can i study nursing without matric

Getting into nursing

Nursing is a profession that requires you to complete formal training and obtain a qualification. This article will discuss the nursing qualifications in South Africa, the requirements for nursing courses, alternatives to a nursing course, nursing course duration and postgraduate nursing qualifications.

Requirements for Nursing Courses

In order to study towards a Diploma or Bachelor’s degree in Nursing at most institutions in South Africa you will have to have completed Matric with an endorsement of higher education either by way of:

• Having passed Maths (higher grade), Life Sciences (higher grade) and English (higher grade), OR
• Having passed Mathematics literacy and Life Sciences (higher grade).

Nursing course requirements

The minimum entry requirements are:

• A Grade 12 Certificate (Senior Certificate) or an N3 qualification with the following subjects:
• English, Physical Science/Life Sciences and Mathematics/Mathematical Literacy.
• If you don’t meet the minimum academic requirements, consider applying for one of our nursing bridging courses.

Additional requirements – Nursing course requirements

Before you can register as a nurse with the South African Nursing Council, there are a few other things you will need to do:

• You must be at least 18 years old.
• You must have received specific vaccinations before starting your training year. It’s your responsibility to get these vaccinations in time, so consult your local clinic or doctor as soon as possible. If you’re already a qualified nurse but want to upgrade your qualifications, you’ll also need these vaccinations.

The bursary route

There are a number of ways you can get into nursing without passing matric, but it’s worth noting that most of these routes require that you work for the company that is offering to help cover your costs.

The bursary route: Some companies offer bursaries to those interested in studying nursing or any other health science degree. However, this route is not easy. Each year there is heavy competition for these bursaries and they are only offered by certain companies, such as state-owned hospitals, private hospitals and medical centres. While some bursary options may be available throughout the year, it’s a good idea to start looking around March/April so you have an idea of what’s out there before you apply for a part-time job or internship at one of your preferred facilities.”To secure a bursary from one of these institutions,” says Christine Wiese from Mediclinic’s Talent Acquisition department, “you need excellent academic results.””The average percentage needed in order to qualify for Mediclinic’s Nursing Bursary Programme would be 80%,” adds Wiese.

How to get an entry-level position if you don’t have matric

If you’re currently working as a nursing assistant and have a few years’ experience, you stand a better chance of being hired by a private hospital or clinic, even if you don’t have matric. While it isn’t strictly required to be employed at most hospitals and clinics, having matric can help you get ahead when looking for work.

Before applying for jobs, make sure your application stands out from the rest. Your resume should be well-written and easy to read. It’s best to keep it simple—don’t feel like you need to add every detail about yourself when applying for jobs. Focus on what makes you unique in comparison to other applicants. Your resume should include information about your education level and relevant work experience including references who can speak highly of your performance at previous places where you were employed or volunteered. If there are gaps in your employment history that might cause employers concern (such as significant periods of time spent not working), briefly explain these gaps elsewhere on the resume so they won’t think something is awry before contacting them directly with questions or concerns regarding why the gap exists (for example: I was caring for my mother after she had surgery).

You can study nursing without matric, but it will take a little effort

You can study nursing without matric, but it will take a little effort.

If you want to do nursing without matric, you need to contact institutions that offer bridging courses. These are designed for learners who have already completed part of their studies and just need one or two subjects to qualify for the programme they have applied for. Learn about the different options available from SANC here.

Once you’ve passed the bridging course, you can apply for a bursary from the Department of Health, or register directly at an accredited institution (if you can afford it).

For those who don’t want to complete a bridging course (or if there isn’t one in your area), there is also an option of getting an entry level position as an enrolled nurse – these positions don’t require matric, nor do they require any further training. Once you work as an enrolled nurse for three years and accumulate 1800 hours of practical experience over this period, you can register with SANC as a professional nurse.