The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) has released the official 2025 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college calendar. The calendar reveals when the academic year will commence, conclude, be paused for holidays and when examinations can be written.
TVET Colleges play a critical role in developing South Africa’s next generation of artisans. The skills obtained at TVET Colleges set graduates up with the skills and knowledge needed to pursue various technical and vocational occupations and gain employment or even pursue entrepreneurial opportunities.
There are fifty TVET colleges around South Africa with more than 250 campuses. They provide training in several learning areas including engineering, media, hospitality, business, utilities and tourism.
NC(V) Courses
The National Certificate: Vocational or NC(V) is an alternative option and equivalent to a Matric Certificate. These programmes are aimed at developing students in an area of specialisation with skills and knowledge needed for a successful career.
NATED Programmes
NATED programmes usually consist of months of theoretical studies at a TVET college and months of relevant practical application in workplaces.
TVET College 2025 Academic Calendar
NC(V) Programmes
In Term 1, staff for the National Certificate Vocational (NCV) programmes will begin work on 6 January 2025, with classes starting on 13 January 2025. The term will conclude with the end of exams on 28 March 2025, and colleges will close on the same day.
There will be a total of 54 lecturing days and 59 staff service days in Term 1. Additionally, a supplementary examination period is scheduled from 13 February 2025 to 8 March 2025, with the exam date set for 28 March 2025.
Term 2 will see classes commence on 7 April 2025, with the end exam date scheduled for 20 June 2025. Colleges will close on 20 June 2025, marking the end of the term. During this term, there will be 47 lecturing days and 47 staff service days.
In Term 3, classes will begin on 15 July 2025 and end with the exam date on 30 September 2025. Special days for internal examinations are set for 30 September 2025. This term will include 55 lecturing days and 55 staff service days.
Term 4 will start with classes commencing on 6 October 2025 and conclude with the end exam date on 7 November 2025. There will be an additional examination period for Life Skills & Computer Literacy (P2) from November 3rd to 7th.
The final exam date for this term is 10 November 2025 to 11 December 2025. Colleges will close on 11 December 2025, ending the term with 25 lecturing days and 49 staff service days. The year's total comprises 182 lecturing days and 210 staff service days for the NCV programmes.
NATED/Report 191 Programmes
The academic calendar for NATED programmes is organised into two semesters.
For Report 191 Business and Utility Studies, Semester 1, Term 1 begins on 6 January and extends until 28 March 2025. Term 2 follows, starting on 7 April 2025 and concluding on 20 June 2025. Semester 2 encompasses Term 3, which commences on 15 July 2025 and concludes on 30 September 2025, and Term 4, which starts on 6 October 2025 and ends on 11 December 2025.
For the entire year, there are 155 lecturing days and 210 staff service days.
In the case of the Report 191 Natural Science programmes, the calendar follows a trimester system. Trimester 1 begins on 6 January and spans until 15 April 2025. Trimester 2 follows, commencing on 12 May 2025 and concluding on 19 August 2025. Trimester 3 begins on 8 September 2025 and ends on 11 December 2025.
The entire year for this program includes a total of 141 lecturing days and 210 staff service days.
Bursaries
Students enrolled in approved programmes at TVET colleges can apply for funding from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). NSFAS will pay a funded student’s tuition and registration fees. They will also be provided with several allowances.
