Plan ahead for your tertiary education

The matric exams are finally over, with thousands of learners now waiting to see how they performed.

But, there are learners who do not have to wait unti January to know their performance was not good enough to follow the dreams they might have had, and will have to come up with contingency plans.

However, these learners, as well as those who have received or will be receiving rejection letters from their universities of choice need to know there other avenues to follow.

General Manager of The Independent Institute of Education, Peter Kriel said there were several reasons why a learner’s application could be unsuccessful.

“Sometimes learners left their applications too late or didn’t meet the specific institution’s entry requirements. Very often, specific courses are simply oversubscribed. Whatever the reason, the disappointment will be real. But learners should know this is not the end of the world.”

Mr Kriel said matriculants who found themselves in this situation should identify the reasons why they were not accepted, then focus and work on the alternatives related to the reason for their university of choice declining their application.

These include

1. Marks being lower than the minimum required by an institution

Each university and private higher education provider set their own minimum criteria, and these requirements varied between institutions.

“An institution where the demand outweighs the availability of space may set this bar quite high, which means they are likely to accept only students who are very strong academically. Other institutions may have made provision for students who require more support, and will therefore have more accommodating admission requirements.”

This means it may not be necessary to repeat Grade 12 or rewrite a subject, as there could be other options available in a learner’s chosen field of study.

Kriel said it was vital for prospective students not to put all their hopes on being accepted to a specific institution, as all higher education institutions, whether public or private, are subject to the same accreditation requirements in South Africa.

To ensure the alternative you are considering is accredited and registered, check online at www.saqa.org.za, the SA Qualifications Authority’s (SAQA) website.

2. Not achieving a Bachelor Degree endorsed pass

Few parents and learners are aware of the fact that a one-year Higher Certificate will also give one access to degree study, said Mr Kriel.

He said the SAQA website has a comprehensive list of available Higher Certificate courses at public and private campuses throughout the country.

Learners considering this route should specifically ensure the Higher Certificate they are considering also has excellent value as a stand-alone qualification.

“This means that a student can enter the world of work after only a year of study, which is great news for those who may need to earn while they learn.”

3. Not having the correct school subjects for entrance into the qualification of choice

“If you didn’t have mathematics and want to do a science degree you may need to reconsider your career choice altogether.”

But as with entry requirements for grades, school subject choice requirements vary between institutions.

Investigating alternatives may leave a potential student pleasantly surprised.

“Often the same degree may be designed slightly differently at another institution or another institution is better equipped to support students, for example with smaller class sizes, which could result in slightly different requirements.”

4. Not having applied on time

Many make the mistake of leaving applications too late, but all is not lost.

Some institutions may still be accepting applications, but it is imperative that learners approach institutions as a matter of urgency to find out if they have any space left for the 2017 academic year.

Mr Kriel said it was understandable that learners may be despondent in the face of sudden uncertainty about their next move and their future.

“But if learners and parents are aware of the very real, quality alternatives available to them, the picture becomes a lot less hopeless. And while it may be painful to let your original vision go, learners will be surprised at the bounty of opportunity that is actually out there, and which can help them make a successful start to the next chapter of their lives,” he concluded.