Public universities in South Africa are divided into three types:

  1. traditional universities, which are academic in focus;
  2. universities of technology (“technikons”), which are more vocational; and
  3. comprehensive universities, which offer a combination of both types of qualification.

As at September 2019 only South African public degree-granting institutions may call themselves a “university”, whereas other accredited private for-profit or not-for-profit degree-granting institutions tend to call themselves colleges, institutes or business schools. While SOuth Africa has 11 official languages, most universities offer programs taught in English. See Wikipedia for a list. 

School Year

  • February to June
  • July to November

Degree length

  • 3 years

Source: American International School of Johannesburg

What is a matriculation exemption?

A matriculation exemption is a legal requirement for first-degree study at a South African university. Foreign students wishing to register for first-degree studies in South Africa must have their school qualifications evaluated by the Matriculation Board that will then issue a certificate of exemption to those who qualify.

A certificate of exemption is issued on application to prospective students who have obtained a Senior Certificate without endorsement or equivalent foreign school-leaving qualification and who meet the requirements of the published regulations and wishes to pursue first-degree studies at a South African university.

How do I apply for an exemption certificate?

You need to secure the M30e form, which is obtainable from:

What types of exemption certificates can I obtain?

There are various types of exemption certificates issued depending on the qualifications of the applicant e.g., complete exemption certificates and conditional exemption certificates.

  1. 1.       Complete exemption certificates are:  certificates that do not have expiry dates but take effect on a date that is dependent on the qualification on the basis of which it is awarded. A detailed explanation of the different types of exemption certificates can be found on this web page http://hesa-enrol.ac.za/mb/exreq.htm of the website.
  1. 2.       Conditional exemption certificates are:  foreign conditional which lasts for full-time duration of study plus two years and ordinary conditional, which lasts for a year, and have to be renewed on yearly basis until the student meets the requirements of the exemption.
  1. 3.       Senate’s discretionary exemption, which is granted once the student, has completed a recognized Access course or a Foundation program and it lasts for three years.

If I change university will my exemption certificate remain valid?

The exemption certificate types vary from one to another, thus the validation period also varies and is indicated on the certificate. If you change from one university to another, you need to send an application to the Matriculation Board so that your exemption certificate can be transferred to the receiving university where you wish to be registered. However, if you qualified for Senate’s Discretionary exemption you need to find out from the receiving university whether they are prepared to accept you with that kind of exemption. Exemptions are issued to a university where you have been registered. You can apply to as many universities as you like, but you can only register at ONE university for an academic year.

How long does it take to process an application?

Due to high volume of inquiries that this office receive, it takes the Matriculation Board 3-5 working days to process the faxed inquiries, whereby if the applicant qualifies for exemption a provisional letter is issued which is sufficient to facilitate admission to South African public university subject to the applicant meeting the institutional requirements. Furthermore, it takes approximately the same time to process an application form. The actual exemption certificate is issued in approximately 6 weeks after receipt of all relevant and correctly certified documents as well as the requisite payment.

If I’m not sure whether I’ll qualify for exemption or not, what do I do?

You need to fax a copy of your school results either:

  • A copy of your identity document or pass port or birth certificate reflecting full names and date of birth for the attention:
  • The Director, Matriculation Board at these fax numbers: 086 677 7744 (National) or +27 12 481 2922 or +27 12 481 2718 (International).
  • Remember to write your fax number. Please allow 5 working days for a response to be faxed back to you. Please note that this will just be a provisional letter not the actual certificate of exemption.

How much do I pay for an exemption certificate?

The standard application fee is R410 (non – refundable) as from 1 June 2013. However, should you qualify for conditional exemption, you will be charged R205 as from 1 June 2013 and any fees in excess be refunded.

What is in the National Benchmark Tests? (Similar to SAT TEST)

The NBTs focus on academic readiness for university study. Each test requires you to apply prior learning – what you know and are able to do – to materials that reflect expectations for first year students in university programs. A brief summary of the skills assessed in each test follows:

  • Apply quantitative procedures and reasoning in symbolic and non-symbolic situations;
  • Apply information from a variety of tables, graphs, charts and text;Integrate information obtained from multiple sources;
  • Perform multiple-step calculations using information presented with text, symbols, and graphs;Identify trends and patterns in various situations;
  • Apply properties of simple geometric shapes to determine measurements; and Interpret quantitative information presented verbally, symbolically, and graphically.

Mathematics

  • Understand and apply properties of the real number system, including surds and exponents;
  • Recognize and use patterns, including sequences and series;
  • Apply relationships such as percentages in a variety of contexts;
  • Apply the results of algebraic manipulations with equations and inequalities;
  • Understand the function concept and identify properties of functions;
  • Interpret transformations of functions represented algebraically or graphically;
  • Identify relationships between graphs and their equations, or inequalities and the regions they describe;
  • Apply trigonometric identities and concepts in solving problems;
  • Understand properties and interpret representations of two-dimensional and three-dimensional shapes;
  • Apply principles of analytic geometry;

Academic Literacy

  • Make meaning from academic text;
  • Understand vocabulary related to academic study;
  • Evaluate evidence used to support claims made by writers;
  • Extrapolate and draw inferences and conclusions from text;
  • Differentiate main idea from supporting ideas in the overall and specific organization of a passage;
  • Identify text differences as related to the writers’ purposes, audiences, and forms of communication;
  • Understand how syntax and punctuation are used to express meaning; and
  • Understand basic numerical concepts used in text.

Quantitative Literacy

  • Apply quantitative procedures and reasoning in symbolic and non-symbolic situations;
  • Apply information from a variety of tables, graphs, charts and text;
  • Integrate information obtained from multiple sources;
  • Perform multiple-step calculations using information presented with text, symbols, and graphs;
  • Identify trends and patterns in various situations;
  • Apply properties of simple geometric shapes to determine measurements; and
  • Interpret quantitative information presented verbally, symbolically, and graphically.

Mathematics

  • Understand and apply properties of the real number system, including surds and exponents;
  • Recognize and use patterns, including sequences and series;
  • Apply relationships such as percentages in a variety of contexts;
  • Apply the results of algebraic manipulations with equations and inequalities;
  • Understand the function concept and identify properties of functions;
  • Interpret transformations of functions represented algebraically or graphically;
  • Identify relationships between graphs and their equations, or inequalities and the regions they describe;
  • Apply trigonometric identities and concepts in solving problems;
  • Understand properties and interpret representations of two-dimensional and three-dimensional shapes;
  • Apply principles of analytic geometry;
  • Interpret various representations and measures of data; and
  • Use logical skills in making deductions and determining the validity of given assertions.

To book a test: http://nbtests.uct.ac.za/