matric?

Yes, you can study teaching without Matric. However, you cannot become a Teacher without Matric. You can study a course in Education at a TVET college without Matric, but this will allow you to work in the fields of Child Care or Early Childhood Development, and not as a school teacher.

Can I Study At UNISA Without Matric?

No, you cannot study at UNISA without Matric. UNISA is a university and only offers tertiary-level education courses. All universities require you to have Matric to be eligible to apply.

Can I Get NSFAS Without Matric?

Yes, you can get NSFAS funding without Matric, but only for very specific courses. NSFAS will only fund TVET courses or ABET levels.

Can I Do Matric At TVET College?

Yes, you can do your Matric at a TVET college. Many colleges offer Matric programmes. Check with the TVET college you are applying to study at about which Matric programmes they offer.

Can I Write My Matric At UNISA?

No, you cannot write your Matric at UNISA. UNISA is a university and does not offer any Matric Programmes. UNISA only offers university courses.

What Have We Learned?

There are many study options available even if you do not have Matric
You can study teaching without Matric, but you cannot become a teacher without Matric
You cannot study at UNISA without Matric
You can get NSFAS funding without Matric, but only for very specific courses
You can write your Matric at a TVET college
You cannot write your Matric at UNISA

Author: Chloe Bydawell
Editor: Razeen Dollie
Date: July 14, 2022