There are a wide range of courses you can study even if you did not take Maths in high school. You can choose to study almost anything without Maths. There are only four areas of study that require Maths and will not accept Maths Literacy:
- Medicine
- IT
- Engineering
- Accounting
However, if you would specifically like to go into one of these fields of study, you can study a bridging course in Maths at a TVET college, often referred to as an FET college.
At a TVET college, you will study for your National Certificate (Vocational) levels, known as NC (V) levels. These are offered at NQF levels 2 to 4, which is equivalent to Grades 10 to Matric.
Once you have completed your NC (V) levels with Maths at Matric level, you will be able to apply to study any of those fields at a university, depending on how well you pass.
Alternatively you can:
- Do a Matric Rewrite if you are under 21 and failed Maths
- Do a Matric Upgrade if you are 21 or older and failed Maths or took Maths Literacy
- Do your Adult Matric to get your Senior Certificate (Amended) if you did not write your Matric. This will then function the same way as a National Senior Certificate (school Matric)
What Can I Study Without Maths?
If you would like to further your studies without Maths, you can study any course that is not in one of the above-mentioned fields. This means that you can study for a qualification in Languages, Arts, Law, or many other fields.
You could also choose to study a NATED course, or an ICB course.
NATED Courses
National Accredited Technical Education Diploma (NATED) courses only require you to have passed Matric at any passing level. You do not have to have passed Matric with any additional requirements, and you do not need Maths.
NATED courses have been designed by the Department of Higher Education and Training in an effort to bridge the youth unemployment gap. These courses are accredited by the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO). This means they are recognised as formal qualifications in South Africa.
NATED courses offer seven streams of study:
- Business Management
- Educare
- Financial Management
- Human Resource Management
- Legal Secretary
- Marketing Management
- Management Assistant
Where Can I Study NATED Courses?
There are many reputable distance learning institutions that offer NATED courses, such as:
ICB Courses
The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB) is an internationally recognised institute, and offers courses accredited by ICB and QCTO.
Because of their QCTO accreditation, their courses are formally recognised in South Africa. This means you can use them to apply for work or to further your studies. The ICB offers three streams of study:
- Financial Accounting
- Business Management
- Office Administration
You can also study these courses without Matric. Their requirements are shown below.
ICB Study Stream | Entry Requirement | Accepted Equivalent Examples |
Financial Accounting | Grade 10 or equivalent |
|
Business Management | Grade 11 or equivalent |
|
Office Administration | Matric or equivalent |
|
Where Can I Study ICB Courses?
Many distance learning colleges offer ICB courses. Some reputable ones are:
Can You Pass Matric Without Maths?
Yes, you can pass Matric if you do not take Maths. You will study Maths Literacy instead, and you can pass with 30% in Maths Literacy.
Do You Fail Matric If You Fail Maths?
No, you do not fail Matric if you fail Maths. As long as you have passed all of your subjects in line with the minimum requirements to pass Matric, you will not fail Matric. The minimum requirements to pass Matric are:
- 40% or above for your Home Language subject
- 40% or above for two other subjects
- 30% or above for the remaining subjects
- You can fail one subject
Can I Go To University Without Maths?
Yes, you can apply to study at a university without Maths, as long as you have met the minimum requirements for one of the university pass levels. The three pass levels accepted for universities are:
- Bachelor’s Degree pass
- Diploma pass
- Higher Certificate pass
Not all universities will accept all three pass levels, so be sure to check with the university you are applying to about any specific requirements.
The minimum requirements for each of these three passing levels are:
Pass Level | Requirements |
Bachelor’s Degree pass |
|
Diploma pass |
|
Higher Certificate pass |
|
However, note that these are only the minimum requirements. Achieving these marks does not guarantee your admission into any university courses.
Can You Pass Matric If You Fail One Subject?
Yes, you can pass Matric even if you fail one subject, as long as it is not your Home Language subject. You cannot fail your Home Language subject and still pass Matric.
Additionally, if you fail your First Additional Language subject, you can still pass Matric, but you will not be eligible to study at a university. You must pass both of your Language subjects to be eligible to apply to universities.
What Are The Four Compulsory Subjects?
The four compulsory subjects are as follows:
- One official South African language at the Home Language level
- One official South African language at the First Additional Language level
- Maths OR Maths Literacy
- Life Orientation
What Have We Learned?
- There are many study options available without Maths
- You can take a bridging course in Maths if you want to study something that does not accept Maths Literacy
- You can fail your Maths subject and still pass Matric
- You can pass Matric even if you fail one subject, as long as it is not your Home Language subject
Author: Chloe Bydawell
Editor: Razeen Dollie
Date: July 18, 2022