Passed Matric? Where to Now?

Congratulations on having passed matric. You put in the work, and now you are ready to reap the rewards. You have the key to a better future, but what exactly do you do now? 

I Passed Matric. What Now?

You’re at a point in your life where you need to make big decisions and start a new chapter in your life. If you are not sure what you want to do moving forward, don’t worry about it too much. It’s entirely normal to not have a plan just yet. Many people do not have a plan yet.

There are many options out there for matriculants. Even though the possibilities are nearly endless, it is important to remember that your results may have an impact on your future plans. Depending on the kind of pass you achieved, you may need to adjust your plans going forward.

Passed with a Bachelor’s Certificate Pass?

With a Bachelor’s Certificate Pass you can apply at almost any university or college. Keep in mind that certain programmes have specific minimum entry requirements. It is important to make sure that when you decide what to study, you have the marks needed to get into that course.

It is not guaranteed that you will get into the course you want to study though. Even if you meet the minimum entry requirements, many universities have limited amounts of seats available, so they only take the students with the best results applying for the course.

You also need to consider the cost of studying a certain programme at different institutions. Not every college or university will have the same price for the same qualification. Regardless of  the cost of your course, always remember that you will be investing in your future.

Passed with a Diploma Pass?

If you passed with a diploma pass, you can go to any college to get a diploma certificate or to a university which offers diplomas. Some universities, like Cape Peninsula University of Technology, offer diploma courses with an optional year to get a degree if you did well academically with your diploma certificate.

Passed with a Higher Certificate Pass?

The Higher Certificate Pass gives you slightly fewer options. With this pass, you can only study at colleges that offer higher certificate courses. There may be ways to get higher qualifications once you have completed those, but it depends on your situation and you would have to contact a student advisor at your college. They could help you to figure out a plan to get a higher qualification if that is your goal.

Other Options

If you want to go straight into doing a degree but you didn’t achieve a Bachelor’s Certificate Pass there’s still hope! You can do a bridging course through a public or private school, as well as some tertiary institutions. This will allow you to improve your marks and will replace the marks you were not happy with.

Other options are to find a job or do a gap year if you are indecisive about your future. A gap year gives you more time to think about what you really want to do with your life. However, it is crucial that you take the time to consider what you want to do instead of treating it like a holiday.

Finding a job allows you to earn money while you figure out what to do next. You may even get lucky and land a job that you really enjoy and what to study further for at a later stage. Either way, it is important to keep your eyes open for any opportunities that will help you move forward in life during this time.

Home Study Courses

There are many different colleges that offer, professional courses, for those who have and have not completed Matric. These courses range from long degree programs to short skills courses. The following colleges are professional colleges that you can study from anywhere in South Africa.