If you’re an adult over the age of 21, you may think that your last chance at completing your matric year is over—but this simply isn’t true! Even if you’ve been out of high school for a while, you can still get another chance by completing an adult matric course.
Getting your matric certificate as an adult can open many doors for your career, as it’ll allow you to apply for new job roles or even study at college or university.
If you’re keen to complete your adult matric, then you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we outline everything you need to know about getting an adult matric in 2023.
What is Adult Matric?
An adult matric—otherwise known as a Senior Certificate (SC) —allows you to further your education by studying at college or university. It essentially works the same way as a National Senior Certificate (NSC) in the sense that both certifications equate to an NQF Level 4; however, it’s important to note that the National Senior Certificate (NSC) and Senior Certificate (SC) are not the same so be sure not to confuse them.
To get a better understanding of how the National Senior Certificate (NSC) differs from the adult matric, take a look at the comparison below to see how they work:
Adult Matric Versus National Senior Certificate (NSC)
The National Senior Certificate (NSC) is achieved through the traditional way of schooling, meaning that you receive your matric certificate upon completion of Grade 12/matric in high school.
Adult matric covers the same matric subjects in South African high schools; however, the course duration is self-paced, meaning you get to choose how quickly you’d like to complete your adult matric (within the educational institution’s allocated time frame). Adult matric results are also achieved through final exams only as opposed to assignments or classwork.
In order to be accredited, the adult matric course has to have been approved by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).
*Be sure to confirm whether or not your matric course or programme is legitimate by visiting the SAQA website or by checking the SAQA identification number.
Who Qualifies for an Adult Matric in 2023?
Adult matric certificates are generally given to those who could not complete their matric certificate the first time around.
You may also get an adult matric if you would like the opportunity to improve your matric marks so that you may qualify to get into a higher educational institution.
The requirements for an adult matric may vary depending on the matric course or programme you’ll be undertaking.
With that said, the general requirements for an adult matric can be broken down into the following:
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- adults over the age of 21 who would like to obtain their Grade 12 Senior Certificate (SC)
- adults with a completed Grade 9 General Education and Training Certificate (GETC) or equivalent (NQF 1)
- adults with the ability to speak, read and write two or more South African languages (namely English and Afrikaans)
- adults with an incomplete Senior Certificate (SC)
Where Can You Register for an Adult
There are several educational institutions that will allow you to complete your adult matric, including, but not limited to:
- Adult education centres: These are public or private educational training centres that provide basic education to adults.
- Vocational schools: Also referred to as a trade school, a vocational school is a post-secondary educational institution that provides students with technical skills and training for a specific occupation or career.
- Community colleges: In South Africa, many public Further Education and Training (FET) colleges offer adult matric programmes, as well as some private educational institutions.
- Distance learning programmes: In 2023, with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, many higher education institutions have adapted to offer online and distance learning options for adult matric programmes. This allows individuals to complete their studies from the comfort of their own homes and at their own pace.
It is recommended to research and compare various institutions to find the best fit for your needs, budget, and schedule. You can also consult with a school counsellor or educational advisor for guidance on choosing the right institution and programme for you.
Now that you know all the different types of educational institutions that will allow you to register for an adult matric, it’s time to find out where you can do an adult matric in 2023.
For the purpose of this article, we will be looking at 3 different educational institutions that will allow you to complete your adult matric this year, namely, the Department of Basic Education (DBE), TVET colleges and distance learning institutions.
Obtaining an Adult Matric Through the Department of Basic Education (DBE)
The Department of Basic Education (DBE) offers adults another chance at obtaining their Senior Certificate (SC) through its Second Chance Matric Programme (SCMP).
The Department of Basic Education’s (DBE) Second Chance Matric Programme (SCMP) was made with the purpose of helping learners and adults obtain their National Senior Certificate (NSC) and Senior Certificate (SC). The DBE does this by allowing them to study and rewrite the various matric subjects offered by the SCMP.
Subjects offered by the Second Chance Matric Programme (SCMP) are:
- Accounting
- Agricultural Science
- Business Science
- Economics
- English FAL
- Geography
- History
- Mathematics
- Mathematical Literacy
- Physical Sciences
- Life Sciences
An added benefit of doing your adult matric through the Second Chance Matric Programme (SCMP) is that you have full access to all the subjects listed above. This is opposed to learners who are looking to obtain their National Senior Certificate, who are only allowed to choose two subjects from the list.
