Buffalo City TVET College

Buffalo City TVET College is a public technical and vocational education and training college in East London, in the Eastern Cape. It appears on the Department of Higher Education and Training's list of public TVET colleges. The college was formed in 2002 when three Greater East London institutions merged: East London College, Border Technical College and John Knox Bokwe Careers College in Mdantsane.

Teaching happens in person on its campuses in and around East London. The administration centre and two campuses sit in Southernwood and the city centre, and a third campus is in Mdantsane. Each campus has a focus: one for business studies, one for engineering, one combining business and engineering, and one for occupational training. The college runs an online learning portal for its students, but its own pages do not describe any programme as distance or fully online study. There is no student accommodation, so learners arrange their own housing.

The main school-leaver route is the National Certificate (Vocational), a three-year programme with one level per year. Its final level is described by the college as equivalent to Grade 12. Business fields include office administration, finance and accounting, information technology, tourism and education and development. Engineering fields include civil engineering and building construction, electrical infrastructure construction, engineering and related design, and safety in society. The college also offers NATED (Report 191) programmes, and notes that the N4 to N6 levels are being phased out in favour of occupational qualifications.

A separate occupational training campus runs apprenticeships, learnerships and skills programmes in trades such as motor mechanics, electrical work, fitting and turning and water services, as well as in retail, security, early childhood development and computing. These are aimed at unemployed young people, and the college states that tuition, books and stationery are covered, with a stipend linked to attendance.

To enter the NCV, learners need at least Grade 9 and must pass a placement test in numeracy and English, held once a year. Engineering fields also require pure Mathematics. Learnerships generally ask for Grade 11 or matric with Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy and English. Applications are made online through the student portal, or by booking a session at a campus. Fees are paid as part of the application. Students can apply to NSFAS for funding, and the college points to an outside bursary portal for other funding. Career guidance is free.