What To Study After Matric: Here Are Your Options

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If you’re weighing up your education options for next year, you’re probably wondering what to study after Matric. Your study options after matric depends on your matric pass level and the subjects you chose for matric. 

When it comes to your pass level, it’s determined by your final matric results. You get 4 pass levels namely:

 

National Senior Certificate Pass

This is the minimum pass level.  This is what your results will look like:

 

  • 3 subjects passed with 40% (This includes your Home Language)
  • 3 subjects passed with 30%
  • You can fail one subject (even if it is you First Additional Language)
  • Your average must be 33.3%

What Are Your Study Options

At Matric College, you can apply for a number of short courses with this pass level. Here is a list of the short courses that they currently provide:

Short Courses

Short courses are skill specific courses that can be done faster than accredited courses. They are also cheaper. Here is Matric College list of short courses:

 

Beauty Courses

These courses are for creatives who are interested in making people look “good”. Examples of this is make-up and skincare. Here is a list of Matric College beauty courses:

 

Childcare Courses

Childcare is for people who are interested in the development and well-being of children. Here is a list of Matric College childcare courses:

 

Tourism And Guest House Management Courses

If you are interested in meeting people from around the world and have a passion for customer services then these courses are perfect for you:

 

Event And Wedding Planning Courses

Do you enjoy planning events for people, or do you have creative ideas for weddings? Then you should consider doing one of these courses:

Higher Certificate Pass

With a Higher Certificate Pass your results will look like this:

 

  • You must obtain at least 40% for your Home Language
  • Two other subjects you must obtain at least 40%
  • For three other subjects you must obtain 30%
  • One of your languages must be either English or Afrikaans to qualify for this certificate.

What Are Your Study Options

With a Higher Certificate Pass you can study higher certificate courses.  At Matric College you can study certificate courses. Here are your options.

 

NATED Courses

National qualification courses are designed by the Department of Higher Education and Training. They offer certificate courses you can study with your Higher Certificate Pass.

 

These qualifications provide both practical and theoretical experience. This gives students a well-rounded experience and proves to employers that they already have the practical skills to start working. 

 

Here is what Matric College offers:

 

Business Management

Educare

Financial Management

Human Resource Management

Legal Secretary

Management Assistant

Marketing Management

 

Update (5 October 2025): National Diploma (NATED) courses will not be available to study at Matric College, Skills Academy, or Bellview Institute of Distance Learning for the foreseeable future.

 

ICB Courses

The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers offers certificate courses you can study with your Higher Certificate Pass.

 

All ICB qualifications are scarce skills in South Africa. This means that people with these qualifications are high in demand and get paid a decent salary.

 

Here is what Matric College offers:

 

Financial Accounting

Business Management

Office Administration

Update (5 October 2025): ICB courses will not be available to study at Matric College, Skills Academy, or Bellview Institute of Distance Learning from the 2026 academic year and onward.

Diploma Pass

With a Diploma Pass your results will look like this:

 

  • You must obtain at least 40% for your Home Language
  • Obtain at least 40% for four of your High Credit Subjects
  • You must obtain at least 30% for two other subjects

What Are Your Study Options

With a Diploma Pass you can study diploma courses. At Matric College you can study these courses. Here are your options.

 

NATED Courses

Here are the NATED diploma courses you can study with a Diploma Pass.

 

Business Management

Financial Management

Human Resource Management

Legal Secretary

Management Assistant

Marketing Management

ICB Courses

Here are the ICB diploma courses you can study with your Diploma Pass.

 

Financial Accounting

Business Management

Office Administration

Bachelor’s Pass

A Bachelor’s Pass results will look like this:

 

  • For your Home Language you must obtain 40%
  • You must obtain at least 50% for four other High Credit Subjects
  • At least 30% for two other subjects

What Are Your Study Options

With a Bachelor’s Pass you have many study options. With this pass you can study any course at Matric College. This means that you can study any of the above-mentioned courses.

 

Here are your options:

 

The subjects you choose determine which programmes you can apply for. The percentage you receive for these subjects also determine which programmes you can apply for.

 

Here is all you need to know about furthering your studies after matric.

 

What Do You Do With Your Life After Matric?

There are a few things you can do with your life after matric. Here are some options:

 

  • Find an experienced person: Choose a person in the field of studies you are interested in. Your “mentor” will guide you and teach you things related to your career choice. Find someone with good habits as their habits may rub off on you.
  • Further your studies: This is often an option many matriculants choose. If you want to get into a university, you have to pass with a bachelor’s pass. (Each university has its requirements). You could also apply at a distance learning institution as most of these institutions have open access.
  • Get an entry-level job: This could be a good option for students who are still deciding what they want to do with their life. It is also perfect for students who want to save up money for their studies.
  • Take a gap year: In this year you can do many things. Discover more about yourself, what you are interested in, work, and save money. You could also travel or do voluntary work.

How Do I Choose A Career Path After High School?

For some students choosing a career path is difficult because they are unsure of what they want to do. Here are 6 steps to help you choose a career path:

 

Step 1: You have to assess yourself 

You have to know yourself. This means you need to know what your interests are and what you are good at.

 

Step 2: Make a list of careers

When you make a list of careers, keep your subject choice and pass level in mind. Your subjects can be changed at a later stage with a Matric Upgrade course. All you need to keep in mind is that you have to be 21 and older to apply for the adult exams.

 

Step 3: Do the research

Find out as much information as you can on the different careers you have chosen. This way you can see whether or not it is the career for you and if it matches your capabilities.

 

Step 4: Choose your career

This is the point where you have to make a decision. You have to make a choice based on what you like doing, do not choose a career that someone else has chosen for you.

 

Step 5: Identify your goals

This is the part where you identify your career goals. Questions like “Where do I see myself in 3 years?”  are part of this journey. Figure out your short and long-term goals.

 

Step 6: Write down a career action plan

Now the planning begins. Write down all of your goals and remind yourself of them. Put in an area where you are always reminded of it.

What To Study After Matric Quiz

These quizzes assist students in choosing a career path that best suits them based on the answers they give.

 

Here is a list of the free online quizzes you can do:

 

Which Course Is Best For The Future In South Africa?

There are certain courses in South Africa that are in high demand. These courses give you scarce skills. Employers employ people with these skills because they need people with these skills. They also get paid a decent salary.

 

These are the top courses to study in South Africa for the future:

 

What To Do After Matric In South Africa

In South Africa, you can do a few things after matric. The most important thing to remember is that the more qualified you are the better your chances are of getting employed.

 

Here are your five options:

 

  1. You can further your studies
  2. Go to companies you like and ask if they have an internship or,
  3. An apprenticeship opportunity
  4. You could also apply for learnerships
  5. Lastly, you could get an entry-level job 

Which Course Is Best For High Salary In South Africa?

With the pandemic, many careers have emerged. Here are the highest paying salaries in South Africa:

 

  • Educators
  • Financial Advisors
  • Digital Marketing Specialists
  • Fashion Designers
  • Accountants

What Jobs Will Be In High Demand In 2022?

We have faced many challenges in 2020 and 2021. The impact of the lockdown has been dramatic but it has also helped businesses to adapt to survive. New ideas have emerged and new jobs have been created.

 

Here are the 5 jobs that will be high in demand in 2022.

 

  1. Digital Content
  2. Web Developers
  3. Construction
  4. Health Professionals
  5. Social Workers

Last Updated: 5 October 2025

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