Short Course & Specialist Providers

as universities, TVET colleges, private colleges and nursing colleges. Examples include GetSmarter, which was founded in Cape Town and runs online short courses with partner universities, and The Wine Centre, a WSET Approved Programme Provider in Cape Town offering internationally recognised wine and spirits qualifications.

Courses range from a few weeks to several months, and many are taught fully online, so you can study from anywhere in the country. That makes them popular with working adults and career changers. Prices and entry requirements vary a lot, so always read the course page properly before you pay.

One thing matters more than anything else: a short course is not automatically a registered qualification. Some give you a certificate of completion only. Ask who stands behind the certificate. It might be a university, a SETA, the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) or an international awarding body such as the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET). If a provider says a course is registered on the National Qualifications Framework, check it on the SAQA register. If it is a college offering qualifications, check that it appears on the current DHET register. Be careful of any provider promising a diploma or degree in an unusually short time.

NSFAS funds study at public universities and TVET colleges, not private providers, so plan for the cost from the start. Ask about payment plans, employer sponsorship and bursaries. If you study online on mobile data, ask whether the provider has a low-data student portal.

Browse the short course and specialist provider listings below to compare courses, accreditation and how each one is taught.