For many South Africans receiving a Matric or National Senior Certificate is a defining moment in their lives and a potential ticket into tertiary education. However, this qualification is not the only path one can take in pursuit of higher education.
There are in fact two other paths one can take that offer the equivalent to the National Senior Certificate with a multitude of institutions that offer teaching and training.
These qualifications are recognised by a number of institutions including universities and colleges, but we highly recommend you check which tertiary education institutions accept these qualifications before diving in.
The National Qualification Framework or NQF
This qualification course can be started so long as you have at least a Grade 9 certificate with an NQF Level 4 being the equivalent of a NSC.
This NQF system effectively rates the level of education you have received from a TVET college or other accredited institution. Much like an NSC, an NQF simply lets another institution or employer know what level of education you have.
NQF levels start at 1 and go all the way up to level 10. For all intents and purposes, an NQF Level 4 is equivalent to an NSC, Amended Matric Certificate and a National Certificate Vocational Certificate Level 4. This can be expanded upon through to NQF Level 10 which is the equivalent to a university degree.
Many of the NQF Level 4 courses available in South Africa focus on a specific career. For example, Northlink College offers a number of NQF 4 qualifications with a focus on automation, engineering, and more. With vocational training, students will often go further into the NQF course.
Before applying at an accredited institution to study an NQF, it’s important to verify that the institution has the correct accreditation. Your first port of call in verifying this information should be the Department of Higher Education and Training’s website here.
Another alternative to an NSC is the National Certificate Vocational. This qualification is best for those who wish to pursue a vocational career such as working as a tradesperson. The NCV is part of the NQF albeit with artisanal skills as a focus.
Cambridge Curriculum
Another qualification that is recognised locally as an equivalent to the NSC is the Cambridge Assessment International Education, specifically Advanced Subsidiary Levels or AS Levels.
AS Levels take approximately one year to complete according to Cambridge Assessment International Education but students do need to complete either Cambridge IGCSE or Cambridge O Levels in order to start AS Levels.
Truth be told, this route can be rather costly and we’d consider either the traditional NSC or an NQF before going the Cambridge route. With that having been said, a number of high ranking schools in South Africa use this curriculum including St John’s College, Hilton College and UCT Online High School.
It’s important that one check which tertiary education institutions accept Cambridge Assessment International Education AS Levels for their courses. With that having been said, the qualification is globally recognised so you’ll be hard pressed to find institutions which don’t accept it.
