Higher Education
So – you’ ve had 12 years of schooling, and have now passed matric. You’ d love to go straight into tertiary studies but, as for many other successful matriculants in South Africa, finding a placement for your preferred course is proving difficult.
Delayed tertiary placements are an unfortunate reality in South Africa. And while the country celebrates its latest record National Senior Certificate pass rate of 88 %, there is an ever-growing capacity issue plaguing our higher education system.
According to the Department of Higher Education and Training( DHET), approximately 535 000 first-year places were available across universities, TVET colleges, CET colleges for 2026. At the same time, around 650 000 matriculants graduated matric in 2025, leaving 115 000 successful candidates stranded.
And it doesn’ t get much better for tertiary graduates. Dr Andre Abrahams, Executive Dean of Academic at Emeris, says that graduate and entry-level job competition, too, remain intense, reinforcing the value of continued skills development and practical learning during transitional years.
“ The official unemployment rate in South Africa stood at 32.9 % in early 2025,” he says.“ The country’ s capacity simply cannot keep up with growing demand for tertiary placement. So it’ s understandable that gap years are a necessity rather than a choice for so many young people. At the same time, it is crucial that gap years are structured around learning, skills-building and career exploration to preserve momentum.”
But... where to start?
A productive gap year starts with a clear learning plan that is ideally linked to the field a student wants to pursue. Short courses completed online or on a parttime, on-campus basis go a long way towards preparing students for study in a more manageable and palatable way, and can often enhance their tertiary study experiences later on.
For instance, the right schedule of short courses can strengthen academic habits such as research, writing and time management while at the same time building practical competencies aligned to career interests. These courses can also help students test career paths before committing to multi-year degrees, reducing the risk of misaligned study choices and the financial, time and energy commitments that accompany those.
“ A gap year is often mistakenly looked at as a waste of time or a drift away from academic pursuits, when the reality is quite the opposite,” says Abrahams.“ When students engage in focused short courses, they develop the confidence for tertiary study as well as the workplace. In fact, to many employers, having this experience ahead of your studies actually signals your initiative and resilience.” www. futuresa. co. za 57