Grade 11 – Term 1
Chapter 3: Careers and career choices
Unit 2
Unit 1
Requirements for
admission to
additional and
higher education
courses
Types of qualifications
In SA, higher education takes place at institutions of higher
learning:
• Universities: offer mainly degrees
• Universities of technology: offer certificates, diplomas or
degrees in technology, these courses are practical
• Comprehensive universities: offer all above mentioned
qualifications (university of theory + university of technology)
• The institution determines the NQF level of your qualification
• Higher certificate diplomas, and bachelor’s degrees are
known as entry level qualifications.
• Entry level means that you need to start with these if you
want to study further.
A higher certificate
• Enables you to work in a specific industry
• Provides you with basic introductory knowledge and
practical techniques
• Focuses on how to apply knowledge in the workplace
• Usually includes work experience
• Enables you to do a specific job
• Enables you to study further to gain an advanced
certificate
• Allows you to get credits if you want to study for a
diploma or degree in the same field
A diploma
• Enables you to work in a specific industry or
profession
• Focuses on general principles and how to apply them
in a particular field
• Provides you with comprehensive and specialist
knowledge
• Usually includes practical experience in the workplace
• Allows you to enter a number of career paths
• Enables you to study further for an advanced
diploma or a bachelor’s degree
A bachelor’s degree
• Provides you with a broad education
• Focuses on principles, theory and research
• Enables you to follow a career as a professional
• Enables you to study further for a postgraduate
degree such as honours and masters
• Enables you to specialize and study for an advanced
diploma
Unit 1 Promotion
Requirements requirement
s for NSC
for admission to
additional and
higher education
courses
Admission Designated
NSC
point subject
subjects
score list
(APS)
National Qualification Framework (NQF)
Further Education and Training (FET) colleges
• FET colleges offer excellent vocational courses
• A vocational course gets you ready for a particular
job or a particular kind of employment.
• FET colleges focus more on scarce skills and careers,
and have links with institutions and the corporate
world.
• FET college courses are practical, but also involve
theory.
• These colleges aim to bridge the gap between
training and applying that training in the real world.
• Courses at FET colleges usually take 3 years of study
(NCV 2 ,3, 4)
• Civil Engineering &
Construction
Further Education and • Education
Training (FET) colleges • Electric Infrastructure
Construction
• Accept learners after Grade 9
• Engineering & Design
• For many courses learners are
only admitted with a Grade 11 or • Finance, Economics &
Accounting
12 certificate
• Admission requirements vary, • Hospitality
depending on the course you • Information Technology &
wish to follow Computer Science
• Management
• They offer a wide variety of
courses including: • Marketing
• Office Practice
• Office Administration
• Travel & Tourism
Unit 1
Requirements
for admission to
additional and
higher education
courses
Designated
subject
list
Promotion requirements for NSC
You need the following requirements to
pass:
• One official language at HL level – 40%
• Two other subjects - 40%
• Three subjects – 30%
You may fail on subject (less than 30%) if
you have completed all the SBAs in this
subject.
Admission point score (APS)
NSC subjects
Group A: Compulsory subjects
Home Language
First Additional Language
Mathematical Literacy or Mathematics
Life Orientation
Group B: Recognised subjects
Learning fields Subjects Learning fields Subjects
Agriculture Agricultural Management Engineering and Civil Technology
Practices Technology Electrical Technology
Agricultural Science Mechanical Technology
Agricultural Technology Engineering Graphics and Design
Culture and Arts Dance Studies Human and Social Studies Geography
Design History
Dramatic Arts Religion Studies
Music
Visual Arts
Business, Commerce and Accounting Physical, Mathematical. Computer Application Technology
Management Studies Business Studies Computer and Life Science Information Technology
Economics Life Sciences
Physical Science
Second Additional Language Various Service Consumer Studies
Hospitality Studies
Tourism
Unit 1
Requirements
for admission to
additional and
higher education
courses
Designated subject list
If you want to study for a degree at university, you must do
at least four subjects from the following:
Designated subjects
Accounting Geography Mathematics
Agricultural Sciences History Mathematical Literacy
Business Studies Consumer Studies Music
Dramatic Arts Information Technology Physical Sciences
Economics Languages Religion Studies
Engineering Graphics and Life Sciences Visual Arts
Design
Unit 1 National
Requirements benchmark
tests (NBT)
for admission to
additional and
higher education
courses Admission
requirements
for specific
programs or
courses
Minimum requirements for admission to study for
a higher certificate, diploma or bachelor’s degree
• Different higher education institutions and programs
may require specific combinations of recognized NSC
subjects and higher APS scores.
• No institution will accept you if you have only achieved
the minimum for all your subjects.
• You have to have at least a 30% (APS 2) pass, at the HL
or FAL level, in the language that the institution uses
for teaching and learning.
