Expos

you can walk from stand to stand, pick up prospectuses, and ask universities, TVET colleges, private colleges and nursing colleges the same question back to back, then actually compare the answers while they're fresh in your mind.

Expos come in a few flavours. General career expos and education expos cover a wide mix of study fields and institution types. Homeschool expos focus on home education options, curricula and support providers for parents and learners in that system. Study-abroad fairs and science fairs are more specialised, aimed at learners exploring international study or a particular subject interest. Timing tends to cluster in the second half of the year, roughly August to November, which lines up well for Grade 11 and Grade 12 learners narrowing down choices before application deadlines, though some expos do run earlier.

One verified organiser worth knowing is EduXplore, which runs homeschool and education expos in three areas: the Umhlanga area of KwaZulu-Natal, Pretoria in Gauteng, and Table View in the Western Cape. If you're near any of those areas, it's a name to watch for. Wherever you live, an expo is also a good place to ask upfront whether a private institution is DHET registered, whether a nursing programme is SANC-accredited, and whether a qualification is registered on the NQF — reputable exhibitors will answer these questions without hesitation, and hesitation itself is useful information.

Bring a bag for pamphlets, a charged phone for photos of stands you want to follow up on, and a short list of questions about how to apply, your APS score, and available bursaries. Most expos are free to attend, though some request registration beforehand, and dates or venues can shift — always confirm on the organiser's official page before you travel. Browse the expos listed below to see what's coming up near you.