5 Things Every South African Matric Learner Should Do Before Leaving School

Students leaving school is an important transition, particularly for those students who are about to sit for their School Leaving Examinations and contemplate life after matric. This time is fraught with questions for many young South Africans, such as university or TVET colleges, student funding, career options and employment.

The positive side of all this is that learners don’t have to wait for the release of their results to get ready for the next phase of their lives. There are things they can do now as practical steps to ensure that they have the best opportunity for further education, training and career opportunities.

The following are 5 important items that all students should do before they graduate from school.

1. Make the Most of your Study Time

Your matric results may affect the study programmes for which you are suitable, and which institutions may accept your application. The days and months leading up to school may be a crucial time to concentrate on your studies.

There is still benefit in making a proper preparation, even if some subjects were difficult, in recognizing those that are not up to scratch and seek the necessary assistance.

The first thing you need to do is to make up a realistic study plan. Allocate more time to subjects or topics that are more difficult and don’t stop revising topics you are good at. Having a look at old exam papers can also help make your familiar with question formats, time management, as well as how the answer is expected to be presented.

These are some of the actions you can take:

• Set daily study goals that you can realistically achieve.
• Use past examination papers and memorandums to practise.
• If you don’t understand something, ask your teacher to explain it to you.
• Work in groups for revision.
• Get sufficient sleep and don’t do all of your preparations the night before.

Keep in mind that your grades are not the only thing you will need for the future. Depending on their admission criteria, alternative study routes and bridging programmes and other trainings may still be available if your result is not as you had hoped.

The intent is to be able to leave school with a sense of having done something meaningful to prepare for the next step.

2. Prepare for NSFAS and Other Funding Opportunities

If you are interested in funding for 2027, apply for help from NSFAS.

For some learners it is a challenge to continue with their studies after matric due to financial constraints. The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is a government financial aid initiative to support students who are interested in accessing approved higher education and training opportunities.

According to the official NSFAS website, applications for the 2027 academic year opened on 18 September 2026 and are scheduled to close on 31 October 2026. Students who intend to continue on to University or TVET college, should look at the official website and apply for early as they can.

Visit the official NSFAS application website to review the requirements and apply.

The process of applying for NSFAS is as follows:

Please ensure that you have a mobile telephone number and an email address that will work prior to applying. It is necessary to have a myNSFAS account created or accessed and enter the information that they require in the application.

Follow these steps:

• Check the official NSFAS website.
• Register or login to your myNSFAS account.
• Complete your personal and household information accurately.
• Submit all supporting documents that are required in the application.
• Please review your information carefully before submitting.
• Note down your application reference number and check your application status.

Enlist in the official instructions for eligibility requirements and supporting documents; don’t just watch people post about it on social media.

Please note that there are no fee applicable for applying to fund with NSFAS. Do not pay anyone who guarantees they will get you approved, or do not give your password or one-time PIN to anyone else.

Submitting an application does not automatically mean that you will receive funding. NSFAS evaluates applications based on the criteria and funding criteria applicable to them.

3. Apply to More Than One University/ TVET College

The best thing you can do before going to school is to look around the different ones and their study programs.

There are some learners who select one university or qualification without taking other alternatives. They may not be able to attend or parents may be unsure of their next steps if they are unable to meet the admissions criteria or their chosen programme is oversubscribed.

It’s good to apply to more than one appropriate institution, as a way to keep other options available. However, the following considerations should apply to each application: interests, academic performance, financial considerations, and career goals.

There are a variety of academic qualifications offered at universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges offer occupational, technical and vocational learning. It will depend on the career you want to choose and what qualifications are needed for that job.

What are the things you should consider before applying?

Admission criteria: Ensure that you meet the minimum mark and subject and point criteria for your programme of interest. Requirements vary from institution and qualification to qualification.

Application closing dates: Some schools have earlier application closing dates than others. Not all universities and colleges will have the same dates.

Study costs: Registration fees, tuition, accommodation, transport and other costs. Explore sources of funding before finalizing.

Geographical location: Decide if you can go to the institution, or if you need to stay in.

Career opportunities: Explore what opportunities are available to graduates of your chosen programme.

Also check if the institution and qualification is recognised and suitable for your career option.

