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I Have Just Failed Matric – What Now?

There are still many options available for furthering your studies if you have failed Matric. Two of your options are: 

Study Without Matric

There are many options available for you to study even if you failed Matric, such as: 

  • Short courses 
  • ICB courses
  • CIMA courses

Short Courses

Short courses do not require Matric for you to apply. The courses listed below are open-access, which means you only have to meet two requirements. These requirements are that you are 16 or older, and that you can understand, read and write in English. 

These courses are designed to improve your workplace skills, so that you can begin your career journey as soon as you have completed your qualification.

Short Courses At Matric College

Short Courses At Skills Academy

Short Courses At Ember Academy

Short Courses At Learning Group

ICB Courses

The ICB courses offered at our colleges are accredited by the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB) and the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO). This means that they are recognised as formal qualifications in South Africa. 

The ICB is also internationally recognised, so you can apply for work all over the world with a qualification from ICB. All ICB courses go up to the Diploma level, and none of the three ICB courses require Matric to apply: 

ICB Study Stream

Entry Requirement

Accepted Equivalent Examples

Business Management

Grade 11 or equivalent

  • National Certificate (Vocational) at NQF Level 3
  • ICB National Certificate in Bookkeeping 

Financial Accounting

Grade 10 or equivalent 

  • National Certificate (Vocational) at NQF Level 2

Office Administration 

Matric or equivalent 

  • National Certificate (Vocational) at NQF Level 4
  • ICB National Certificate in Small Business Financial Management
  • ICB FET Certificate in Bookkeeping

Where Can I Study ICB Courses?

Many distance learning colleges offer ICB courses. Some reputable ones are: 

CIMA Courses

The CIMA courses offers at our colleges are accredited by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), which is also an internationally recognised organisation. This means that these qualifications are formally recognised locally and internationally. 

There are four levels in the CIMA Business Accounting courses, going up to the Degree level.

Business Accounting: CIMA Certificate Level

Qualification

National Certificate

NQF Level

5

Accredited by

The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants

SAQA ID Number

24418

Credits

120

Entry Requirements

  • Be 16 years or older
  • Have had pure Maths as a school subject
  • Be able to read and write in English

Subjects 

  • Fundamentals of Business Economics
  • Fundamentals of Management Accounting
  • Fundamentals of Financial Accounting
  • Fundamentals of Ethics, Corporate Governance, and Business Law

Career Options

  • Business Manager
  • Management Accountant
  • Business Analyst

Business Accounting: CIMA Operational Level

Qualification

National Diploma

NQF Level

6

Accredited by

The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants

SAQA ID Number

24406

Credits

240

Entry Requirements

Business Accounting: CIMA Certificate Level

Subjects 

  • Managing Finance in a Digital World
  • Financial Reporting
  • Management Accounting
  • Operational Case Study
  • Operational Gateway

Career Options

  • Accountant
  • Bookkeeper
  • Financial Manager

Business Accounting: CIMA Managerial Level

Qualification

Advanced Diploma

NQF Level

6

Accredited by

The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants

SAQA ID Number

24406

Credits

240

Entry Requirements

Business Accounting: CIMA Operational Level

Subjects 

  • Managing Performance
  • Advanced Financial Reporting
  • Advanced Management Accounting
  • Management Case Study
  • Managerial Gateway

Career Options

  • Business Analyst
  • Management Accountant
  • Accounts Assistant

Business Accounting: CIMA Strategic Level

Qualification

Professional Qualification: Chartered Management Accountant

NQF Level

7

Accredited by

The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants

SAQA ID Number

20400

Credits

390

Entry Requirements

Business Accounting: CIMA Managerial Level

Subjects 

  • Strategic Management
  • Financial Strategy
  • Risk Management
  • Strategic Case Study
  • Strategic Gateway

Career Options

  • Debtors Clerk
  • Business Manager
  • Chief Financial Officer

Where Can I Study CIMA Courses?

Many distance learning colleges offer CIMA courses, such as: 

Improve Your Matric

If you would like to improve your results and pass Matric, you can do that through distance learning. You can choose to rewrite your Matric if you are younger than 21, or you can choose to upgrade your Matric if you are 21 or older. 

Matric Rewrite

You can rewrite your Matric to improve your results if you failed, or even if you passed but are unsatisfied with your marks. You may rewrite up to four of your subjects. You may not change any subjects, you must rewrite subjects you wrote in your Matric final exams. 

You can do a Matric Rewrite up to five years after your Matric year, as long as you are still under the age of 21. 

Matric Upgrade

You can upgrade your Matric to improve your results if you failed, or even if you passed but are unsatisfied with your marks. You may upgrade up to four subjects. However, you may also choose to change four of your subjects. 

There is no limit to how many times you can upgrade your Matric. You can apply to upgrade your Matric as early as 19, but you must be 21 or older to write the exams. This is because you will write the Adult Matric exams. 

Where Can I Study Matric Programmes?

There are many reputable colleges that offer Matric programmes through distance learning, such as: 

Can You Apply At UNISA If You Failed Matric?

No, you cannot apply to study at UNISA if you have failed Matric. This is because all universities require you to have Matric to apply. 

Can I Buy My Matric Certificate?

No, you cannot buy your Matric Certificate. All Matric Certificates are awarded by Umalusi through the Department of Basic Education. Umalusi has stated that participating in the buying and selling of Matric Certificates is a criminal offence. 

However, if your Matric Certificate gets lost or damaged, you can apply and pay a fee to get a replacement. 

Can Someone Who Failed Matric Go To College?

Yes, there are many reputable colleges that accept students who have not passed Matric, such as: 

  • Bellview Institute of Distance Learning
  • Matric College
  • Skills Academy
  • Ember Academy
  • Learning Group

Who Qualifies For Matric Supplementary Exams?

Matric Supplementary exams are another name for a Matric Rewrite. The Matric Supplementary exam requirements are: 

  • That you have written Matric
  • That you would like to improve the marks in four or fewer of your subjects
  • If you are younger than the age of 21 

Who Qualifies To Upgrade Matric Results?

Anyone over the age of 21 qualifies to upgrade their Matric if they are unsatisfied with their Matric results. 

What Have We Learned?

  • There are many study options available even if you fail Matric
  • You can improve your Matric results if you would like to
  • You cannot apply to study at UNISA if you have failed Matric
  • You cannot buy your Matric Certificate
  • You can still go to college if you failed Matric
  • You qualify to upgrade your Matric if you are over 21 and would like to improve your Matric results

 

Author: Chloe Bydawell
Editor: Razeen Dollie
Date: July 18, 2022

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