Deciding what to do after school can be a difficult process. You have a limited period of time between the day you receive your matric results and the closing date for college applications; a brief window in which to make some critical life decisions. And if you decide to take a gap year, well, that requires some planning too.
So before you know it; March has arrived, college applications have closed, and most of your friends have already set off on their own adventures. You’ve got a whole year ahead of you, and absolutely no idea what to do with it.
Better late than never...
Thankfully, SACAP sets itself apart from other educational institutions by offering three student intakes per year. So if you miss the first term, you can apply for the second one, which only kicks off in May 2019.
This gives you some extra time to decide if psychology is a study path that interests you. Of course, even if you don’t intend to pursue a career in psychology, the programmes on offer provide you with a solid foundation for pursuing a career in other industries, or embarking on further studies. It’s a safe and solid choice, one that ensures your 2019 won’t end up a write-off.
Furthermore, some of the available programmes include online study options. So, not only do you have a second (and third) chance to advance your education this year; you also have greater flexibility in terms of location.
SACAP offers a second term intake for the following study programmes:
Higher Certificate in Counselling and Communication Skills
Availability: On Campus (Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban & Cape Town) and Online
Duration: 1 year full-time; 2 years part-time
What is it: An introductory psychology programme that will provide you with a basic understanding of the work done by mental health professionals. You’ll pick up a lot of useful skills that will serve you well in any industry, including interpersonal communication and research skills. You’ll also be eligible for entry into more advanced psychology programmes, should you wish to pursue that path.
Requirements:
- A National Senior Certificate with a minimum of 45% in English, OR
- A Senior Certificate with higher and/ or standard grade subjects with a minimum of 45% in English, or equivalent qualification, OR- Mature students 23 years of age and older who do not meet the above requirements should provide a portfolio of evidence to support admission on the basis of SACAP’s Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy.
Advanced Certificate in Counselling and Communication Skills
Availability: On Campus (Johannesburg, Cape Town)
Duration: 12 – 18 months full-time; 2 years part-time
What is it: For those who already have some study time under their belt, but remain unsure of the next step, this programme provides strong qualifications that will enable you to pursue a career as a SACAP counsellor, or further your career prospects with a Bachelor of Applied Social Science (BAppSocSci). The course maintains a focus on counselling and communication skills, while also delving into some more specialised areas of counselling, such as trauma, addiction and child therapy.
Requirements
- An NQF Level 5 qualification in an appropriate field of study, or equivalent qualification, OR- Mature students 23 years of age and older who do not meet the above requirements should provide a portfolio of evidence equivalent to NQF Level 5 training in an appropriate field of study to support admission on the basis of SACAP’s Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy.
Bachelor of Applied Social Science
Availability: On Campus (Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban & Cape Town) and Online
Duration: 3 years full-time; 5 years part-time
What is it: A comprehensive programme that provides solid grounding in the theory and methodology of the psychological discipline, particularly in a South African context. It’s the equivalent of embarking on a full-scale university programme, except with greater flexibility. This degree qualifies you to pursue a career as a SACAP counsellor, or to apply for postgraduate study programmes. If you’re a few months into the new year and still unsure what you want to do, it helps to know you have the option of undertaking such a robust study programme.
Requirements
- A National Senior Certificate (Bachelors Pass) with a minimum of 45% in English, or equivalent qualification, OR
- A Senior Certificate (with Endorsement) with a minimum of a Standard Grade pass in English, or equivalent qualification, OR
- An NQF Level 5 Certificate, or equivalent qualification, OR- Mature students 23 years of age and older who do not meet the above requirements should provide a portfolio of evidence equivalent to NQF Level 5 training in an appropriate field of study to support admission on the basis of SACAP’s Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy.
SACAP application dates
The due date for applications is 17 May for the second term and 2 September for the third term.
Although the option for second and third term intakes does grant matriculants some extra breathing space, it’s still important to apply quickly, as SACAP prefers to keep classes small (maximum 25 students) so as to promote intimate and interactive learning environments. If you’re interested, you can enquire here: www.sacap.edu.za/contact/enquiry