Qualification Minimum requirements for admission
Higher Pass the NSC with:
certificate • HL: 40% (APS 3) or more
• 2 other subjects: 40% (APS 3) or more
• 3 subjects: 30% (APS 2) or more
Various higher education institutions may require that you have, a certain APS score plus specific
APS points for recognized subjects.
Diploma Pass the NSC with:
• HL: 40% (APS 3) or more
• 3 other subjects: 40% (APS 3) or more (excluding L.O)
• 2 subjects: 30% (APS 2) or more
There may be other requirements such as a pass at a certain level in recognized subjects.
Bachelor’s Pass the NSC with:
degree • HL: 40% (APS 3) or more
• 4 other subjects from the designated list: 50% (APS 4) or more
• 2 subjects: 30% (APS 2) or more
Other university requirements include, for example, Mathematics and PS for a BSc.
Unit 1
Requirements
for admission to
additional and
higher education
courses
National benchmark tests (NBT)
Some institutions may ask you to write a NBT.
There are 2 test (you may be asked to write 1 or both):
1. The AQL is a multiple-choice test that takes 3h5m. It is made up of the:
1. Academic Literacy test, which tests your ability to understand
vocabulary, evaluate evidence, draw conclusions and pick out main
ideas
2. Quantitative Literacy test, which tests your ability to apply formulae,
read and interpret graphs, charts and tables, calculate, measure
geometric shapes, and reason logically
2. Mathematics (MAT) is a 3 hour, multiple-choice test based on the Grade
12 curriculum. You will write this test if you have Mathematics fir a
particular course.
You can write these tests before you write your final NSC exam in order to
apply for a bursary and for courses at higher institutions.
Your results for these tests will be combined with your NSC results and will
determine if you should be placed in regular, bridging or foundation
programs at the institution.
Admission requirements for specific programs
or courses
Different institutions, and departments have different
requirements for admission, some institutions:
• Give you extra points for passing designated subjects
• Give you extra points for English HL or English FAL and
Mathematics
• Require you to write the NBT
L.O is a compulsory subject, but its worth 10 credits instead of
20 like your other NSC subjects. Some institutions divide your
L.O score in half. Many institutions look at your L.O mark to
determine if you will be prepared for the demands of
university life.
Grade 11 – Term 1
Chapter 3: Careers and career choices
Unit 2
Options for Obligations in
financial assistance terms of
financial
arrangements
Types
of financial
assistance
Bursaries
A bursary is an amount of money that you are given to help pay for your
studies.
• Given to learners who can’t afford higher education or do well at
school
• There is a Bursary Register that gives a full list of bursaries available
in your chosen field of study.
How to finance you FET college studies
The department of HET offers an FET college bursary scheme which gives
full access to VET at public FET Colleges for talented learners who are
financially needy.
The requirements are:
• South African citizenship
• Enrolled or intending to register for a NCV
• In need of financial assistance
• Shows potential for academic success, such as passing marks in
Study loans
Is money lent to you by a bank so that you can study. A
company or a business may also lend you money. You
need to be registered at a higher education institute to
get a study loan.
You can get study loans from the following institutions:
• Banks: Usually your parent or sponsor applies for the
loan for you.
• Eduloan: These loans cover course fees, textbooks,
registration fees and educational tools
• National Student Financial Scheme (NSFAS): Gives
loans to students who do not have money to study
and who show that they will successfully complete
their studies. NSFAS encourages students by allowing
them not to pay back up to 40% of the loan if they do
Scholarships
A scholarship is money that a company, business
or organization awards to you because you did
well at school in your studies or at sport. You can
find a list of scholarships and bursaries on the
Internet at [Link]
Learnerships and SETAs
Is a job that pays you while you are studying. You
study the theory at a higher education institution
and practice what you have learnt in your job.
SETA – Sector Education and Training Authority.
Types
of financial
assistance
Unit 2
Options for
financial assistance
Obligations in
terms of
financial
arrangements
Bursaries
• Don’t have to pay back, unless you fail.
• May have to work for the company who
gave you the bursary. Also known as a
‘contract bursary’. You pay them back by
working for them for one year for every
year that you studied.
Scholarships
• You don’t have to pay back a
scholarship, but you have to do
well in your studies.
Study loans
• Banks: Have to be payed back PLUS interest when you
finish your studies. Interest is a % od the amount you
borrowed.
• Company: May have to work for them when you finish
studying.
• NSFAS: You start to repay it when you earn R30 000 or
more a year. Then you pay 3% of your annual salary.
The more you earn, the more you pay, up to 8% when
your salary reaches R59 300 or more a year.
• If you are successful at your studies, you can
change part of your NSFAS loan into a bursary. You
don’t need to repay the bursary.
Learnerships
• You don’t have to pay for a learnership.