I do not qualify for adult matric, can I still study?

Yes, you can still study if you do not qualify for an Adult Matric Course.

Not having a Matric Certificate does not mean that you cannot further your studies to start a successful career.

You do not qualify for Adult Matric — Now what? Discover the routes you can take to get a Matric Certificate and what courses you can study without Matric.

What Can I Do If I Do Not Have Matric?

If you do not have Matric, you can do these (3) three things:

Enrol in an Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET) Programme
Study a course without Matric
Become a tradesman or tradeswoman
Explore Entrepreneurship

Enrol In An Adult Basic Education And Training (ABET) Programme

If you are an adult who never got the opportunity to finish school, you can enrol at an Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET) Centre.

ABET Courses are available for adults who want to complete their basic education and further their studies. Once you gain an ABET Level 4 Qualification (equivalent to a Grade 9 Qualification), you can apply for an Adult Matric Course.

Is ABET Level 4 The Same As Grade 12?

No, ABET Level 4 is not the same as Grade 12. ABET Level 4 is equivalent to a Grade 9 Qualification, which is at NQF Level 1. It will enable you to apply for an Adult Matric Course so that you can get your Matric.

A Grade 12 Certificate is at NQF Level 4. Students should not confuse these two qualifications.

Can I Study At UNISA With An ABET Level 4 Certificate?

No, you cannot study at UNISA with an ABET Level 4 Certificate. You can, however, use your ABET Certificate to study a Matric Course, which will allow you to study at UNISA.

Study A Course Without Matric

There are a variety of courses you can study without a Matric Certificate.

The courses will allow you to further your studies and have access to job opportunities.

Can I Study At UNISA Without Matric?

No, you cannot study at UNISA without Matric.

You must have completed Matric. Certain courses at UNISA require you to have:

A particular Matric Pass Level
Certain Matric subjects
A particular APS Score

Become A Tradesman Or Tradeswoman

If you do not have a Matric Certificate and choose to not further your studies, you can still build a successful career in the building, mechanical, industrial and medical fields. You can do this by applying for an apprenticeship in the trade of your choice.

Some TVET Colleges also offer courses you can study to acquire more skills and knowledge in the trade of your choice.

Building	Bricklayer Carpenter Electrician Landscaper Painter Plumber
Mechanical	Automobile mechanic HVAC installer Machinist Locksmith Elevator mechanic
Industrial	Steam engineer Cargo freight agent Ironworker
Medical	First Aider Elderly living assistant Massage therapist

Upskilling yourself in a trade will also allow you to start your own business and make money.

Explore Entrepreneurship

You do not need any Academic Qualifications to be an Entrepreneur. Exploring Entrepreneurship would be a great option for those who do not have a Matric Certificate.

Once you start up your business and would like to manage it better, you can study one of our ICB Business Management Courses.

What Can I Study If I Do Not Have Matric?

Here are courses you can study if you do not have Matric:

Short Courses

You can study job-oriented Short Courses if you do not qualify for an Adult Matric Course.

Here are the Short Courses you can study at Matric College:

Child Day Care Courses

Crèche Management Courses

Child Psychology Courses

Nail Care Courses

Make-Up Application Courses

Facial Skincare Courses

Guest House Management Courses

Tourism Management Courses

Events Planning Courses

Wedding Planning Courses

Short Course Entry Requirements

To study any of the Short Courses at Matric College, you need to meet the following requirements:

Be 16 years old or older
Read, write and understand English

ICB Courses

ICB Courses teach you scarce skills that are highly regarded in South Africa’s world of work.

With an ICB Course, you can become a qualified Financial Manager, an Office Administrator, or an Accountant without having done Mathematics, Business Studies or Accounting as a subject in High School.

You need to be 16 years old or older and have a Grade 10 or higher Qualification to apply for our ICB Courses.

We have a few ICB Programmes available for you to study. All of our ICB Programmes can be studied without Matric.

Here are the ICB Courses we offer:

ICB Business Management

Entry Requirements

Here are the entry requirements for each of our ICB Courses.

Course	Entry Qualification Requirement
ICB Financial Accounting	Grade 10 Certificate
ICB Business Management	Grade 11 Certificate OR Bookkeeping: ICB National Certificate (our ICB Bridging Course)
ICB Office Administration	Matric Equivalent Certificate: Bookkeeping: ICB FET Certificate Small Business Management: ICB National Certificate

What Will I Learn From The ICB Courses?

Our ICB Courses will teach you the following:

How to manage a business
The basics of Bookkeeping
Business Literacy
How to manage business finances
How to prepare financial documents
Human Resources Management and Labour Relations
Marketing Management
Office and Legal Practices

What Are The Job Opportunities Available For Me After Completing My ICB Course?

Each ICB Qualification will give you access to different job opportunities. Here are some of the job opportunities that will be available for you:

Junior financial manager
Junior bookkeeper
Assistant in the Human Resources Department
Customer Relations Assistant
Sales Assistant

Administrative Clerk
Labour Relations Manager
Office Administratrator
Office Manager
Office Administrator
Accounts Assistant

Administrative Clerk
Customer Service Manager
Creditors Clerk/Manager
Finance Administrator
Office and Procurement Administrator
Payroll Clerk
Financial Secretary

NCV Courses

Most TVET Colleges offer NCV Courses that you can study without having a Matric Certificate.

NCV Courses are High School Grade Equivalent Courses. Once completing your NCV Course, you can apply for courses at institutes that accept applicants with a Matric Equivalent Certificate.

Here are the NCV Levels within the National Qualification Framework (NQF) and their equivalent High School Grades.

NCV Level	High School Grade
Level 2	Grade 10
Level 3	Grade 11
Level 4	Grade 12

Why Should I Study With Matric College?

You should study with Matric College because we are a distance learning institute that will support you in your studies. There are a number of benefits of studying a distance learning course with us.

Here are the benefits of studying through us:

Study without Matric
Get an accredited Qualification
Study from anywhere in South Africa
Learn and study at your own pace
Work while you study
We provide you with study material and send you assignments
You get access to our qualified tutors and study groups
We assist you with exam registration

If you would like to study any of our courses, you can contact a Course Expert to begin the registration process.

Author: Tammy Fredericks
Editor: Sive Ncanywa
Date: September 20 , 2022