Maintain a list of the institutions that applied to, the application number and if there are any requirements outstanding. This will help to follow up after admission results are published.

4. Research Careers and Opportunities After Matric

When you’re in school, making a choice about your career can seem like a daunting task. You might want to consider several careers or you might not know which career is right for you at this time.

Don’t just go for jobs that are suggested by friends or social media trends, do some research to find jobs that might be a better fit for you.

First, you need to look at subjects you like, activities that you are good at and the kind of work environment you would like to have. Consider if you like solving technical issues, assisting individuals, dealing with numbers, technology or creating things or organising information.

After developing a list of career possibilities, research the skills and requirements for the chosen careers.

For instance, an IT enthusiast could pursue IT-related credentials such as software development, networking, cybersecurity, or information systems. A learner wishing to pursue a career in healthcare should investigate qualifications, admission to and professional registration with the healthcare profession they are interested in.

Questions to ask during a career research to get the information you need.

• Which subjects and/or qualifications are needed?
• What schools have courses that apply?
• What is the duration of the training?
• What are employers looking for?
• What careers could students pursue?
• Do apprenticeship, learnership or internships exist?
• What is the usual environment and starting level of job duties?

Aim to speak to teachers, career guidance advisers, training providers and others in jobs of interest. Career exhibitions may also be a great way of comparing options, and asking your questions right.

Refer to reputable sources like official institution websites, career guidance from a government body (where applicable) and professional bodies. Labour market trends can be helpful but no career is a sure job or salary.

Researching careers is about making an informed choice and not following a trend without knowing what it entails.

5.Build Digital Skills, Prepare Your CV and Keep Documents Safe

The interval between completing examinations and getting matric results, or beginning on the next qualification can be long. Rather than waste all of that time, why not learn something useful and practical that will assist you with further studies, work, or your own project?

Digital skills have many applications in a variety of sectors. Students who are predisposed to writing, using spreadsheets, conducting research online, and communicating through email can use these computer skills to help prepare for their education and their job.

If you’re already knowledgeable in these areas, you might consider getting into introductory coding, graphic design, website building, digital marketing or data analysis.

It doesn’t have to be a high-cost computer or a course to get started. Depending on the course, you may be able to learn using a smartphone, a school computer laboratory, a public library or another community learning facility.

Digital skills to be explored

Computer literacy: Create documents, organise files, use spreadsheets and communicate professionally via email.

Coding: Learn the simple basics of coding in something like Python or start to learn basic HTML and CSS for creating websites.

Graphic design: Understand composition, typography and the development of effective visual materials.

Digital Communication: Practice writing professional email messages, creating a CV and communicating appropriately online.

Online safety: Understand how to avoid online scams, how to keep personal information safe, how to use strong passwords and recognise fake job offers.

Read descriptions of courses to see if they are free or require payment, and if they offer a certificate, how much time they require and what you will be asked to do. Not all online certificates are recognised by employers.

It’s also possible to create a little portfolio of your work. You can, for instance, build a simple website, make a spreadsheet or design a few sample posters. These projects will allow you to practice the skills you learned and show them.

As you prepare your CV, Bonus Tip: Be sure to keep your documents safe.

The five steps outlined above are a solid foundation but it is important to plan for something that may happen after school.

Complete a basic CV, listing your education, skills, school leadership, and work experience, if you have any, and volunteer work. Never make up qualifications or experience.

Keep copies of important documents, including your identification documents, school records and application confirmations, in a safe place. Never disclose personal documents outside of official channels of the applications.

Read along the eligibility criteria for the learnerships, internships or entry level job applications if you intend to apply for them. Some opportunities may require Grade 12; others may have specific requirements for subjects, qualifications, driver’s licence or other requirements.

Beware of ads promising a job if you pay an application fee.

Final Thoughts

School is not the end of the learning process. It’s the start of a time to consider other options and make decisions regarding your future.

Planning for your final exams, applying for funding after matric, looking at universities and TVET colleges, researching careers and building your digital skills can help you make the most of opportunities after matric.

It’s not necessary to know everything in advance. Take steps you can – look for information from trusted sources, and seek assistance if needed.

It could start with one application, one conversation or one new skill your next chance may be.