Registrations for the Department of Basic Education’s (DBE) Second Chance Matric Programme (SCMP) close on 8 February 2023, so be sure to apply before it’s too late!
If you’re looking to study at a TVET college, then good news! There are plenty of TVET colleges in South Africa that allow you to complete your adult matric.
The best part is, there are certain TVETs that accept applications year-round, meaning you can apply for your adult matric certificate at any time of the year.
TVET colleges that accept applications year-round and that offer adult matric include, but are not limited to:
Each TVET college is different, so be sure to do adequate research before selecting the right TVET for you. To help get you started, we’ve outlined each of the above TVET colleges to give you a clear idea of what matric courses they have available.
Coastal KZN TVET College has a variety of courses and programmes available, including its National Certificate Vocational (NCV) Programme.
The NCV programme allows adults who have passed Grade 9 the opportunity to complete Levels 2, 3 and 4 of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), which is equivalent to Grades 10, 11 and 12. Each NQF Level takes a year to complete, meaning the entire adult matric course duration is 3 years.
After completing Coastal KZN TVET College’s National Certificate Vocational (NCV) Programme, you’ll have the qualification and skills necessary to enter a working event. You’ll also be able to apply to higher education institutions, provided you meet the right subject requirements.
The NCV programme can be divided into both fundamental subjects and vocational subjects, which are made up of the following:
Fundamental subjects (NQF Level 2 to 4):
- Language(s)
- Life Orientation
- Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy
Vocational subjects (NQF Level 2 to 4):
Located in the Free State, Goldfields TVET College offers Adult Basic Education and Training to adults who would like to complete their adult matric.
The adult matric courses available at Goldfields TVET College will allow adult matric learners to obtain a National Certificate Vocational (NCV).
The adult matric courses available at Goldfields TVET College are:
- Engineering and Related Design
- Civil Engineering and Building Construction
- Electrical Infrastructure Construction
- Drawing Office Practice
- Finance, Economics and Accounting
- Marketing
- Information Technology and Computer Science
- Hospitality
- Office Administration
- Transport and Logistics
- Tourism
Springfield TVET College offers adult matric courses to learners in the North-West Province. Adults can choose between the old syllabus matric or technical matric.
The old syllabus matric offered at Springfield TVET College is for adult matric learners who would like to improve or upgrade their previous matric marks. To qualify, you have to have a matric that is older than five years.
The old syllabus matric subjects offered by Springfield TVET College are:
- Mathematical literacy
- English
- Economics
- Accounting
- Geography
- Business studies
- Afrikaans
- Life orientation
- History
- Mathematics
- Physical sciences
- Life sciences
- Computerised application technology(cat)
The technical matric at Springfield TVET College is for adult matric learners who’d like to specialise in a specific vocation. Adults who would like to obtain the technical matric at Springfield TVET College can choose from the following list of subjects:
- Mathematics
- Supervision in industry
- Industrial orientation
- Industrial organization and planning
- Business English
- Sake Afrikaans
Note: All the technical matric subjects at Springfield TVET College are compulsory.
Although there are several excellent educational institutions that offer adult matric in South Africa, we’ll be discussing three private educational institutions that are currently open for registrations in 2023: Elroi Academy, Matric College and Ekurhuleni Technical College.
Elroi Academy is an online education provider that offers courses for Grade 10 to 12 learners but also specialises in matric rewrites.
All of the courses provided by Elroi Academy are to be completed entirely online via distance learning, which is ideal for adults who are busy working full-time.
The adult matric courses are entirely self-paced and you can choose from a range of matric subjects that can be completed in either English or Afrikaans:
- Accounting*
- Afrikaans Eerste Addisionele Taal
- Afrikaans Huistaal
- Business Studies*
- Computer Application Technology
- English First Additional Language
- English Home Language
- Geography*
- History
- Life Orientation*
- Life Sciences*
- Mathematical Literacy*
- Mathematics*
- Physical Sciences*
- Tourism*
*Adult matric subjects offered by Elroi Academy that are available in Afrikaans
Matric College is an educational institution that exclusively offers adult matric to individuals over the age of 21.
The adult matric courses available at Matric College are registered by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and can only be done via distance learning.
Matric College allows you to choose from a range of compulsory and optional subjects, and you can choose as many subjects as you’d like.
