Got no Matric? Looking for options to continue studying? Check out all the courses you can study, even without Matric, and what the entry requirements are.
What Can I Study After Failing Matric?
Believe it or not, there are courses you can study, even after failing Matric. This keeps your options open, even if you do not pass.
There are many options available for you to study at Matric College. These include the following:
Matric Courses
If you would like to get your Matric, you can choose to study a Matric course. Matric courses you can choose from are:
Matric Rewrite
You can register and study for a Matric Rewrite to improve your Matric results. You can apply if:
- You are under the age of 21
- You have already written Matric but did not pass
- You passed but would like to improve the marks for some of your subjects.
You may rewrite a maximum of four subjects. You may not change any of your subjects. You must rewrite subjects that you wrote in your previous final Matric exams.
After completing your Matric Rewrite exam, you can apply to have your results combined. This process will take all your best results and put them on one Matric Certificate. However, you may not combine your results if you failed the rewrite.
You need to meet the following requirements to register for a Matric Rewrite Course with us:
- You are under the age of 21
- You can understand, read, and write in English or Afrikaans
- You are able to study via distance learning
- You have written Matric before
Matric Upgrade
You can register and study for a Matric Upgrade if you would like to improve your Matric results. You may only upgrade up to four subjects, and you are allowed to change up to four of your current subjects.
The requirements you will need to meet for a Matric Upgrade are:
- You are 21 or older
- You can understand, read, and write in English or Afrikaans
- You are able to study via distance learning
- You have written Matric before
You may apply and register as early as 19, but you must be 21 or older to write the exams. This is because you will write the Adult Matric (Senior Certificate) exams when doing a Matric Upgrade.
Adult Matric
You can register and study for an Adult Matric Exam if you are over the age of 21 and have not written Matric before. Because Adult Matric excludes Life Orientation, you will only write six subjects instead of seven.
Once you have successfully completed your Adult Matric Course and exam, you will receive your Senior Certificate (Amended). This is also known as an Adult Matric Certificate. This works exactly the same way as a National Senior Certificate, also known as a school Matric.
You can use your Adult Matric Certificate to apply for further studies or to apply for jobs.
The following are the requirements you need to meet in order to register for an Adult Matric Course:
- You passed Grade 9 and have proof of your report
OR
- You completed a Grade 9 equivalent course (ie. an ABET Certificate) that included two official language subjects
AND
- You can understand, read, and write in English or Afrikaans
- You are able to study via distance learning
- You are 21 or older
ICB Courses
The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB) offers three courses that you can study through a reputable distance learning college. These courses are available to study without a Matric Certificate. The study streams available are:
The requirements for each of these are as follows:
|
ICB Study Stream |
Entry Requirement |
Accepted Equivalent Examples |
|
Business Management |
Grade 11 or equivalent |
|
|
Financial Accounting |
Grade 10 or equivalent |
|
|
Office Administration |
Matric or equivalent |
|
All of these courses go up to the Diploma level, and they are accredited by the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) and the ICB. This means that they are recognised in South Africa as formal qualifications.They are also recognised internationally.
Short Courses
You can also study a variety of Short Courses without a Matric Certificate. The requirements for our Short Courses are only:
- That you are 16 years old or older
- That you can understand, read, and write in English
- That you are able to study through distance learning
The courses that you can choose to study are:
Can I Go Back To School After Failing Matric?
Yes, you can go back to school after failing Matric, but only if you are still under the age of 21. It is best to re-enrol at your previous High School or at a new High School as soon as you get your results and know that you have not passed Matric.
Alternatively, you can study a Matric Course through a college such as Matric College.
Can I Apply At University If IFailed Matric?
No, you cannot apply to study at a University if you have not passed Matric. All Universities require you to have passed Matric to be eligible to apply.
Can I Study At UNISA If I Failed My Matric?
No, you cannot study at UNISA if you have not passed Matric. The University of South Africa (UNISA) is a University, and so does require that you have passed Matric to be able to apply.
Can I Study At A TVET College Without Matric?
Yes, you can study at a TVET College without Matric. TVET Colleges offer a variety of Vocational courses, which allow you to learn the skills necessary to work in a chosen field without a Matric.
How Many Subjects Must You Pass To Get A Matric Certificate?
You must pass six (6) of your seven (7) subjects to get a Matric Certificate (National Senior Certificate). For a Senior Certificate (Amended), also known as an Adult Matric, you must pass five (5) of your six (6) subjects.
For both Matric Certificates, you must pass your Home Language with at least 40%. You may also only fail one subject and still pass, as long as it is not your Home Language.
What Is The Lowest Pass In Matric?
The lowest pass level in Matric is a National Senior Certificate (NSC) pass/Matric pass. There are four Matric pass levels:
- Bachelor’s Degree Pass
- Diploma Pass
- Higher Certificate Pass
- National Senior Certificate (NSC) Pass/Matric Pass
The requirements for each of the passing levels is as follows:
|
Pass Level |
Requirements |
|
Bachelor’s Degree pass |
|
|
Diploma pass |
|
|
Higher Certificate pass |
|
|
NSC pass/Matric pass |
|
If you do not meet the requirements for an NSC pass, you will not pass Matric.
How Many Times Can I Repeat Matric?
There is no limit to the number of times you can repeat Matric. You may rewrite your Matric as many times as you like, as long as you are still under 21. Once you are 21, you can do Matric Upgrade. There is no limit to the number of times you can upgrade your Matric.
Can I Buy A Matric Certificate?
No, you cannot buy a Matric Certificate. Umalusi awards all Matric Certificates, and Umalusi has stated that participating in the buying and selling of Matric Certificates is a criminal offence.
If your Matric Certificate is lost or damaged, you can buy a replacement.
What Is Second Chance Matric?
Second Chance Matric is the former name for the Matric programme implemented by the South African government to allow students to rewrite their Matric if they did not pass. It is now called the Matric Supplementary Exam.
Can I Do Matric Online?
You can study for your Matric online. However, you cannot write your Matric exams online. You must write your exams at one of the exam venues designated by the Department of Basic Education (DBE).
What Have We Learned?
- There are still options available to you, even if you do not pass Matric
- There are many courses you can study without Matric
- ICB courses are recognised both locally and internationally
- You can go back to school if you have failed Matric as long as you are under 21
- You cannot apply to Universities if you have not passed Matric
- You can study at a TVET College without Matric
- You can fail one subject and still pass Matric, as long as you do not fail your Home Language subject
- The lowest passing level in Matric is a National Senior Certificate Pass/Matric Pass
- There is no limit to the number of times you may rewrite your Matric as long as you are still under 21
- There is no limit to the number of times you may upgrade your Matric
- You cannot buy a Matric Certificate
- You can buy a replacement certificate if your Matric Certificate gets lost or damaged
- Second Chance Matric is the former name of the programme implemented by the South African government to allow students to rewrite their Matric if they did not pass
- You can study for your Matric online, but you cannot write your Matric exams online
- You must write your Matric exams in a government-designated venue
Author: Chloe Bydawell
Editor: Stacey Christian
Date Published: January 30, 2023