Can I Do a Nursing Course Without a Matric?


Thursday, 27 July 2023

Many people decide what they want to do with their academic lives but do not pay a lot of attention to the requirements that have to be met. If you have chosen nursing as your future career but you do not have a matric, here you can find out whether you can get into nursing courses without qualifications.



No matter what career you choose, you will have to meet different requirements depending on the university and the field. For those students who have decided to study nursing, it is expected that they follow certain instructions to be able to get a qualification. Can I do a nursing course without a matric? What are the nursing requirements? What are the subjects required for nursing? Find out the answer to all these questions in this article. 

Nursing Courses without Qualifications 

The most important question that has to be answered is whether nursing courses can be obtained without a previous qualification. The answer is no, it is not possible. In order to get a nursing degree, you must have a matric or an equivalent qualification that meets all the entry requirements for the course. Nevertheless, some people believe that you can complete the nursing course if you first complete a Health course through a TVET College, which only requires Grade 9. Once you have acquired an  NC(V) at NQF level 4, you are ready to begin a nursing programme at a university of your choice. 

After you have graduated with a nursing degree, you will have to register with the South African Nursing Council (SANC). The “South African Nursing Council is the body entrusted to set and maintain standards of nursing education and practice in the Republic of South Africa.  It is an autonomous, financially independent, statutory body [...].” Then, you can probably start working as a registered nurse. 

Nursing Requirements 

The nursing requirements are not so difficult to meet. The student must have: 

  • A bare minimum of 40% in English or home language
  • A bare minimum of 50% for Life Sciences or Biology
  • Passed the subjects required for nursing: Mathematics and Life Orientation

Of course, each university might ask for a particular and specific requirement that other universities don’t. So, you have to consider each institution to make sure you are not missing anything. 

It is important that before applying for the nursing programme you deeply investigate the university you want to attend and perform some self-examination considering the pros and cons of the nursing courses. Take your time to analyse the characteristics, requirements, advantages and disadvantages of this programme and make sure it is a career you will enjoy. You should also have in mind that this is a highly science-based career, so you will have to be generally efficient in science, which can be solved by taking science subjects in high school.

How Many Types of Nursing Are There? 

There are different types of nurses within the country, you have to choose the specialisation that best suits your interests. 

  • Registered Nurse
  • Nurse Practitioner
  • Certified Nurse Midwife
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist
  • Nurse Educator
  • Nurse Administrator 
  • Clinical Nurse Leader
  • Certified Registered Nurse Anaesthetist

If you want to learn more about this and many other degrees, you should visit the following articles: 

N4 Certificates: Main Characteristics

What is a Higher Certificate?

National N Diploma vs National Diploma

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