The compulsory and optional subjects available for adult matric at Matric College are:
Compulsory matric subjects:
- English Home Language
- English 1st Additional Language
- Afrikaans Huistaal (Home Language)
- Afrikaans 1st Additional Language
- isiXhosa 1st Additional Language
- isiZulu 1st Additional Language
- Sepedi 1st Additional Language
- Xitsonga 1st Additional Language
- Ndebele 1st Additional Language
- Sotho 1st Additional Language
- Tshivenda 1st Additional Language
- Siswati 1st Additional Language
- Setswana 1st Additional Language
- Mathematics
- Mathematical Literacy
Optional matric subjects:
- Life Science (Biology)
- Physical Science (Physics and Chemistry)
- Accounting
- Business Studies
- Economics
- Geography
- History
Ekurhuleni Tech College is an online and distance-learning college that offers individuals the opportunity to qualify for the National Senior Certificate for Adults (NSCA).
The National Senior Certificate for Adults (NSCA) is an NQF Level 4 qualification that can be obtained by passing a minimum of 4 subjects with a pass mark of at least 50%. The 4 subjects include 2 compulsory subjects, a language subject and Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy.
The cost of completing an adult matric certificate depends on several factors, such as the educational institution offering the programme, your geographic location as well as any other additional study fees.
To help you put things in perspective, the average cost of getting an adult matric in South Africa is roughly between R5 000 and R10 000. With that said, the cost may vary according to the specific programme, requirements and region.
If you’re looking for more accurate and up-to-date information about a specific adult matric course, be sure to contact the educational institution directly to learn more.
To help you break down the costs of an adult matric certificate in 2023, let’s look at the cost of obtaining your adult matric at the Department of Basic Education (DBE), TVET Colleges and private educational institutions.
If you’re looking to apply for an adult matric through the Department of Basic Education (DBE)’s Second Chance Matric Programme (SCMP), then you’ll be happy to know that registration is 100% free.
Although registration is free, we advise that you prepare to pay for your own study material, textbooks, stationery and any other additional costs or study fees (if applicable).
The cost of obtaining an adult matric through a South African TVET College varies according to the educational institution as well as the number of matric subjects you’re required to complete.
However, you can expect to pay an estimate of R5 000 to R21 000 per matric course, but again, this will largely depend on the type of TVET college you’re applying to.
In terms of registration fees, certain TVET colleges do not require you to pay a registration fee, whereas others may expect you to pay a small fee upfront.
If you want to learn more, contact your local TVET college to find out what the registration fees for their adult matric course or programme are so that you’ll know how much money you’ll need to budget for in order to apply.
If you’re interested in obtaining your adult matric at any one of the 3 TVET colleges mentioned in this article—KZN TVET College, Goldfields TVET College or Springfield TVET College—be sure to view a breakdown of their costs and fees below.
The average tuition costs at Coastal KZN TVET College range between R8 000 to R21 000 per year.
Adults who would like to complete their adult matric at Coastal KZN TVET College are required to pay a minimum deposit of R2 000 of the course fees on the date of registration should they not meet the funding requirements for NSFAS.
According to Goldfields TVET College, a majority of its students acquire funding through the NSFAS bursary. However, if you’re looking to pay for your adult matric course privately, you can find an outline of the courses and fee structure below.
The cost of adult matric courses available at Goldfields TVET College are:
- Engineering and Related Design: Up to R19 800
- Civil Engineering and Building Construction: Up to R15 300
- Electrical Infrastructure Construction: Up to R15 100
- Drawing Office Practice: Up to R11 350
- Finance, Economics and Accounting: Up to R10 900
- Marketing: Up to R9 750
- Information Technology and Computer Science: R14 900
- Hospitality: Up to R18 500
- Office Administration: Up to R9 700
- Transport and Logistics: Up to R10 315
- Tourism: Up to R14 115
The cost packages at Goldfields TVET College include registration fees, class fees, books and consumables.
*Note that the fees outlined above should be used as a guide only. Any study fees or costs set out by Goldfields TVET College are subject to change.
The cost of obtaining your adult matric through Springfield TVET College is fairly affordable. In terms of registration, all adult matric learners are expected to pay a fee of R500. In terms of tuition fees, the fee structure for 2023 is yet to be updated; however, an estimated outline of the 2022 fees structure* for the old matric syllabus and technical matric at Springfield TVET College can be viewed below:
- Old matric syllabus: Up to R5 500
- Technical matric: Up to R9 700
*The cost of Springfield TVET College’s adult matric courses should be used as a guide only and are not reflective of the actual costs in 2023.
