You can study Nursing by taking a Health course through a TVET college. Studying to become a Nurse without your Matric will simply be a much longer process.
Can You Go To Nursing School Without Matric?
Yes, you can, however it will take longer to get there. You must first complete a Health course through a TVET college. This requires only Grade 9. You will study three National Certificate (Vocational) levels, which will award you with a Matric Equivalent, an NC(V) at NQF level 4.
Once you have your NC(V) at NQF level 4, you can use this to apply to study for a Diploma or Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing Science. Then you can register with the South African Nursing Council (SANC). You will only start working as a Nurse after you have registered with SANC.
Can I Do Nursing At UNISA?
You can study Nursing at UNISA, but not without Matric. You need a Matric with Life Sciences as a high school subject to apply at UNISA.
Can I Do Nursing With Maths Literacy?
Yes, you can study Nursing with Maths Literacy. Most universities will require a pass mark of 60% or higher to qualify for a Nursing programme.
Does NSFAS Pay For Nursing Courses?
NSFAS will fund studies in the field of Nursing, however you must meet the following requirements:
- You must be a South African citizen
- You must be studying at a South African public university
- You must meet all other NSFAS requirements, such as maximum household income
NSFAS reserves the right to grant funding or not as they see fit, and as funds are available. Note that meeting the above requirements does not guarantee you funding for your studies.
How Many Types Of Nurses Are There?
There are many types of nurses, but they are usually categorised as follows:
- Registered Nurse
- Nurse Practitioner
- Certified Nurse Midwife
- Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Nurse Educator
- Nurse Administrator
- Clinical Nurse Leader
- Certified Registered Nurse Anaesthetist
However, each type of Nurse also has many fields of specialisation. This means that each nurse can specialise in many areas.
How Can I Study A Degree In Nursing?
If you would like to study your Degree in Nursing without going through a TVET college, you can choose to get or improve your Matric. You have three options:
- Matric Rewrite
- Matric Upgrade
- Adult Matric
Matric Rewrite
You can do a Matric Rewrite if you are under the age of 21. You can use this to improve your Matric marks to qualify for a Nursing Degree or Diploma. 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 do a Matric Upgrade if you are over the age of 21. You can use this to improve your Matric results the same way as a Matric Rewrite. You may upgrade a maximum of four subjects. However, you can also choose to change four subjects.
You can apply for a Matric Upgrade as early as 19, but 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 is an option for those who completed school up to Grade 9, but did not get to complete their high school education and register to write their Matric exams. Once you have completed your Adult Matric, you will be awarded a Senior Certificate (Amended).
This certificate functions the same way as a National Senior Certificate, known as school Matric. You can use your Adult Matric to apply for work or to further your studies, depending on how well you pass.
Where Can I Study A Matric Programme?
There are many reputable colleges that offer Matric programmes through distance learning, so you can work to earn an income while you are studying for your Matric. Some of these reputable colleges are:
What Have We Learned?
- You can study Nursing without Matric, but it will take longer
- You can study Nursing at UNISA, but it requires Matric
- You can study Nursing with Maths Literacy
- NSFAS does fund undergraduate Nursing studies done at public South African universities
- There are options available for you to get your Matric if you want to study a Degree or Diploma in Nursing
Author: Chloe Bydawell
Editor: Razeen Dollie
Date: July 14, 2022