No matter how hard we work academically, sometimes we just don’t get the results we want to see. If your matric results were disappointing or are holding you back from the career path you want to take, the good news is that you can change them if you’re willing to put in the work. Today we will walk you through some opportunities to upgrade your matric results and point you to institutions that offer this service.
Can You Upgrade Matric Results at TVET College?
You will not be able to upgrade your matric results at a TVET college. These institutions only offer vocational-focused courses. The good news is, however, if you cannot get into the TVET program of your choice, many TVET colleges will be willing to consider upgraded matric results instead of your original ones once you have re-completed the examinations. There are also some larger TVET colleges which will facilitate entry into a matric upgrade program, but not as part of their TVET program.
At Which Colleges Can I Upgrade My Matric?
There are currently over 30 institutions in South Africa that will allow you to upgrade your final matric results without having to return to ‘school’ to do so. Perhaps the best known of these is Damelin college, which operates throughout South Africa. They are far from the only institution offering this upgrade, however. Here are some other institutions which allow for matric upgrades as part of their curriculum:
- Whitestone College
- Ekurhuleni Tech
- Master Maths
- Academy Studies
- Elroya Academy
- Intec
- ICESA
- Midlands Community College
- Inkways
- Pecollege
- Summit College
- Dam Training
- Springfield FET
- Skills Academy
- E-Square
- Curries Fountain
- Star Schools
- Academy Studies
- UNISA
- Tshwane College
- Greenwood College
- CJC
- Y2K Online
- Hill College
- KZN Matric Excellence
These are, of course, not the only matric upgrade options you have. Try searching for matric upgrade colleges near you for a full list of institutions offering this service.
How Much Does it Cost to Upgrade Matric at College?
The cost to upgrade your matric at college will vary between institutions. These fees will cover your tuition, study materials, and the cost of examination entry. However, you should always confirm this with the institution at which you want to study.
Does NSFAS Pay for Matric Upgrade?
NSFAS does not pay for matric upgrades. Their primary purpose is to facilitate your first tertiary education milestone, not help you qualify to get there. As most other bursary and scholarship opportunities are also aimed at supporting tertiary education, it is highly likely you will have to pay the bill for your matric upgrade yourself.
Who Qualifies to Upgrade Matric Results?
Before you enroll to upgrade your matric at a college, we have to mention that the Department of Education offers a re-write opportunity that will be a lot lower in cost. Known as the June NSC examination, it’s on offer for students who meet specific criteria. These are:
- You were registered for the previous November exam.
- You had a qualifying reason to not write, or need to upgrade, your original matric results. This includes situations like death in the family, medical complications, and so on.
- If you have asked for an examination of your original matric results, you can only write depending on the results of that investigation.
- You can provide supporting documents and proof of your reasons for wanting to retake the exam.
As registration closes in February of the relevant year, you need to register for your rewrite as soon as possible. You can also simply re-register for matric exams every year until you reach 21 years of age.
If you do not qualify to rewrite your matric examination, almost anyone can apply to a relevant college for a full upgrade. You can also use a matric upgrade for when you passed all your subjects (so you don’t qualify for a rewrite) but wish you had done better academically.
However, you will need to be 21 or over to do a matric upgrade. Until then, you can simply re-register for the next matric session but will not receive additional tuition unless you seek it out. You will also need to be proficient in the taught language, willing to study online and/or part-time towards the upgrade course, and able to access their tuition materials. It’s best to chat about any qualification criteria they have directly with the institution.
What is the Difference Between Rewrite and Upgrade?
Properly speaking, matric rewrites are supplementary exams. They’re offered once only, in the rewrite session directly after your official matric session. They are designed for people who didn’t pass their initial exam, and you can only rewrite the initial subjects you were enrolled for. Typically, you will need to motivate why you should qualify for the rewrite opportunity.
Matric upgrades cater to a wider demographic and offer some different opportunities. People who failed, or perhaps never had the opportunity to take, their matric exams can use this to get their qualification. You can also choose to take different subjects or rewrite those you did not pass.