If you’re looking to complete adult matric courses at distance learning institutions like Elroi Academy, Matric College or Ekurhuleni Tech College, then you’ll need to know the cost of acquiring an adult matric certificate at each of these private educational institutions. Don’t worry, we’ve done the research so you don’t have to!
Here’s what you need to know about the cost of studying toward an adult matric at Elroi Academy, Ekurhuleni Tech College and Matric College.
The cost of obtaining your adult matric through Elroi Academy is R4 025. However, if you apply for your adult matric at Elroi Academy through FundiConnect, you’ll get an additional 20% off all services.
Adults looking to acquire their adult matric through Matric College will need to contact Matric College directly in order to find out the costs, as each course is personalised to the individual students’ needs.
Ekurhuleni Tech College has categorised its adult matric course costs according to registration fees, exam fees, study materials and total payable. Thus, if you’re looking to apply for the National Senior Certificate for Adults (NSCA), you can expect to pay an estimated cost of the following:
- Registration fees: Up to R650
- Exam fees: Between R650 and R3 250 per matric subject
- Study materials (including assignments for term marks): Between R2 200 and R5 350
- Total payable: Between R3 500 and R9 250
To register for an adult matric in 2023, you’ll have to follow the application process provided to you by your chosen educational provider.
To help get you started, we’ve provided a guide below on how to apply for adult matric through the Department of Basic Education, TVET colleges and private educational institutions.
Adults who would like to register for the Second Chance Matric Programme (SCMP) can do so by either visiting the provincial education office or by registering online via the eservices.gov.za portal.
To register for the Second Chance Matric Programme (SCMP) online, all you have to do is:
- Visit eservices.gov.za
- Complete the registration form
- Submit your supporting documents (certified copies of ID, birth certificate, passport and highest qualification)
After you’ve registered for the Second Chance Matric Programme (SCMP), you’ll need to wait for your confirmation letter before getting approved.
There are two ways to register for an adult matric through TVET colleges. You can either register for an adult matric through your local TVET college online (should they have the online option available), or by visiting your local TVET college campus.
The online application process for TVET colleges is fairly similar, and all you have to do to register for your adult matric is:
- Visit your chosen TVET college’s website
- Start the application process through your TVET college’s application portal.
- Complete your application form online.
- Upload or attach your supporting documents (certified copies of your ID, latest statement of results, proof of residence).
- Submit your application.
Depending on the TVET college you’ve chosen to obtain your adult matric at, you may have to submit your supporting documents manually by visiting the listed address on the TVET college’s website.
In order to apply for an adult matric through the two private educational institutions earlier in this article—Elroi Academy, Matric College and Ekurhuleni Technical College—all you have to do is simply follow the application processes listed below.
The application process for Elroi Academy is simple and anyone who would like to apply for their adult matric can do so by following these steps:
- Visit the Elroi Academy website
- Fill in the “quotation” page
- Accept the terms and agreements
- Provide either your account details or the person who is in charge of your account
- Upload certified copies of your ID and latest academic reports
- Make an EFT or deposit payment for the registration fee
- Upload your proof of payment
- Submit your enrolment form
- Complete your application
Once you’ve completed your registration for Elroi Academy’s adult matric course, you’ll get immediate access to the content and support portal.
To register for an adult matric at Matric College, all you have to do is gather the right supporting documentation and follow the online application process.
Supporting documents needed to apply to Matric College are:
- ID number (applicants must be over 21 years)
- Latest school report (from grade 9 onwards)
- Subjects you’d like to study
- Personal details (name, surname, district, proof of residence)
- 2 colour ID photos
Once you’ve gathered your supporting documents for Matric College, you can apply for an adult matric online by following these steps:
- Go to the Matric College website
- Fill in the registration form
- Wait for a call or SMS from one of Matric College’s adult matric experts
- Select your list of matric subjects
- Choose your payment plan
- Register via a telephone call
- Get the application processed
After completing your registration at Matric College, you’ll only need to wait three days before you can begin your adult matric course.
There are three ways to register for the National Senior Certificate for Adults (NSCA) adult matric course offered by Ekurhuleni Tech College:
- Visit the Ekurhuleni Tech College offices in person, which are located in Krugersdorp, Gauteng.
- Contact Ekurhuleni Tech College by phoning 011 040 7343/073 770 3028 or emailing [email protected].
- Download and complete the forms available on the Ekurhuleni Tech College website.
Following registration, any further information will be given to you by Ekurhuleni Tech College should you be accepted into the adult matric course.
